Work Underway On New 3G Football Pitches For Barry

Construction is now underway on six new artificial football pitches for the Vale of Glamorgan at Colcot Sports Centre in Barry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is investing £617,000 into six new all-weather pitches and the Leader of the Council, Cllr Neil Moore, Deputy Leader, Cllr Lis Burnett, and Cabinet Member for Visible and Leisure Services, Cllr Gwyn John, visited the centre this week to take a look at the progress made so far. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr John said: “The key to getting more people active and involved in sport at all levels is having high quality facilities that are open to everyone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When we laid the new playing surface at Jenner Park we said it was the first stage of our plan to get more people playing sport in the Vale. This is phase two. These pitches will enable residents of all ages to play five and seven-a-side football in all weathers and at all times of the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as opening the pitches up to local schools we hope to work with Legacy Leisure to establish a new five-a-side league for the Vale. This should ensure that players of all ages and abilities benefit from the Council’s substantial investment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will be four five-a-side pitches and two seven-a-side pitches, which can also be used to provide four additional five-a-side pitches for children. The new pitches will use high quality 3G artificial surfaces, similar to those used at commercial five-a-side centres throughout the country. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All the pitches will be floodlit and fully enclosed using an innovative fencing system acts as rebound boards whilst also allowing full vision of what is happening for spectators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Neil Moore said: “This is another substantial investment into local leisure services by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. I expect these new pitches to be very popular and to add another first class leisure facility to the long list of those that are already available in Barry. I cannot wait to see them being used and enjoyed when they open to the public later this year.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Construction of the new pitches is due to be completed in early summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​