10. Short Debate: Making a pitch for the future: the benefits of artificial grass sports pitches in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:43 pm on 27 January 2021.

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Photo of Jack Sargeant Jack Sargeant Labour 5:43, 27 January 2021

Thank you to Laura Anne Jones for allowing me to speak in this important short debate. I, too, am very passionate, like Laura, about improving sports facilities, not just in my community but across Wales, and I know the difference that artificial pitches can make.

A community with a real case for an artificial pitch development is Buckley in Alyn and Deeside. They have an amazing Welsh-supported local club, Buckley town. They have had huge battles over the years with issues with drainage, and it would not be uncommon in a normal season for the team to have most of their home games postponed because of the issue. And this is a real issue in Buckley, as it is across in other constituencies and communities across Wales.

Llywydd, I have met with the FAW and Sport Wales and will be using the post-COVID period to urge these organisations to get right behind an artificial pitch for Buckley, alongside the local authority and the local councillors. But I think Laura Anne Jones made a good point in her contribution, and I'll be urging the Minister responsible today, the Deputy Minister for sport, to throw his weight behind these projects, but I'll also be urging the future Minister with responsibility for these types of developments to throw their weight and influence behind these community developments, which are so important to so many.

Llywydd, in finishing, Buckley needs a pitch, and it's not just for football on a Saturday; it's for a whole community, all week, all year round, and we all must do all we can to deliver it. Diolch yn fawr iawn.