Conwy Council’s leader has defended plans for a new 3G pitch.

The local authority has applied to its own planning department, seeking permission for the artificial grass pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn on Derwen Lane.

The plans will likely be discussed at a future planning committee meeting and if granted permission, the new pitch will be built on fields behind the school.

But residents living nearby have written in objection to the plans, citing noise, light pollution and anti-social behaviour as reasons they are against the pitch.

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And last week, a group of residents living nearby issued a joint statement condemning Conwy for spending money on the pitch, labelling it “a vanity project”.

The residents said: “Ysgol y Creuddyn has already had to have an extra £540k to plug a funding gap to build new classrooms when the primary school next door, Ysgol Glanwydden, had to lay off staff.

“Despite a 10% rise in our council tax, 51 employees from 18 schools have been made redundant across Conwy.”

The letter concludes: “CCBC are putting 3G pitches before our children’s education and, more importantly, (their) health!”

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Conwy is paying for the 3G pitches at Ysgol y Creuddyn with external grant funds but didn’t confirm the overall cost.

Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, leader of Conwy County Borough Council, defended the plans. “The 3G pitches are not vanity projects.

“They are providing much needed community sporting facilities to deliver a range of services to promote healthy lifestyles and wellbeing,” he said.

“The proposed 3G pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn provides a sporting facility for use by the school (currently the only secondary school without a facility within Conwy) and the local community of Penrhyn Bay.

“Funded fully from external grant monies from the Welsh Government, the Football Association of Wales and Sports Wales, there is no requirement for the council to provide funding for the costs of construction.

“Furthermore, the council is fully compliant with the terms and conditions set by the grant-awarding bodies.”

He added: “The ongoing maintenance costs of this pitch are to be funded from income.

“From its understanding of the demand and market for such facilities, the council is confident that the income will exceed the costs.

“The budgets relating to the running of the 3G pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn will be managed by the leisure service within the council.

“As a general point, capital funding (in the form of borrowing or grants) cannot be used to fund ongoing revenue costs (i.e. staff costs).

“The provision of high-quality sporting facilities, available to schools, fundamentally supports our children’s education, health and wellbeing and contributes positively to the surrounding communities.”

The planning application includes six flood lights, two-metre high earthed mounds with 1.5m acoustic screens at the northern and eastern sides of the pitch, perimeter fencing and storage space.

The pitch also includes a modular changing pavilion with two changing rooms and private showers and toilets.

The facilities will also include a three-person changing room for match officials with showers and toilets, a community room, kitchenette, and a spectator area.