Plans lodged for new artificial sports pitch

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for a new artificial sports pitch have been lodged with Powys County Council next to the home of a successful football team.

Llanfair Caereinion Town Council wants to build a multi-use games area and storage building on land next to the football pitch on Mount Road. The proposal also includes moving the existing spectator stand there.

Planning agent, Gerallt Davies of Roger Parry and Partners, explained the proposal: “The proposal is for the installation of a MUGA measuring 18 metres by 24 metres and a storage building measuring 10 metres by 12 metres.

“To accommodate the proposed MUGA, it would be necessary to relocate the existing football stand to the west of the football ground.”

Mr Davies explained that a MUGA pitch is: “a versatile, all-weather sports arena designed to host multiple sports such as football, tennis, and netball on a single surface, commonly used in community facilities.

“Mount Field is allocated as a public area for residents to use and the MUGA pitch will allow all-year use of the area, as winter months mean the current grassed areas are not usable.

“The site is currently in use as a playing field/recreational area and, as such, it is not expected that the installation of the MUGA would increase the number of visitors to the site.

“It is envisaged that users of the proposed MUGA would be inhabitants of the town of Llanfair Caereinion and would arrive at the site on foot.”

Mr Davies adds that it is not expected that the scheme would result in the loss of any priority habitats or existing green infrastructure, as the MUGA would be built on hardstanding.

To explain this further, a Green Infrastructure Statement has been lodged with the proposal in order to “comply” with the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and to deliver a net benefit for biodiversity.

A decision on the application is expected by September 18.

Llanfair United, who play their home men’s and women’s matches at the ground, have enjoyed successful periods during their 130-year history.