PLANS have been unveiled for an artificial grass pitch at Wellsway School in Keynsham that would benefit both the school and local community all year round.
Futura Learning Partnership has submitted a planning application for the scheme to Bath & North East Somerset Council.
It would involve replacing a natural turf pitch with a 3G facility measuring 97 metres by 61 metres.
The scheme includes a 4.5-metre-high perimeter fencing, hardstanding areas, a storage container and an access footpath.
The pitch would also have six 15-metre-high floodlights, a similar height to the floodlights on the adjacent hockey pitch.
The applicants say the pitch would be more than 70 metres north of the nearest house so the predicted noise reaching it would be below the 50 dB criterion set out by the World Health Organization.
The proposed opening hours will be 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, with lights out and a curfew of 10.15pm; and 8am to 8pm on Sundays and bank holidays, with an 8.15pm curfew.
The application says: “The design complements Wellsway School and the surrounding environment, ensuring minimal visual impact. It is sympathetic to its surroundings, avoiding any unacceptable impact on adjacent public areas or residential neighbours.”
The scheme would involve the removal of trees on the site, so 19 trees would be planted elsewhere in the school grounds to compensate.
The proposals have attracted 31 comments on the B&NES Council planning portal, all of them in support of the scheme.
Many were from people connected to local sports groups such as Fry Club Juniors Football Club, Dads v Dads, and Keynsham Hockey Club.
One supporter said: “This additional pitch at Wellsway would really benefit our growing community (lots of new houses being built in the locality).
“It would support local sport teams and clubs which are growing in numbers and who currently are struggling to get enough time on the current pitch at Wellsway.”
The proposal was also backed by a parent of three children who play a variety of sports, including football, rugby and hockey, but who miss out when the facilities they use become water-logged during heavy rain.
“We are in desperate need of this facility and it will be well supported due to the huge number of children and adults in the area that would use this pitch for various sports.
“I’d be grateful as a parent of young children and a sports participant myself if this would be speedily approved.”
Keynsham Town Council planning committee said it supported the planning application.
Keynsham 3G sports pitch plan backed
