PLANS to build a community football pitch - with the aim of encouraging more girls to play the sport - at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre in Cudworth have been submitted to the council.
The new 3G artificial grass pitch will include a spectator area, fencing, goal storage area and drop-off space at the Snydale Road site.
Funding for the new pitch will come through the Football Foundation framework.
A report states: “The playing pitch strategy (PPS) has identified a need within the local area for a 3G pitch and as part of the framework funding process for new/improved pitch facilities a grant bid to the Football Foundation will be made to deliver the new facility at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre.
“An artificial grass pitch (AGP) will provide a good quality football facility that removes weather as a factor and ensures sports fixtures and general training are not cancelled due to adverse weather or ground conditions.
“The introduction of this new proposal will expand and improve the facilities available at the site and within the wider community, thus encouraging a wider range of participants.
“The FA are actively promoting women/girls football with an aim to dramatically increasing the levels of female participation in the sport and it is therefore envisaged that this new facility will assist in achieving this aim.”
A total of 40 neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans with no appeals to date.
A target decision date of August 23 has been set.
The report added: “The proposed AGP would make a significant contribution towards addressing the unmet demand for modern football facilities and would allow users of the site including partner football clubs to focus on training in one venue and provide access during peak community use periods thereby gaining greater control over facility availability and pricing.
“The proposal would meet the need identified as being required within the area by the Football Association (FA).
“The FA are actively promoting women/girls football and this new facility would support the aim to develop the female game locally.”
Public consultation ends on August 5.
