Plans to build a sports pitch at a Chesham school for local football and rugby teams will be discussed by Chiltern District Council (CDC) tonight (March 21).

CDC’s planning committee will meet in Amersham today to discuss plans to build an artificial grass pitch and floodlights on a playing field at Chiltern Hills Academy in Chartridge Lane.

If plans are given the green light the new pitch would be used by pupils at the school, as well as local clubs, during weekday evenings and at the weekend on match days.

The design statement published on CDC’s website states: “The artificial grass pitch will be managed and operated as an additional amenity to current sports facilities on site to provide sporting benefits to academy pupils, local community groups and community sports clubs from the surrounding areas of Chesham and Buckinghamshire.

“This will include local junior football and rugby clubs to gain the maximum football developmental outcomes both during the day, evenings and weekends.

“The AGP will offer a variety of football pitches and training areas within the same playing space to support the The Football Association’s development plans for grassroots football.

“Whilst this proposal will result in the loss of part of a usable grass playing field, the provision of new AGP will provide increased usage in comparison to the existing grass surfaced playing pitches.”

Two letters objecting to the plans have been sent to CDC, raising concerns over the impact the floodlights could have on neighbours.

The council also received three letters of support which said the pitch would “benefit those unable to travel to similar facilities” and would allow football clubs to “grow and increase participation”.

CDC officers have recommended that the planning committee gives the plans conditional permission subject to a number of conditions, including that the pitch will only be used between 8am and 10pm on Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.