You wouldn’t believe it: York council workmen erect £6,000 fence through the middle of a soccer pitch

Residents have been left baffled at the bizarre move after the fence was installed by contractors at the playing fields in Heworth, York, as part of a £43,000 refurbishment.

Steve Barber, 29, who uses the pitch for a kickabout with friends, said: “It’s probably the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. A bit of common sense would have gone a long way.

“It’s one way to defend the goals I suppose.”

One parent who uses the play area said: “The fence cutting through the goalpost looks ridiculous and the first thing you think when you see it is that it’s a joke or somebody must have had a bad day at the office.

“It’s difficult to see why it’s been done that way and I hope it’s sorted out soon because it must be a disappointment for the children who use it.”

Council officials have apologised and say they will meet with contractors to rectify the situation as a matter of urgency.

Dave Meigh, York Council’s head of parks and open spaces, said: “The new fencing was installed, at a cost of about £6,000, ahead of a £37,000 investment in new equipment, which is due in the next few weeks.

“We recognise that failure to relocate the goalposts is a real own goal and we have asked the contractors to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency. We can only apologise for the error.”

The money for the refurbishment was secured by Heworth Without Parish Council, which is responsible for the play area, through York Council as part of the Playbuilder scheme.

The goalposts are to be moved so they stand in a different direction.