A Barrow sports club has claimed the council is to blame for the closure of five-a-side football pitches due to health and safety concerns.
Pulse Barrow claimed Westmorland and Furness Council gave it no option but to close to prevent further accidents from taking place.
A spokesman for Pulse Barrow said: “The council has been repeatedly asked to fix the pitches as it is them who is responsible for the repairs and replacement. They have been informed they are unsafe on numerous occasions, with accidents being reported each time an incident has occurred.
“A member of the sports department from the council attended the centre and advised they should be closed immediately as they are an accident waiting to happen, the council still didn’t act upon the advice given so Pulse had no other option than to close the centre to prevent any further accidents happening.
“The council are and always have been aware of the health and safety issues at the centre.”
Last Tuesday bosses at Pulse Barrow on Greengate Street said it had shut its football pitches due to health and safety concerns.
This comes as councillor Niyall Philips (Hawcoat and Newbarns, Conservative), called on Westmorland and Furness Council, in a council meeting on Thursday, to ensure a robust maintenance plan is put in place so people can continue to access these facilities.
He said due to the closure, hundreds of young people were now having to look for other venues to participate in their regular activities.
A spokesman for Westmorland and Furness Council previously said: “The council owns the facility, but it is managed by our contractor, Pulse Barrow, and the decision to close the pitches was taken by the contractor.
“The council was not informed prior to the decision to close the pitches and the council was not involved in the health and safety assessment.
“The council recognises the concern and anxiety that will be caused to the many users of this facility by this decision and is seeking an urgent update from Pulse Barrow to fully understand the issues.”
Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell said it was a priority to restore them to use.
Mr Fell said: “My inbox has been inundated with emails about the closure of the pitches, from concerned community groups, teams and individuals who use the facility.”
A spokesman for Pulse Barrow added the closure of the pitches had been a frustrating time for customers, local teams and staff at the centre.
They said: “Football pitches are needed massively in the area, with Pulse being the biggest training facility in Barrow.
“The repairs should never have been ignored, if they had been acted upon we wouldn’t be in the position we are now, which has now left many of children unable to train throughout winter.”
