PLANS to charge junior football teams in Pendle to hire football pitches have been branded ‘a tax on sport’.

Since 2009, under-16 teams have been able to play for free on all of Pendle Borough Council’s pitches.

But as part budget savings which will see the council have to save £4.8million by 2019/20, teams will now have to pay £7.50 to hire pitches at Barrowford Road Playing Fields, Bullholme Playing Fields, Edge End Playing Fields, Heyhead Park, John Bradley Playing Fields, Ringstone Crescent, Springfield and Victory Park in Barnoldswick.

The Labour and Lib Dem coalition-controlled council voted through the measures on Thursday.

Cllr Paul White said: “There is no doubt this is a tax on youth sport.

“We’ve already seen this administration’s approach to sport when they shut Urban Altitude and now here we are again with them forcing through this tax without first hearing from the public.”

In a report to councillors, financial services manager Vince Green, said: “In 2009, a decision was taken to provide outdoor sports facilities free of charge to under 16s.

“The rationale for the decision was to provide young people with the opportunity of leading a healthier lifestyle at no cost to them.

“Whilst acknowledging this, the introduction of a modest charge would generate a contribution towards the cost of providing pitch and changing facilities.

“Service management estimate that this would generate £4,000 per annum.”

Pendle Conservative group leader, Cllr Joe Cooney, has hit out at the decision and said junior teams should remain exempt from fees.

Cllr Cooney is formerly North Valley Youth Football League chairman and treasurer and has been involved in junior football for a number of years and believes charging is a backward step.

He said: “At a time when we should be encouraging more young people to take up sport this unilateral charge is going to make that even harder.

“All these clubs are run by volunteers who but hours and hours of work into training sessions, meetings, and the matches themselves.

“To introduce this charge could easily jeopardise the ability of some local clubs to carry on.

“A number of local clubs operate a number of teams at each age group, all fees are paid for via fundraising or weekly subs paid by parents.

“If these subs have to be increased to cover this new fee some parents may not be able to afford the increase.”

The charges will be introduced from February 1, 2017.