COUNCILLORS have decided against including new sports pitches in land being used as the Green Corridor in Wellington.

There were hopes that part of the major environmental Green Corridor project - stretching from Tonedale to Hilly Head and includes The Basins nature reserve - could see new and much-needed sports pitches created.

But a feasibility study of the site has shown that it would not be ideal for football or rugby pitches.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee were told by town clerk Dave Farrow on October 23 that “anything was possible – but it would come at a cost.”

Mr Farrow said that the “gradients and slopes” would make it difficult to prepare pitches of a suitable standard, while there were other concerns about access and car parking.

“I don’t think we should be looking at having junior sports pitches there – it would be too expensive,” he added. “It just isn’t feasible.”

But Mr Farrow said that, perhaps, they could look at using land for cycling and running.

“Pitches for junior football, rugby and cricket are just not an option now,” he said.

Cllr Mike McGuffie, chairman of the environment committee, proposed that the sports pitches idea for the Green Corridor was no longer pursued.

He has submitted a spreadsheet to the council with several items relating to spending that might be overseen by the environment committee, but mostly within the Green Corridor – suggesting a shopping list varying in costs from £266,000 to £832,000.

Cllr Mark Lithgow said he had been “horrified” when he read that providing suitable sports pitches could have cost between £500,000 and £750,000.