FUNDING has been secured for a new 3G community training pitch and changing rooms at Langarth Garden Village.

The community facility is the next phase of the Langarth Sports Hub project, which saw a floodlit 3,000-capacity FA-compliant football pitch and stands completed at the end of July 2024, enabling Truro City FC to return home in time for the start of the 2024/2025 season.

The new facility uses 3G (Third Generation) artificial turf system designed to mimic the look, feel and performance of natural grass while enabling daily all-weather training facilities for clubs and organisations in the surrounding area.

Cornwall Council leader Leigh Frost confirmed the authority had accepted a £750,000 capital grant from the Football Foundation, and that construction would begin early next year with the aim of delivering the pitch in time for the 2026/27 football season.

The remaining funding will come from compulsory planning contributions from developers and from the Garden Village project. The completion of this phase will make Langarth Sports Hub the largest permanent sports events facility in Cornwall.

“We said at the start of the Garden Village project that we wanted to create a real community at Langarth and were committed to delivering key infrastructure in the early stages of the scheme,” said Cllr Frost.

“Last year, we worked hard with partners to provide the new home for Truro City FC, and we are now keeping our promise to deliver new sports facilities for community clubs and organisations.”

Cllr Dulcie Tudor, Cornwall councillor for Threemilestone and Chacewater, said the Football Foundation grant provided the final piece of the jigsaw to getting the community pitch built.

“Everyone involved with grassroots football knows how difficult it is to find a place to play, particularly on rainy days,” she said. “Having access to an all-weather pitch which is available seven days a week, all year round will make a huge difference to all these local clubs and groups.

“We began lobbying for a pitch for Threemilestone FC more than eight years ago, and while it has certainly taken a long time to get here, we have ended up with a scheme which is much better than we originally thought.”

Work is continuing to finalise the plans for the day-to-day management of the facility, with an operator due to be appointed prior to the opening of the new pitch.

The news came following debate over the materials used in the pitch. Although the design complies with current Sport England guidance to ensure materials are appropriate for the environment, the infill of rubber crumb has caused concern, with 10 people objecting online and Cllr Karen LaBorde (Green, Gloweth, Malabar and Shortlanesend) raising the matter at a Cornwall Council meeting on Wednesday, December 3.

“Rubber crumb is recycled old tyres, and releases toxic gases in hot weather and is considered potentially carcinogenic,” she said, imploring the council leader, Langarth partnership and planning officers “to consider alternatives”.