Controversial 3G Pitch Plan at Conwy Secondary School Set for Approval Despite Over 500 Objections

A controversial plan for a 3G pitch at a Conwy secondary school is set to be approved – despite well over 500 objection letters being submitted.
Conwy County Council has applied to its own planning department seeking permission for the artificial grass pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn on Derwen Lane, Penrhyn Bay.
Planning officers have advised councillors approve the application at a meeting next week, despite a large number of residents objecting to the plans.
Whilst Conwy has received 46 letters of support for the pitch, the council has also received 569 letters opposing the plans.
The letters raise concerns about potential noise, light pollution and even anti-social behaviour and neighbours have held public meetings to raise their concerns.
Other fears include the plan being overdevelopment of the area, the pitch’s positioning and size, loss of a grassed area and the development having an overbearing impact on neighbouring properties.
The huge number of objections took the form of a petition citing a long list of concerns that included light and noise pollution, parking and anti-social behaviour.
The new pitch is planned for fields behind the school and includes six flood lights.
Residents will be protected from noise by two-metre high earthed mounds with 1.5m acoustic screens at the northern and eastern sides of the pitch.
If granted, the facilities will also include a three-person changing room for match officials with showers and toilets, a community room, kitchenette and a spectator area.
Perimeter fencing and storage space are also included, as is a modular changing pavilion with two changing rooms and private showers and toilets.
Speaking in the summer, Conwy Council’s leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey defended the plans.
“The 3G pitches are providing much needed community sporting facilities to deliver a range of services to promote healthy lifestyles and wellbeing,” he said.
“The proposed 3G pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn provides a sporting facility for use by the school.”
Ysgol y Creuddyn is currently the only secondary school in Conwy without an all-weather pitch.
The council says the pitch will be funded by grants from the Welsh Government, the Football Association of Wales, and Sports Wales – with ongoing maintenance costs to be funded from income.
The debate will take place at Conwy Council’s planning committee meeting at Bodlondeb on Wednesday, October 9.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter