RAIN may no longer stop play in Okehampton if plans for an all-weather 3G pitch meet with town councillors’ approval next week.

The parks committee of Okehampton Town Council will be discussing the proposal for a long-awaited 3G pitch and running track on Monday night.

A spokesperson for Okehampton Argyle Football Club, who are behind the £1.3 million project, said it was ‘now or never’ to get going on the project, with construction work being offered ‘in kind’ by a local benefactor.

‘We would like everyone on the council to know that it is now or never for this project’, said Russell Metherell, spokesperson for Okehampton Argyle Football Club.

‘The current levels of financial support and installation expertise is only available to us in the near future, so if we do not get a positive reaction from the council to go ahead now, it is likely that the whole project will be shelved.’

As owners of the land, the town council is being asked to give its blessing to the detailed plans.The backers, which include Okehampton Skills and Sports Club, will then be seeking the final nod from West Devon Borough Council.

They are anxious for an early start, as the all-weather pitch is much-needed in the town. Currently, Okehampton Argyle Football Club are playing matches on the all-weather pitch at Ashbury, because their outdoor pitch is too waterlogged to use.

The project would see the current Okehampton Argyle pitch and a grass rugby pitch replaced with a state-of-the-art 3G pitch surrounded by a running track, giving Okehampton College and local sports clubs access to the type of facilities already available in Tavistock and Exeter.

The project would see an investment of over £1 million used to improve the facilities, including an extension to the pavilion building to allow for the greater footfall that would follow.

The athletics track would allow local athletes, who currently have to travel to Exeter or Tavistock to train, to focus on their activities rather than logistics and travelling. It is also hoped that an Okehampton Athletics Club would soon develop once the track is open.

Mr Metherell added: ‘These facilities are vital if Okehampton wants to offer its residents access to quality sports facilities on a year-round basis. This winter has seen numerous postponements of football matches across all of our age groups and we are now in April and still using the 3G pitch at Ashbury to get games played as the grass pitches are far too wet to use.’

The Okehampton Town Council parks committee meeting takes place in the town hall on Monday, April 9 at 7pm.