FOI Request - Planning Applications for Artificial Sports Pitches
Request 101003669098
1. The number of planning applications approved for facilities that include artificial sports pitches covered in a surface that uses crumb-rubber infill from organisations other than the local authority, leisure trust or arm’s length organisation in the last 10 years.
2. The area in square meters of the aforementioned pitches.
3. Copies of the information/correspondence you received from the Scottish Government on 3G pitches after the EU ban on crumb rubber in 3G pitches was first announced in September
4. Copies of any information/correspondence you received from sportscotland, the Scottish Football Association, Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPACA) and ESTC (the trade association for the synthetic turf industry) on 3G pitches after the EU ban on crumb rubber in 3G pitches was first announced in September
Response 24-01-2025
1. The information requested is published on the Council's on the Moray Council e-planning portal and is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002; information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference, please find a link to the web page here: https://publicaccess.moray.gov.uk/eplanning/
The only case we are aware of is 20/00364/APP - Development of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) providing a 3G football/rugby pitch 2no 5-a-side pitches and a Sports Court area at Lesser Borough Briggs, Borough Briggs Road, Elgin, Moray.
2. Available on e-planning portal; exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
3. Not held. It has not been possible to identify specific correspondence. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
Having enquired around various departments, all were/are aware of the matter as it was raised on various forums, during various discussions. The issue of crumb, pollution crumb toxicity, and other such matters have been known for some time, pre-dating September. Some information officers referred to is easily obtained of the Scottish Government website.
4. Not held - exception under Section 17 FOISA