The future of a sports facility owned by Tewkesbury Borough Council is up for discussion this week (March 20).

The council's executive is expected to agree that the facility at Coopers Edge in Brockworth can be leased to a local sports club.

The Coopers Edge sports facility consists of two football pitches, two multi-use games areas (MUGAs), a changing room building and a car park. It was built as part of the planning consent for the Coopers Edge residential development.

The facilities were transferred to the council last month, along with £108,000 from the developer to maintain the pitches and pavilion for 15 years.

To limit the council's expenditure and liability at a time when budgets are tight, it made sense to lease the facilities to a club or community group for 25 years.

Having a local club running the site means a better link with the community and the opportunity to develop sport at a more local level. The expectation within the community was always that local organisations would have a chance to manage the facilities in the long term.

Council officers carried out a best value tender exercise to find a preferred bidder which demonstrated a viable business case for maintaining the facilities, as well as a dedication to sport in the local community.

The executive is being asked to agree the lease of the land and facilities to local football club, Barnwood United AFC.

Barnwood United were able to show the council how they actively promote football to all sectors of the local and wider community on the site.

The council said: "Barnwood Utd AFC presented a well thought-out, professional, clear and concise business plan that detailed current finances and membership, as well as sustainable plans for the use of the facility. They also portrayed a passion for the impact the new facility could have for their club and also the community. They recognised the importance of community engagement and relationship building as a form of promotion, as well as partnership working."

While the football club will manage the facility, the land will still be deemed public open space and remain open for public use, such as dog walking.