AN overspend of £58,000 for work to Caldicot's 3G pitch has been approved.

The extra spend was required following flooding problems at the site combined with unstable ground conditions.

Councillors voted for a budget increase from the original £660,000 to £718,000.

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) met last Thursday (14th May) and agreed funding of £53,000 should be taken from Section 106 monies with the remaining £5,000 coming from Caldicot School to cover the overspend.

Costs to stabilise the ground conditions at the pitch originally reached the £56,000 mark with flood remedial works amounting to £15,000, totalling £71,000. This was then lowered to £58,000.

According to Mike Moran, community infrastructure coordinator at Monmouthshire County Council (MCC), it was initial excavation works that revealed the instability of the pitch. He said: "It is not uncommon on new pitch projects to find the odd "damp patch" that can usually be dealt with at no extra cost by small earthwork excavations and filling with dry material.

"However, the extremely damp conditions discovered in this case covered 95 per cent of the total new pitch area.

"These conditions could not have been predicted."

Councillor Bob Greenland, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure said: "At the council meeting on 14th. May, it was agreed to provide the additional funding necessary to complete the Caldicot 3G pitch which is an important asset for the south of the county.

"Caldicot Comprehensive School has offered £5,000 towards the additional costs and the balance will come from contributions levied on local housing developments. The new pitch will not only be used by the school but other local teams will have access to it. Floodlighting will enable it to be used throughout the year."