A LONG running scheme to improve football provision in Haltwhistle can finally kick off.

Northumberland County Council planners have approved plans to upgrade the Old School Playing Field, off Willia Road, by installing a drainage system, levelling and re-seeding the surface and providing a passing place to improve access.

It is hoped changing facilities can then be installed in the neighbouring Scout hut, to open up the pitch for use by the town’s thriving junior teams, as well as the senior Sunday team.

The application submitted by Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre was recommended for approval in a report to planners which stated that it would “meet an acknowledged need for improving the playing pitch provision in Haltwhistle”.

The scheme had the support of Haltwhistle Town Council, but attracted six objections from residents and a letter of objection from the Open Spaces Society, raising concerns regarding the site’s village green status.

Objectors also sited noise and dust, harm to trees, safety concerns for pedestrians using Willia Road and loss of locally valued informal green space among their key concerns.

However, the council’s senior development and delivery manager, Mark Ketley, told Tuesday‘s meeting: “This is a large area of open space which is designated as village green, but that is not a material planning consideration.

“Works under sport and leisure can be carried out under village green legislation.”

Mr Ketley added that the site had a long planning history, with permission being granted by the former Tynedale District Council back in 2008 for an improved pitch, access road, car parking and changing facilities.

Grants totalling £200,000 from organisations, including Sport England, were lined up to fund the improvements.

In 2010, permission was granted to vary the playing times and in 2013 a three-year extension to the permission was approved, which will expire next year.

“This new application strips all that back,” added Mr Ketley.

“It is simply for the re-grading of the pitch, improving the drainage and the provision of a passing place on Willia Road, which is used to access the site.”

Consent was granted subject to the conclusion of a consultation process on Monday and conditions relating to the way the work is carried out and the times the pitch is used.