ABERYSTWYTH Football Club will push ahead with plans for a new artificial pitch, with the club’s chairman insisting he is satisfied 3G pitches are safe.

Planning permission has been granted for a joint development between the club and housing association Tai Ceredigion for a new 3G pitch and 33 apartments on land owned by the club.

But there have been calls for an investigation into the safety of 3G pitches after a recent study suggested that rubber granules used in the pitch could cause cancer.

Nigel Maguire, a former NHS executive from Darlington, has called for a full review into 3G pitches after claiming that his son’s cancer may have been caused by playing on 3G pitches.

However, Aberystwyth FC chairman Tony Bates said the club had no concerns over the safety of the proposed pitch and would be continuing with the installation.

He said: “I confirm that the club’s intention is to proceed with the proposed 3G pitch.

"Once final arrangements with Tai Ceredigion are in place we will be instructing experts to carry out wide-ranging reports on the existing pitch, and what lies beneath, to ensure that the final project is constructed to comply with all appropriate regulations.

"The cost of the new pitch will probably be in excess of £500,000 and we would not be proceeding if we had any doubts as the suitability of the pitch, particularly as the intention is that it will be available to players of all ages.”

Despite the health claims, authorities have insisted that research has shown there is no evidence to suggest that is the case.

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