Controversial plans to build a 3G pitch at Layham Road Sports Ground suffered another set back when Hadleigh town councillors discovered the allocated area is too small for a full size playing area.

A number of councillors were left bemused and angered when it became clear during a discussion about putting the project in abeyance, revealed the while scheme could be in doubt due to the failure.

Hadleigh councillors in August voted against a proposal to split the pavilion development from the pitch project, and in September the council agreed to sign up to the Football Foundation Framework for the 3G pitch.  

However, as Nub News has previously reported, the planned 3G pitch for Layham Road has now been paused for an unspecified period and at last Thursday's meeting, the council agreed to press on with a new pavilion, as recommended by the Projects Officer Alicja Barnes.

Hadleigh projects officer Alicja Barnes

Mayor Gordon MacLeod told the meeting the decision to pause the 3G pitch project was a decision by the Football Foundation.

But according to the Project Officer's report to the council, the reasons for the pause are the pitch size and the availability of organic infill material.

The Football Foundation is conducting its own tests of organic infill materials, and is unable to give the council a date by which their tests will be complete. 

The council was also told that the area of land at Layham Road is too small to contain footprint of a full-size adult pitch.

The Project Officer's report said: "It has been established that the maximum pitch size that is possible on the area of land available is a U13/U14 pitch which has a maximum footprint of 92m x 62m. The Local Football Facilities Plan (LFFP) highlights a need for a full-size adult pitch – this would be a footprint size of 112m x 76m."

A representative of the FA is quoted in the report as saying: "Careful consideration will need to be taken in order to meet the lack of 3G facilities in the Hadleigh Area. The Local Football Facility Plan for Babergh identifies a need for a 11v11 floodlit 3G facility to service football demand for midweek training and competitive match play. A conversation therefore is needed with the Hadleigh Town Football Club to see whether a smaller alternative would satisfy any of the above need. It is noted that alternative locations are mentioned in the LFFP, namely Hadleigh High School."

Councillors questioned how the inadequate pitch size was only coming to light now, after the council had signed up to the Football Foundation agreement, when the proposed site plan had been available since last year.

Cllr Andrew Knock said: "In countless documents including the business case and reports, consultation questions and on the council website, the pitch is referred to as 'full size'. 

"In meetings, in questioning the people involved, and in seeking advice, we have been blocked, and what we have always said was that we didn't know what we didn't know.

"Now it seems people did know things that we didn't and they kept them to themselves. Why, for example, didn't Councillor Beggerow mention what he already knew when the architect's plans arrived and were described on our website as 'for a full size pitch'?" 

Cllr Beggerow, Hadleigh town councillor and football club treasurer

Cllr Beggerow told the meeting that he and the clubs had been aware for some time that the FA's recommended full adult-size pitch would not fit on the ground.

He said the issue had been discussed by the council's Layham Road Sportsground subcommittee when he was its chair: "We consulted preliminarily with the Football Foundation to say could a slightly reduced pitch work. And they indicated that it would. And what I am picking up in this report is that the Football Foundation are very much now beholden to FA requirements that all new pitches are delivered full size."

The Projects Officer's report said the council's spend to date on the pitch element was £850 with no expected further costs.

Cllr Angela Wiltshire said: "I believe that given the fact that we are now, technically, back at the drawing board stage of the project, we will require a whole new business case, scrutinised more rigorously than previously with a lot more openness and transparency from my colleagues and the Football Foundation.

"I am very disappointed that the pavilion was ever linked with the pitch project, and was told that it was not possible to progress the pavilion without the pitch only a matter of weeks ago.

"We should disentangle the pavilion from the plastic pitch and get on and build it."

Cllr Huw Roberts added: "Pausing the pitch project is good news for the environment, and we can focus on the much-needed pavilion, although there will now be a funding gap for it that we need to fill."

"I am amazed that the council was not told until now that the plot is too small to accommodate a full-size pitch, and that at least one councillor and the clubs apparently knew this. The whole point of the business case, the public consultation, and future grant applications was that it was to be a full-size pitch. I don't see the point of tearing up the grass pitch to replace it with a ¾ size fake one."

"I tried to get the council to ask the Football Foundation questions about their organic infill, but was blocked. It is disappointing that the council wasn't made aware of the Football Foundation's position on that prior to us signing up to their framework agreement."

There are now concerns that the business plan is so flawed any future application for funding would be compromised.

Cllr Beggerow, who is also the Hadleigh United FC treasurer, and Ms Barnes were approached by Nub News for confirmation of when they actually knew the area allocated would not be able to house a full size 3G pitch and why the full council were not made aware earlier.

Both failed to respond and offer an explanation or an apology.