PROPOSALS for construction of an artificial turf sports pitch have been given to Dursley Town Council by Rednock School.

The facility, if built, would be situated on the Recreation Ground, but on Tuesday the council said it could not agree with the school over its exact siting.

Rednock would like to advance the project so relevant funding can be applied for as soon as possible, but the council is concerned wishes of field users are met first.

Town clerk Ann Leaney told the Gazette: "The Rec is for the people of Dursley and it is the responsibility of the town council to take care of it.

"They are the landowners and do not want to relinquish control of any part of the field."

The principal disagreement at this early stage is that the school would like the facility, which is likely to be floodlit and big enough for full-sized hockey pitch, to be built at the end of the Rec nearest to it.

That would involve relocating the main football pitch used by Dursley Town FC in the Gloucetershire Northern Senior League.

However, recreation and gardens committee chairman Cllr Joyce Broomhall made it clear the wishes of the club, which runs three men's teams, a women's team and a girls' section, would come first.

She reiterated a point made when the issue was last discussed in June, saying two grass pitches of the required standard must be in place before work could begin on the artificial pitch.

The club, which has supported the idea of such a facility somewhere on the Rec in the past, will now be consulted.

Councillors agreed the best site for the artificial pitch would be at the opposite end of the field from the school.

They rejected the idea of having it somewhere in the middle because its high walls would make it look somewhat untidy and there would be a problem in fitting other events onto the field.

Added Cllr Broomhall: "We have Bonfire Night and the fair to cater for - everyone needs to be considered."

However, one problem with moving the football pitches next to each other is that the rules of some leagues do not allow other games to take place at the same time within a certain distance.

Gloucestershire County League rules state that "No other match shall be played within a minimum distance of 64 metres", although Dursley Town would require two promotions before having to consider those implications.

The council will write to Rednock, saying it does not agree with the siting of the artificial pitch at the north end of the Rec, but will continue to work to try and find a way of bringing the facility to the town.