COUNCILLORS have called for funds to be released to repair an artificial pitch in Warndon Villages, believed to have been targeted by vandals.

Councillor Stephen Hodgson said ideally a fence would also be erected but as the city council hasn’t officially adopted the land off Brecon Avenue, investment is limited.

“It’s a five-a-side court with a concrete bed and astro turf over it, but vandals cut into it and so it’s damaged, but it’s a popular place for a kick around,” said the city and parish councillor.

“No money is properly being invested [by the council] apart from piece meal payments as it’s owned by Bryant Homes.”

The issue was discussed at a meeting of Warndon Parish Council on Monday, in which leisure and community representative Councillor Robyn Norfolk said discussions are currently underway with city council officers.

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Describing the pitch as in a “state of disrepair”, Cllr Norfolk said in a report to the city council he proposed officers “work out how much it was going to cost to repair or replace” the surface.

Also speaking at the meeting, Councillor Dawn Merriman said: “For many years I have been campaigning to try and get something done with that play area and all I have got back to is ‘the city don’t own it’ and ‘we are on the verge of getting it transferred,’ and it never happened.”

Cllr Hodgson said: “It’s a question really of the local community now putting pressure on the council officers to actually get something finally done about it, because it has deteriorated over the years.

“The problem always has been because the land hasn’t been owned and adopted by the council, they haven’t been prepared to put investment into the play area.”

He added that from discussions with officers, it does appear that a “budgetary exercise” has been undertaken to get a better idea of how much repairs will cost.

Parish clerk Ray Morris pointed out the turf “has been repaired three or four times before at a cost” by the city council “and then they realised they didn’t actually own it”.

“Be under no illusion, it has been repaired,” he added.

Cllr Norfolk went on to say: “I’m just trying to come to a pragmatic approach to this problem, we’ve got a piece of land that’s well-used by residents.

“Regardless of who owns that land, I would like to propose that once we’ve got the costs that we as a parish council look at those costs with a view to contributing some of the money to refurbish that play area.”

A city council spokesman said: “We are looking into the ownership of this site.”