3G pitch planned for Menai Bridge

Anglesey Council has secured grant funding to help upgrade sporting facilities across the island.
On Monday, a report presented to Anglesey Council’s Executive confirmed that the authority had been successful in its bid for grant funding towards a 3G surface in Menai Bridge and to upgrade the fitness equipment at Llangefni’s Plas Arthur.
The “mini” 3G surface is set to be installed at a tennis court at the David Hughes leisure centre with the council to pay £8,000 towards the total cost of £80,000, with the remainder made up thanks to the Wales Collaborative Sports Facilities Group – which includes the Football Association of Wales, Welsh Rugby Union, Hockey Wales and Sport Wales.
Meanwhile, the authority has also been successful in a separate bid to upgrade the fitness equipment at Llangefni’s Plas Arthur Leisure Centre.
The project, at a cost of £130,000, will see the authority contribute £90,000 with the remaining £40,000 coming via a grant from Places for Sports.
According to officers, its expected that the increase in income that this upgrade will generate over the next three years will be enough to repay the borrowing and interest and would bring the facilities in line with those at Holyhead which were upgraded last year.
But despite recent repairs being carried out, concerns remain over the state of another sports facility in the port town.
A petition for a new 3G pitch in Holyhead has gathered almost 2,000 signatures, with the pitch continuing to show signs of heavy waterlogging even after work was carried out on the surface.
Last week saw the re-opening of the floodlit pitches at Millbank after repairs were carried out to the lights as well as and improvements made to the surrounding fence, which had been damaged, and the astro-turf material.
But according to locals, a longer term solution is needed with strong calls for a brand new 3/4G surface similar to the one opened in Llangefni earlier this year.
A spokesman for the authority said, “We have made every effort to ensure that the works identified (at Millbank) were finished as soon as possible.
“Unfortunately, the weather did hamper the works and things took far longer than planned.
“Heavy rainfall is causing flooding on the pitch and, as a result, we expect that there will be periods during the winter when it will not be available for use.”
He added, “The Millbank site is part of the Holyhead High School campus. In order to ensure the facility was available for the wider community, an informal arrangement was entered into with the nearby Weightlifting Club to manage the site outside of school hours.
“This arrangement, at the request of the club, will cease at the end of November.
“The county council is working hard to try and set-up a new arrangement which will, in the short term, ensure that the site can still be used outside of school hours.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter