THE Chase technical college has defended its rotation policy on renting out its astro turf pitch (ATP), after a user complained when told he could no longer use it.

George Richards, of Upton, hired the college's pitch on Thursday evenings for two blocks of ten weeks to play five-a-side football, building it up from just a few players to 30 regulars over the period.

But on the expiry of the second block, the school told him that there was a waiting list for the timeslot and it was no longer available due to the rotation policy.

"Quite apart from the utter frustration and disappointment this policy has caused me and 30 others, how does this policy possibly meet its stated objective if serving the local community particularly when the vast majority of them live within close proximity of the facility?" said Mr Richards.

Peter Renger, deputy head at The Chase, said: "We have a ten-week booking rota for ATP. If nobody else wants the ATP in that particular slot then we offer it for a further ten weeks. Other people have asked for the slot, therefore that slot is not available.

"At the end of the day it's very difficult to actually have a system that's totally fair and equitable to everyone. The ten-week system is clearly stated on the lettings policy."

Ian Mumford, head of sport and recreation at Malvern Hills District Council, who part-funded The Chase pitch, said that the management policy of the facility was down to the school. He added that there were several other sites where five-a-side could be played, including Hanley Castle High School and the Hill Centre in Upton, as well as other independent sites such as Malvern College.