PLANS to install new 3G football pitches at Witton Park can go ahead after an £800,000 grant was secured from the FA’s Football Foundation.

A scheme was drawn up last year to develop two new full sized 3G pitches including floodlights and fencing, as well as refurbished changing rooms.

Now the cash has been secured and will be boosted by £400,000 taken from housing developers’ section 106 contributions from the Sappi Paper Mill development.

Executive member for leisure, culture and sport, Damian Talbot, said: “The Football Foundation were very keen to work with Blackburn with Darwen Council to create an excellent football hub which meets FA league standards, promotes grassroots participation and provides the borough with external investment into facilities with a robust business plan that secures funding for future replacement in 10 years’ time.”

Witton Sports turf pitches were first installed in 1984 and the playing surface was of a sand filled design which was the latest specification at the time.

These pitches have a life expectancy of 10 years and were replaced again in 2004. 20 years later

The infrastructure of the site - floodlights, fencing, drainage and the shock pad under the surface of the grass - is now 34 years old.

The current carpet, with a life expectancy of 10 years, is now 14 years old.

Cllr Talbot added: "The business plan includes a long term sustainability element, a mandatary £50,000 sink fund from income (£25,000 per pitch) that is ring-fenced year on year and will guarantee that there is a funding pot to replace both pitch playing surfaces every ten years.

"The infrastructure of the site including floodlights, fencing, drainage and the shock pad under the surface of the grass is now 34 years old and also need replacing.

"The changing rooms need updating to meet current FA standards.

"The cost of this level of investment is £1.2M. Given the council’s continuing financial challenges this level of investment was not available from internal budgets.

He said there had been a risk that unless external funding was secured the pitches may have had to be closed on health and safety due to the deteriorated pitch surface.

Bosses say securing the external funding will enable the council to explore further opportunities for the whole of Pleasington pitches.

This would include assessment of and appropriate investment in the grass cricket and football pitches at Pleasington and looking at renewing the dilapidated changing rooms built in the 1960s.

Cllr Talbot said: "This is seen as the next phase of a multi-phased approach to improving pitch quality and provision to meet the needs going forward."