Plans to build the region’s first 3G football pitch have been shelved amid cancer fears.
Surfleet’s Glen Park was in line for the new synthetic pitch, but the group which runs the facility has announced it has scrapped the move after the infill used was linked to suspected cancer deaths among young players.
Surfleet Play and Recreation Committee (SPARC), the charity that owns Glen Park, had expected to have the new pitch open by the end of this year.
But it is now on hold after more than 160 cancer cases started to emerge in America among footballers used to playing on rubber granule-filled surfaces.
And now a young English player is believed to have developed cancer after regularly playing on a 3G pitch.
Studies have shown that the granules made from old tyres and used to protect synthetic grass from wear and tear and soak up water more effectively, contain a toxic mixture of chemicals including mercury, lead, benzene and arsenic.
A SPARC spokesman told The Voice: “We had the equity funding in place to build a 3G facility to complement our existing sand-dressed pitch, but as soon as we became aware of the problem, we knew that it would have been irresponsible to go ahead.
“Given the potential cancer link, no parent would have wanted their children to be exposed to such a potential health risk.
“We have no faith in assurances from the football authorities that the rubber granules are safe.
“Fortunately, local footballers have a completely safe all-weather pitch to play on at Glen Park.”
