A NEW all-weather pitch worth £250,000 is set to be given the go-ahead by Selby District Council.

The scheme is part of an upgrade agreed for the Selby Abbey Leisure Centre last summer, after its operators said the declining state of the current pitch could lead to it closing, costing the council £17,000 in annual income.

A report set to go before the authority on Thursday has looked at the options for the pitch, which included a sand-dressed synthetic turf or a longer artificial grass, known as 3G, and recommended the latter be given the go-ahead.

The report said: “The 3G surface provides more opportunity for a wider use for football, hockey and rugby, whilst the sand-dressed turf is the most suitable surface for high level hockey but is restrictive to football and rugby.

“The estimated income that could be generated from the pitch is up to £78,000 with 85 per cent of this income being from football. Therefore, the 3G pitch provides more commercial opportunity for wider use and income generation.”

The leisure centre was awarded the pitch following the appeal from Wigan Leisure and Cultural Trust, ahead of Selby College, which also bid for the upgrade, which will also include freestanding hockey goals, full size football goals, mini soccer goals, two new litter bins, and new boot scrapers.