Rugby club pitch plan is approved

The club will replace one of the grass training pitches at its ground on Dore Moor with synthetic turf. It also applied to replace four 10-metre-high floodlights around the pitch with six 12m lighting columns.

There were eight objections from residents living on Long Line and Hathersage Road. The Dore Village Society also objected and Dore and Totley Lib Dem Coun Martin Smith raised concerns.

Worries included light pollution, fears over ‘inadequate drainage’ and the impact on the Green Belt.

But an objection from Sport England was dropped before councillors gave the scheme the go-ahead. Any harm to the Green Belt was outweighed by the benefits of improving the pitch, officers told committee members.