Hadleigh councillors have agreed to review the business plan put together to support a case for a 3G pitch at the Layham Road Sports Ground, after flaws were identified.

However, the council voted against the project officer's motion to shelve the all weather pitch until after May 2023, following local authority elections, and more work will be done to progress the rest of the project.

It emerged during the debate that the projects officer had suggested to defer the 3G pitch until after next year's elections as a new council may could potentially change their mind about moving ahead with the project.

The May date would also coincide with the end of the football season.

The failure of projects officer Alicja Barnes to be present so she could clarify the situation was criticised.

Cllr Andrew Knock asked: "How can we progress a project when we don't get answers and the project officer is never here to answer questions?

A motion put forward by counclllor Huw Roberts to agree to review the business plan prior to signing the Football Foundation framework contract, so the cost of not having rubber crumb was clarified, was carried.

The motion added that this will ensure that council are fully aware of the potential for an increase in cost for a natural infill and the potential for the Football Foundation to offer a minimum grant. Despite some push back, the motion was carried.

Councillor Rolf Beggerow, treasurer at Hadleigh United and chair of the Layham Road Sports Ground group told the council he had spoken with suppliers and been assured by sales people the cost of an alternative to rubber crumb was nearer £40k extra, than the figure of £140k extra, which can be found in the accounts of Trowbridge Town Council, by Cllr Huw Roberts.

Trowbridge Town Council have insisted on a natural infill for their 3G pitch which the Football Foundation are refusing to cover, so increasing the funds which Trowbridge have to find from other sources. 

Hadleigh's Layham Road Sports Ground Project business case does not take an extra cost into account.

Cllr Beggerow was also against asking for a review of the business plan, before agreeing to sign a Football Foundation contract.

However, a number of flaws were identified, with the costings questioned and Cllr Beggerow admitting they were just estimates.

For example it was pointed out that the £25,000 allocated for a member of staff to work approximately 91 hours a week, the length of hours the artificial pitch would be open for use, were not feasible.

Cllr Beggerow claimed Babergh had made Hadleigh priority in its sports and leisure strategy, however Cllr Angela Wiltshire pointed out that was not the caseNowhere in the document published in 2017 to cover the time frame until 2030, is Hadleigh mentioned as any sort of priority area.In an updated sports and leisure strategy published in June 2021, Hadleigh is still not identified as one of the four Babergh priority areas.

On the contrary, paragraph 4.7.11 of Babergh's updated strategy states:The large developments in Capel St Mary/East Bergholt/Brantham and Great Cornard in Babergh, and Stowmarket and Thurston/Woolpit/Elmswell in Mid Suffolk are priority areas for the Councils to consider additional and improved sport and physical activity provision.

The document does mention work being done by Hadleigh town council, and how Babergh would work closely to try and develop one of the Community Sports Hubs identified in the district.

Old pavilion destroyed by fire

The report points out that there are plans to update the facilities and pitches at Layham Road Sports Ground, including a new full-size 3G pitch and pavilion and it is an opportunity fr Babergh to work with the town council and existing rugby, football and tennis clubs to develop a Community Sports Hub to also include:

*Additional capacity of grass football and rugby pitches

*Improved ancillary facilities/sports pavilion including a community room/exercise studio to accommodate group activities.

*Resurfacing of tennis and 5-a-side courts.

Babergh also aired concerns that sports hall provision in Hadleigh is limited to the high school which is only available outside school hours and at capacity during peak times.

The report stated: There is an opportunity to explore the feasibility of a new 4-court Sports Hall at Hadleigh Pool and Leisure to accommodate demand for indoor sports without the restrictions of school-based facilities. Alternatively, explore provision of a new/extended sports hall at the expanding High School, together with enhanced community access included in the design.

The district council is also looking to increase sports hubs in East Bergholt, Capel St Mary, Great Cornard and Sudbury.

Hadleigh involved in Babergh's updated sports and leisure strategy