TAVISTOCK football fan Allen Lewis has given pitches in the town the thumbs up in response to a council query over sporting facilities in West Devon.

Allen, the man behind Tavistock Specials FC and a popular qualified referee, said clubs in the Tavistock area were well-served with pitches.

West Devon Borough Council is aiming to protect and improve the current stock of playing fields and to ensure there is appropriate provision for the pitch sports within new developments and is asking residents what they feel about the playing fields facilities for sports like football hockey and cricket.

Town councillor Allen said he would be telling borough officials that as far as football is concerned around Tavistock, they were doing well.

He said: ‘We’re lucky — we’ve got Crowndale in Tavistock and an all-weather pitch at Tavistock College, then there’s Horrabridge Rangers, who use pitches at Walkhampton and Yelverton, as well as Fillace Park, while there’s also Legend Park at Princetown and Mary Tavy’s pitch is well looked after, although I expect they wouldn’t mind some funding to improve it. I’ve refereed on a lot of pitches and a lot of them are poor, but I think we are lucky around here.’

West Devon’s consultation period ends on December 23. They also want to encourage and support the secure community use of pitch sports facilities on education sites and ensure playing pitch facilities contribute to improving the health and well-being of everyone in the community.