Council                                                        Agenda Item 110

 

Subject:                    3G Pitches – Use of Crumb Rubber Infill

 

Date of meeting:    26 March 2026

 

Proposer:                 Councillor Fowler

Seconder:                Councillor Robins

 

Ward(s) affected:   All

 

Notice of Motion

 

Labour Group Amendment

 

That deletions are made as shown with strikethrough below and additional recommendations are added as shown in bold italics below:

 

This council notes:

 

1.    The importance of 3G Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) for physical wellbeing and the significant gap between demand and provision in Brighton & Hove.

2.    The use of Crumb Rubber Infill (CRI) in UK 3G AGPs

3.    The disparity in the legal position on CRI between the UK/EU;

4.    The growing concerns about the human/environmental health risks posed by CRI in AGPs;

5.    Sport England’s funding for 3G CRI contradicts its commitment(1) to carbon neutrality/microplastic reduction;

6.    BHCC Policies SU3 (Water Resources and their Quality), Policy DM43 in the Local Plan;

7.    The That there are currently no proven alternative materials to CRI or alternative surfaces that provide the same or similar levels of durability; including Biochar-enhanced natural turf, and HydroRock water management;

8.    The trials being undertaken by the Football Federation to test alternative infill materials

9.    The Petition to Parliament to ban the use of CRI on all new 3G artificial football pitches (2).

 

This council resolves to:

 

  1. To request a report from Officers to Cabinet outlining:

a. the health and environmental risks of CRI as, for example, expressed by the UK EA, DEFRA, EU ECHA, and some academic institutions;

b. the  current guidance/policies of relevant bodies such as the UK Government, Sports England, this Council, and other relevant bodies allowing the construction of new 3G pitches using CRI;

c. the alternative materials to CRI that could be used in future 3G pitches in the City;

d. the legal and practical options open to BHCC for unilaterally imposing an outright ban on ceasing the use of CRI in Council-owned/supported 3G pitches.

e. the extent to which planning policy can be used to influence the materials being used in future non-Council-owned 3G pitches

  1. To support calls for the alignment of  the Leader of the Council to write to the Ministers for Health and Sport to ask for a rapid resolution of the misalignment of UK law with EU law on intentionally added microplastics, including the use of CRI in 3G AGPs.

 

Footnotes

 

1.         Sport England "Every Move" (2024) strategy

2.         https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752679

 

 

Recommendations to read if carried:

 

This council notes:

 

1.    The importance of 3G Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) for physical wellbeing and the significant gap between demand and provision in Brighton & Hove.

2.    The use of Crumb Rubber Infill (CRI) in UK 3G AGPs

3.    The disparity in the legal position on CRI between the UK/EU;

4.    The growing concerns about the human/environmental health risks posed by CRI in AGPs;

5.    Sport England’s funding for 3G CRI contradicts its commitment(1) to carbon neutrality/microplastic reduction;

6.    BHCC Policies SU3 (Water Resources and their Quality), Policy DM43 in the Local Plan;

7.    That there are currently no proven alternative materials to CRI or alternative surfaces that provide the same or similar levels of durability;

8.    The trials being undertaken by the Football Federation to test alternative infill materials

9.    The Petition to Parliament to ban the use of CRI on all new 3G artificial football pitches (2).

 

This council resolves to:

 

  1. To request a report from Officers to Cabinet outlining:

a. the health and environmental risks of CRI as, for example, expressed by the UK EA, DEFRA, EU ECHA, and some academic institutions;

b. the  current guidance/policies of relevant bodies such as the UK Government, Sports England, this Council, and other relevant bodies allowing the construction of new 3G pitches using CRI;

c. the alternative materials to CRI that could be used in future 3G pitches in the City;

d. the legal and practical options open to BHCC for the use of CRI in Council-owned/supported 3G pitches.

e. the extent to which planning policy can be used to influence the materials being used in future non-Council-owned 3G pitches

  1. To support calls for the alignment UK law with EU law on intentionally added microplastics, including the use of CRI in 3G AGPs.

 

Footnotes

 

1.         Sport England "Every Move" (2024) strategy

2.         https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752679