Grasshoppers First XV could play on artificial turf in future Pic: Mick Craig

Preston Grasshoppers is applying to replace its turf pitch with artificial grass.

The rugby club in Lightfoot Lane says it wants to boost usage of its main pitch, especially during the winter months.

Advertisements

New floodlighting would also be installed with the new 3G pitch.

The pitch is one of 100 across the UK being funded by the Rugby Football Union following last year’s Rugby World Cup.

More than 100 Grasshoppers club members voted to lease the first team pitch to the RFU for 30 years to enable construction of the pitch.

A spokesman for Grasshoppers said: “Preston Grasshoppers is one of six clubs nationwide to be selected for the first installations of artificial pitches this year as a pilot study.

“The club are delighted to have been selected, it is recognition of the club’s stability, good management and success with six mens teams, two womens teams and more than 350 mini, junior and youth players.

“The RFU’s aim is to grow the game of rugby and recognises that first class facilities will attract players and enhance their playing experience. There is also recognition that increasingly wet warm winters are causing many games and training sessions to be lost with players being turned away or lost to the game due to poor playing conditions or postponed games.”

Plans tabled by Surfacing Standards Limited on behalf of the RFU say they note ‘during winter months especially, this proposal would represent intensification in the usage of the site by the way of an artificial (flood) lighting system, and noise and disturbance felt by surrounding residents would be experienced up to the curfew hour.’

A table within the documents tabled with the planning application shows how on weekdays the pitch would be used from 10am to 10pm, and on weekend days from 9am to 10pm.

Anyone wishing to view the full plans can do so via the city council website, and comments can be left there or by emailing devcon@preston.gov.uk quoting 06/2016/0350 by Sunday 29 May.

The club has produced a Q&A on its website to explain the difference in the new pitch.

What do you think about the move to a 3G pitch? Do you live nearby? Let us know your views in the comments below