A COUNCILLOR has criticised plans to cover an all-weather sports pitch with playground surfacing.

The football pitch at Audley Junior and Infant Schools in Blackburn, used by more than 700 people each week, closed earlier this year amid claims it was unsafe.

It prompted community leaders to say they would fight for it to be re-opened.

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Now, as part of a £650,000 investment in the Queen’s Park Road campus school, which will include classroom work, the council has announced it has ‘addressed health and safety concerns’ relating to the old pitch and adjacent access route to the school.

The site will be covered with a ‘porous tarmac surface’, usually found in playgrounds, a move which has been signed off by Sport England.

However it has been met with criticism from ward councillor Salim Sidat who said: “I’m absolutely gutted and I have been fighting this move for a while.

“There is nothing I can say as it is the school’s decision in the end.

“Tarmac is nothing like an astro-turf and, while you can play football on it, it’s not the same.

“Lots of people spoke out about the closure of the turf in May and they will still not be happy now.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council said the investment would benefit both pupils and members of the community. They said the surface would ‘enable both schools to achieve maximum usage and represents best value for money’.

Over the summer and autumn term classroom improvement works were finished at the junior school. Work was also undertaken at the infant school in preparation for the expansion of the special educational needs (SEN) provision.

The junior school received more than £200,000 of investment in the classrooms, allowing the remodelling and decoration of smaller classrooms and corridors and replacing old furniture.

The remaining classrooms will receive similar treatment next summer.

Works on the infant wing are still being carried out and will continue into the summer.

This will provide modern spaces including changing rooms and withdrawal rooms for vulnerable pupils with special educational needs.

Cllr Dave Harling, the council’s education and schools boss, said: “These facilities are great news for the schools and the community.

“The improvements to the inside of the schools will give staff and pupils more modern spaces, which will be a great addition to the educational experience at the schools.

“The all-weather pitch is also a great boost.

“The children will be able to do a wide range of sports and games all year.”