A Bedfordshire town boasting “a hot-bed of football activity for its size” needs an artificial playing surface, according to the county Football Association.
An investment of up to £800,000 could provide a 3G pitch in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire FA said in a letter to the town council.
The site at Stratton Way recreation ground has been identified by the county FA as a potential venue.
A 3G surface would benefit the local non-league clubs, as well as the community as a whole, explained Beds FA chief executive officer Alan Young.
“The ambition of the past decade has been to provide a full-sized 3G football turf pitch that the town’s clubs deserve,” he explained in the letter.
“These pitches are used all-year round and include floodlights, which enables training and matches to take place without poor weather postponements.”
Bedfordshire FA considered providing a pitch locally as part of the King’s Reach housing development in 2015.
When that failed to materialise, extra grass pitches for local teams were laid for weekend use at two sites in the town, according to the letter.
“But this hasn’t stopped clubs struggling to find suitable winter training that normally results in travelling outside Bedfordshire at a greater cost,” said Mr Young.
“Biggleswade Town, Biggleswade FC and Biggleswade United are among the most senior adult football clubs in Bedfordshire.
“Despite this, the majority of the town’s clubs resort to short-term fixes that don’t solve the problems.
“This has resulted in overused first team grass pitches and portable floodlights being bought just to get through each season.
“The youth and adult clubs account for 47 teams within Biggleswade alone, making it a high priority deficit area for Central Bedfordshire to back us over as a matter of urgency.
“Changing rooms and on-site parking would make it more of a desirable prospect for support from Football Foundation, the main grant funders for football projects,” he added.
“We’re asking the town council to provide an area for the pitch with a long-term lease, of 25-plus years minimum for funding conditions, on a peppercorn rent to Bedfordshire FA.
“This would enable Bedfordshire FA to accept the financial responsibility and management of the site to meet funding terms and conditions of any subsequent grants.”
Deputy mayor Grant Fage called it “a very exciting project” at a town council meeting.
“I’d be keen to see this type of facility in Biggleswade,” he said. “We’re a big and important enough town to have at least this.
“The FA’s looking at peppercorn rent and we don’t need to commit to that now.”
He suggested working with the FA to explore which sites might be possible, including other options in the town.
Councillor Jonathan Woodhead said: “We should welcome this interest and certainly the potential investment in the town.
“It’s something the community should get behind. Clearly there are pros and cons to the location identified by the FA, which may not be aware of other suitable sites.
“We just need to continue that dialogue and hopefully find the right solution.”
Mayor Madeline Russell described it as “something the town’s desperately needed for a long while”.
Councillors unanimously agreed to work with the FA and move towards a feasibility study, including alternative sites.
