Published: Tuesday, 16th June, 2009 2:23pm

3G or not 2G? That is the question

MUCH-vaunted plans to build a new 3G sports pitch at Tweedbank to replace the ageing astroturf have been scrapped, the Border Telegraph understands.

Last month, Scottish Borders Council announced it would lay a new state-of-the-art all-weather surface which was suitable for both football and hockey at the village sports complex after being tackled over the state of the old synthetic turf which was branded outdated and dangerous.

However, the local authority is expected to kick the plans in to touch and build a 2G sports pitch instead after being forced into a rethink.

While council chiefs insisted the new pitch would have met the requirements of both the Football Association and the Federation of International Hockey (FIH), it is understood Scottish hockey bosses were at odds with their governing body over the suitability of the new surface - claiming their squads would be unable to play on a 3G pitch.

Councillor Graham Garvie, the council"s spokesman for sport, told the Border Telegraph: 'We thought we had found a surface that would suit everyone but we have had to review it and a decision is expected to be announced later this week.'

Football teams are understood to be considering a boycott of the complex, which is run on behalf of the council by Borders Sport and Leisure Trust, following the revelation.

They pointed out more people were involved in football than hockey in the region and new 2G pitches are already being built in Earlston, Duns and Galashiels, in addition to the much-maligned sand-based structures already in existence.

But they added there was still no 3G pitch, the latest in synthetic surfaces which is more suitable for football, in the Borders.

Work on the £280,000 building project at Tweedbank was expected to kick-off on completion of the procurement process, when companies were invited to bid for the contract, and be completed in autumn 2009.