Hadleigh councillors will this week vote to end the project to build a 3G pitch at Layham Road Sports Ground.

A recommendation to prematurely end the scheme, which council officers report is no longer valid due to viability issues, public opinion, concerns over the in-fill and the allocated area not being big enough to accommodate a full size pitch, will be heard at a full council monthly meeting on Thursday.

The council report also highlights how part of the 3G pitch area would have been in a flood risk area, as highlighted by the storms and high water levels from the River Brett in October.

Hadleigh councillor and footballl club treasurer Rolf Beggerow (Picture: Nub News)

Due to the lack of progress since the project idea was first floated by Councillor Rolf Beggerow in 2021 the council never made a planning application to Babergh District Council.

Concerns were raised about the 3G pitch by former councillors, who were ignored and the council pressed ahead despite warnings. It eventually came to light that the area earmarked was not actually big enough to accommodate a full size pitch and surroundings.

One of those councillors was Huw Roberts and he today said: "This is good news for people like me who have had concerns about the project for some time.

"I am pleased to see that many of the concerns we tried to raise, and more, have finally been acknowledged. But it has taken too long. In my view, too many at the council were blinkered, seeing requests for scrutiny, due diligence and genuine concerns only as attempts to 'block', whilst ignoring conflicts of interest. But most importantly, it's good news for the River Brett and the environment." 

Another former councillor, Andrew Knock, added: "At last the council sees sense . some councillors and staff have spent hundreds of hours on a project that could never happen while the Guildhall and the cemetery haemorrhage public money and we lose out on £1,000s because we still don't have a neighbourhood plan.

Former town councillor Andrew Knock (Picture: Nub News)

Concerns over funding were also expressed in the report. The report claims the cost of the the project proposal was only £859, though that figure is likely to be challenged on Thursday.

The 3G pitch project was last year separated from plans to build a new pavilion at Layham Road, although without the additional revenue from the facility concerns are being aired about future income.

The recommendation concludes: "As the business case (financially and considering public opinion) for this project is no longer valid, it is recommended to formally end the project prematurely. Whilst this project of locating an artificial pitch at Layham Road Sports Ground is ended and there is no distinct project to continue with, the council is recommended to remain open-minded to third party approaches for artificial pitches on non-council-owned land in the future and assess those on their merits at that time."

Artificial pitch

Hadleigh town council lost its General Power of Competence certificate following the elections in May 2023. The clerk has still not passed the CiLCA.

Meanwhile, Cllr Beggerow's involvement in the project, including sitting on committees making decisions, has been the subject of a Code of Complaint investigated and found proven by Babergh's Monitoring Officer.