PLANS to install new floodlighting at Saltash Rugby Football Club have been approved by Cornwall Council, paving the way for improved lighting at the club’s first-team pitch.

The application covers the installation of new 15-metre lighting columns and LED floodlights at the Moorlands Lane ground, providing illumination of 200 lux across the playing surface.

The system will use 800-watt LED floodlights, improving visibility for players and helping the club make better use of its first-team pitch during darker evenings.

The new lighting will – as outlined in their initial planning application – provide greater flexibility for training and rugby activity, with the club able to use the pitch within the hours permitted by Cornwall Council.

However, the permission comes with conditions restricting when the floodlights can be operated, in a bid to protect the amenities of nearby residents.

The lights can only be used between 6.30pm and 9.30pm from Monday to Friday, and between 2pm and 6pm on Saturdays. They must not be operated outside those hours.

Cornwall Council has also imposed conditions requiring the floodlights to illuminate the playing surface without shining directly onto neighbouring properties or land.

If the council receives a justified complaint about the lighting, the club could be required to relocate or realign the floodlights at its own expense.

The approval follows consideration by Saltash Town Council in August, when members unanimously recommended the application be approved.

Councillors had discussed concerns raised on the planning register, including the accuracy of the site plan and the potential impact on wildlife. They also sought clarification on operating hours and site boundaries.

The town council's support was subject to appropriate safeguards to limit the impact on wildlife and ensure the lights were used for rugby matches and training.

Cornwall Council has now granted conditional planning permission, balancing the benefits of improved lighting for the club with measures designed to protect neighbouring properties from light spill.