- 03/10/2024
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Categories: Assembly Questions, Latest News, Press Releases
MIKE HEDGES MS ASKS FOR GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON THE PROVISION OF 3G PITCHES SUITABLE FOR HOCKEY
Speaking after business Questions at the Senedd, Local Swansea East MS, Mike Hedges said… ‘I am aware that there is a lot of investment in artificial pitches around Swansea but it has been brought to my attention that some of these pitches are not the best for hockey with 4G pitches in particular having a composition which stops the ball from rolling.
It would be better if older technology surfaces were used and I hope that Sports governing bodies and local authorities will take the needs of Hockey into consideration when planning new artificial sports facilities.’
Secondly, can I request a statement on the provision of 3G sports pitches suitable for hockey? There has been a decline in team sports participation—none more than hockey. Swansea has an athletics and hockey centre, but there’s a need for greater provision, especially for children. 4G pitches have a longer pile and are fitted with a rubber crumb that stops the hockey ball rolling. An all-weather 2G artificial turf pitch has a flatter, short-pile surface so that the ball can slide. They will also be suitable for a wider range of sports, increasing the multisport offering.157
Your second question about the hockey pitches—of course, this is something that is really important in terms of investing in grass-roots and elite sports facilities. It’s a key programme for government commitment. We have an annual capital investment of £8 million to Sport Wales, including funding for short-pile artificial grass pitches for hockey, and that’s distributed through the pitch sports collaboration group. I appreciate that you go into those special needs in terms of facilities of this kind, and Hockey Wales is a major partner in the group and plays a full role in deciding how to develop and where to develop new, and also refurbish existing, pitches.
