A cash-strapped council is set to spend nearly half-a-million pounds on resurfacing football pitches.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says that carrying out the work on the 3G artificial grass pitches at Dimensions Leisure Centre will help sustain a 'major income generator' for the authority.

According to a council report, Dimensions receives a 'high number of complaints' regarding the poor condition of the seven 3G pitches, and some regular bookings have been cancelled. Replacing the 3G surface is expected to cost around £495,000, which will include certifying the pitches to Fifa standard. But council leaders claim that the investment will leave the council around £730,000 better off after a decade.

Replacing the 3G pitches is expected to cost around £495,000 (Stoke-on-Trent City Council).

The 3G surfaces were originally installed in 2014 after the council was awarded £664,633 from the Football Foundation, and a condition of the grant stated that the surface would have to be replaced at the end of its lifespan – expected to be around 10 years. Due to heavy use, the Dimensions pitches have worn out faster than expected, and the council says that simply patching the holes is no longer an option.

The pitches currently generate around £180,000 a year for the council in booking fees, and the report says it is 'critical that the city council maintain these facilities to a high standard to ensure that income levels are sustained'. The report also says that there is a risk of 'clawback of funds' by the Football Foundation if the council does not fulfil the requirement to maintain the pitches until at least 2035.

Cabinet members will be asked to rubberstamp the decision to resurface the pitches when they meet on Tuesday.

Dimensions receives a high number of complaints regarding the poor condition of the pitches (Nub News).

Council leader Jane Ashworth said: "We are committed to ensuring that Stoke-on-Trent residents live a healthier life, and sport plays an enormous role in achieving this. Our artificial grass pitches at the popular Dimensions Leisure Centre are used by young and older residents; from local junior teams, Port Vale Community sessions, and our walking football programme, to those who enjoy a friendly kickaround.

"This facility helps our communities stay active and fit and promotes a feeling of wellbeing and connectedness. Because of the popularity of the pitches they are now naturally coming towards the end of their life and present a health and safety concern if they are left.

"We do, of course, want to keep the pitches open for everyone to enjoy and so far we have been able to patch and repair the pitches in certain areas. But the time has finally come for an investment.

"We are confident that the money spent on upgrading the pitches now will be recouped and will, in fact, generate over £730k income for the council over the next decade or so. This investment not only pays dividends to the council's budget but also to people's health and wellbeing."

A loan covering the cost of the resurfacing work, plus £272,250 in interest charges, would be paid back by the council at a rate of £76,725 a year.

The city council recently approved £8 million of savings and a 4.99 per cent tax hike, and has been granted £42 million in 'exceptional financial support' by the government. Council leaders had previously warned that without the extra support they would be forced to close leisure centres and other non-statutory services.

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