A BARRY-BASED athletics club is considering taking legal action against the Vale Council claiming a consultation on a Jenner Park Stadium 3G pitch was flawed.

Barry & Vale Harriers Athletics Club, which has 130 members made up of children from ages nine to 18 also claim that its 100-year association with the centrally based venue could end with the disability athletics children’s group penalised and increased fees potentially meaning the club could fold.

Members are opposing the installation of a 3G pitch at Jenner Park on the basis that the installation of a 3G pitch would mean that there will no longer be facilities for throwing at Jenner Park.

Decathlete Curtis Matthews, who represented Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games, began his sport at Barry & Vale Harriers.

Barry & Vale Harriers Athletics Club chairman Fred Malkin said the council had tentatively offered to re-locate the throwing facility to a different venue, but it had now been informed the council had no funding for this and school’s may reject such a facility.

Fred said: “If however money were to be found, this would still remain an impractical and almost impossible solution, to the loss of this facility. The coaches of the athletics club give their time voluntarily and it would not be feasible for the club to expect coaches to commit to an extra night in addition to the two nights they currently train the athletes. Many children within the athletics club are drawn to the throwing facilities and the training that is offered in these throwing disciplines.

“Of greater importance, the disability group use the throwing facilities, some of whom are not physically able to use the running track.”

The disability group trains on the grass pitch – a situation which would not be allowed on 3G.

Fred said: “This and the lack of throwing facilities could potentially mean the end of the disability athletics group and certainly a reduction in membership numbers for the club as a whole.”

He said the Council had said fees would rise to £70 an hour for 52 weeks of the year meaning that two sessions a week in the summer would cost £280.The club currently pays £1100 a year so the new deal would mean a fee increase of more than 600 per cent.

Fred said: “The Barry & Vale Harriers Club serves a community that is, in some areas, very deprived.

“This increase will severely affect our members financially. This is a children’s community club and the increase in fees alone could out price a large number of our children, therefore leaving Jenner Park a ‘footballing’ only facility.”

The club also claimed there would be a loss of lanes and increased football use, promised by the authority, could lead to track damage decreasing the club’s ability to use it.

It said no athletics competitions could be held without throwing facilities and the council appeared to have ignored the feasibility recommendations, which it commissioned, which stated money would be more adequately spent on drainage issues at a cost of around £50,000 rather than a pitch costing £600,000.

Fred said Barry Town United FC appeared to be the only potential gainer for the provision of a ‘community’ 3G pitch.

He added that the venue was known as a fast track, due to it being the only athletics track in South Wales with a “double stand” either side of the track.

He said: “With some investment on the condition of the track and an electronic timer, which Welsh Athletics have offered the club, Jenner Park could attract athletes from around the country, and further, in order to achieve an IAAF time. The short-sightedness of the Vale of Glamorgan Council when it comes to athletics is beyond understanding.

“The increase in fees alone could cause the club, which is growing and thriving, and which has a long and healthy waiting list, to fold. This facility at Jenner Park should be for all, not just for one sport alone.”

A Vale Council spokesman said: “The Vale of Glamorgan Council is very confident that it has followed the correct decision making procedures and will robustly defend its position in the event of any legal proceedings.”