A NEW funding route to secure an all-weather sports pitch for Tavistock has been identified, which could see the pitch being used primarily for football rather than a variety of sports, including hockey, as initially planned.

The original route for Devon County Council was thought to be lottery funding through the New Opportunity Fund for a sand-based pitch suitable for a number of different sports.

The determining factor in the next step for the project may be whether Tavistock Hockey Club are prepared to contribute to the project, and whether that contribution would be as high as £130,000, a substantial part of the estimated half-a-million project cost.

A new avenue has now emerged if the original route is not possible: the idea of securing a Football Association grant. This would have to be for a rubber-based all-weather pitch — as opposed to a sand-based one.

Such a surface is more appropriate to football and 80 per cent use for football would have to be demonstrated to secure the cash.

It is understood the Football Association may be prepared to consider a grant of up to 65 per cent of project cost and discussions with the FA on this basis have been described as 'encouraging'.

West Devon Borough Council has agreed to continue holding over a contribution of £61,000 for the partnership project.

Cllr Pat Warne said: 'As a Tavistock person and as a person involved in sport, I would like to see this all weather pitch achieved.'

Cllr Robin Pike said the climate in Tavistock where there was often rain, made an all-weather pitch a much-needed facility.

The county council is still preparing a New Opportunities Fund bid, and subject to contributions from other quarters being confirmed, it is hoped the county would bid for £200,000 and contribute £50,000 itself.

The pitch would be built at Tavistock College which is understood to be considering making a contribution of £60,000.

The sum is still some way short of the full project cost, making the support of the hockey club — which has land to sell — the deciding factor in the project.

The project was discussed at the borough council's strategic development committee meeting on Tuesday, January 29. A further report on the evolving situation of the all-weather pitch project will be presented at the committee's next meeting.