Soil containing broken glass used for football pitches

Glass has been found in soil used to level the ground for two football pitches on a new housing development.

Gloucester City Council had previously called on Miller Homes to remove and replace soil on green spaces on its Estcourt Close site in Longlevens.

Longlevens Councillor Linda Castle said the issue had been "a long struggle."

Miller Homes said it had taken steps to ensure the pitches were safe for use including remedial work to remove glass and lab testing for soil quality.

City councillor Linda Castle said: "There was soil brought onto the pitch with glass in it.

"They've got to come along, take out the contaminated soil and level it all before anything else happens to it."

The pitches were intended for use by two youth teams as well as residents.

Those teams will be decided once the piece of land had been adopted by Gloucester City Council.

However, that would not happen until Gloucester City Council was satisfied requirements for the land to be suitable for football had been met.

A spokesperson for Miller Homes said the company "has already carried out remedial works to remove glass from under the soil, and have taken samples of the soil for a quality test, from which we are currently awaiting lab results."

"We are very clear of the importance of public safety and how significant a role local sports pitches play within the community, so we remain committed to ensuring the safety and quality of the soil is correct for public use."

Gloucester City Council has been approached for comment.