Plans to build a “state-of-the-art” 3G football pitch in Radcliffe have been given the go-ahead.

An all-weather 3G pitch will be built at Redbank Playing Fields as well as a new changing pavilion with a club room.

Grass pitch improvements will be made too.

In December last year, Radcliffe FC and the council confirmed the project had won £1.8m in grants from the Premier League, The Football Association (FA) and the Football Foundation in addition to £600,000 already pledged by the local authority.

The new pitch was approved by the council’s planning committee with conditions at its recent meeting.

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Conditions include following the opening hours of between 8am and 10pm, with floodlights switched off between 10.15pm and 8am to allow users to leave the pitch safely.

Some councillors, including Cllr Des Duncalfe and Cllr Joanne Harris, raised concerns that floodlighting and the noise from the pitch could disturb elderly residents in housing adjacent to the site.

Bury Times:

But the committee heard noise concerns had been considered and no additional noise was expected from the 3G pitch due to its existing use as a football pitch.

Neil Long, assistant director of operations at the council, said the 3G pitch would address a shortfall of football pitches in Radcliffe.

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He said: “Redbank Playing Fields has been identified as a priority for a 3G pitch to meet the shortfall of football facilities in Radcliffe.

“The site will also provide further wellness and community benefit for the residents of Radcliffe.

“The 3G will be in the centre of the existing playing field to minimise any effects of noise or lighting.

“The first 25k per year of income will be placed into a sinking fund to ensure that the facility is sustainable and well maintained in the long-term.

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Mr Long added that the existing car park would be extended to allow for 83 cars to reduce the effect on surrounding streets and lights will be shut off following closing time at 10pm.

Following a vote, chair of the committee, Cllr Gavin McGill, said: “The committee’s decision is to approve the planning application with conditions.”