HOLSWORTHY?Town Council will not take over the ownership of the Clifton Heights development’s sports pitch in Holsworthy from Redrow Homes Ltd until major issues are rectified.

The mayor of Holsworthy Jon Hutchings explained to the council during the full meeting on Wednesday, April 4, that the Holsworthy AFC approached him to see if it would be possible for them to train on the sports pitch.

Upon investigation Cllr Hutchings said they found the pitch to be unsuitable for use and therefore had to decline the AFC’s request.

He said: “We met with Andrew Waite from Torridge District Council’s property team recently to discuss this issue. The state of the pitch is not good. It looks like there are bricks and lumps of rubber under the surface and there are several manhole covers around the edge that have not been put on properly and some are several feet above the surface.”

Town clerk Vanessa Saunders told councillors that Redrow has not yet handed over the pitch to the town council.

She said: “They wanted us to take it on and fix the problems we assume. There is a 106 agreement in place and they have to adhere to but we also feel they need to improve the standard of the pitch before we take it on because in its current state it is not acceptable.”

The sports pitch formed part of the planning agreement with Redrow Homes Ltd put in place ahead of the development of the former showground site. The skate park was also part of this agreement.

In response Matt Grayson, of Redrow Homes, said: “We can confirm we are working with the local council with regard to the sports pitch.”

Torridge District Council’s lead member for international resources Nick Laws confirmed this, adding: “The council is involved in the process that will ultimately see the transfer of the newly built sports pitch to Holsworthy Town Council. At present the works undertaken by the developer are not yet complete and there are some drainage and landscaping issues outstanding.

“We are working closely with the developer, Holsworthy Town Council and the mayor in supporting the project through to completion and handover.”