Committee approves £1.1m 3G pitch for Moreton school
A Moreton school will see a £1.1m investment in its facilities, following approval by Wirral Council’s Policy & Resource Committee on 22 October.
The funding is for the development of a new 3G Football Pitch at Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, similar to those based at the Woodchurch Estate or Bidston Sports and Activity Centre. Works are scheduled to begin next year.
The scheme is estimated to £1.1m in total, which includes a grant from the Football Foundation of nearly £800,000. The Council will match fund the remainder of the costs which amounts to approximately £350,000.
Cllr Stephen Bennett, Chair of Wirral’s Children, Families and Education Committee, said:
We know that the demand for football in Wirral is extremely high and that sometimes clubs travel outside of the borough to play and train.
Investing in top-of-the-range facilities for our borough is a key focus and will enable us to nurture homegrown talent on our home turf.
I’m thrilled to announce that plans to build a new and modern 3G pitch in Moreton have been approved and I’m sure many residents and local clubs will join me in looking forward to the opening of this new facility when it is complete.
Clare Mount School is a specialist sports college, the new artificial grass pitch will enhance the schools’ facilities, benefitting the students, football clubs and the local community.
The pitch will measure 97m x 61m (including 3m run-offs) and will be designed to accommodate a variety of youth football pitches and training areas.
As part of the plans, additional works will include:
- Macadam hardstanding viewing areas and goal storage areas
- 4.5m high fencing to the perimeter of the facility, with 1.2m high pitch perimeter fencing to the artificial grass perimeter, to segregate the pitch playing area from surrounding macadam areas
- 6x13 metre high floodlighting columns
- Maintenance / sports equipment store located within the fenced facility enclosure
- 3-metre-high wooden barrier to southern elevation
- Adaption works to the existing male and female changing rooms in the school to convert four showers to two WCs and two individual changing area – creating dedicated facilities for players and teams
- Professional pitch flood lighting will be installed so that the pitches can be used during the evening
- Tree and shrub planting around the site to meet Biodiversity net gain requirements
The pitch will be maintained and operated by Clare Mount School and bookings will be managed through an online booking system.
Works are expected to begin next year, once a specialist contractor has been appointed by the Football Foundation.
