COUNTY planners have unanimously approved proposals for two all-weather football pitches in Hereford.

Herefordshire Council’s planning committee have given the go-ahead for Pegasus Juniors Football Club’s plans for a 3G artificial turf pitch on their Old School Lane ground.

And they also granted Herefordshire Football Association’s wish to develop the pitch near the Ted Powell building on Widemarsh Common.

Pegasus director of football Mark Williams told the meeting that approving the plans would be an early Christmas present for many local youngsters.

“With support from Herefordshire Council, Pegasus acquired the Old School Lane sports ground in the year 2000,” he said.

“It was in a moderately dilapidated condition and used on a limited basis.

“In the 18 years we secured £250,000 in grant funding to develop the site into a fantastic facility providing floodlit football pitch for more than 300 members.”

He explained that both their proposals and the county FA’s would bring more than £1m worth of external money into Herefordshire to provide much need all weather playing surfaces.

Pegasus’ plans include floodlighting, fencing and a storage container while the HFA’s new pitch would accommodate an 11-a-side pitch and a variety of youth football, mini soccer pitches and training areas.

Steve Wilmott, HFA chairman, said figures showed that at least another five pitches are needed in the county to meet the demand.

“The main purpose of the pitch is to provide a sustainable community facility which would not only be available to ourselves but also the main club on the site, Hereford Lads Club,” he said.

He said their proposals would benefit 70 clubs, 250 teams and nearly 3000 players, all of whom would have the right and capability to use the facility.

Hereford City Council objected to both proposals on environmental grounds.

Steve Kerry, town clerk, said: “Local objectors have raised issues of traffic, noise and light pollution and these deserve to be taken seriously by this committee.

“The plastic grass breaks down in use and small particles enter the environment through rain running off into neighbouring water courses on the clothes and boots of players and even by ingestion by the players themselves.”

He also said the rubber materials used contained known carcinogens and polluters which present a clear danger to riverine life as they are endocrine disruptors.