Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Fears plans to revamp cricket ground will ‘obliterate history’
Plans to revamp Kent County Cricket Club’s stadium will “obliterate” its history, campaigners fear.
Bosses of the Canterbury site submitted proposals last month to expand the Spitfire Ground’s stands, redevelop its entrance and relocate its war memorial. But members of the Canterbury Heritage Design Forum have branded the scheme “bland and characterless”, as they urge the site’s bosses to ditch parts of the project.
Group secretary Amanda Sparkes said: “The cricket ground is still a conservation area, even though the character of it has been rather blown apart by previous changes. “The rest of the proposals show a very bland and characterless landscaping scheme. “It would be good if the cricket ground could perhaps attempt to work with the little heritage that it still has at the front, rather than further obliterate it. “The whole area looked very much nicer only 11 years ago in 2009.”
In use since 1847, the Old Dover Road venue has had many updates over the years - the most recent being the construction of a block of retirement flats on the edge of the site. Neighbours have also raised concerns the introduction of benches on the way into the stadium will encourage more “intimidating and anti-social” behaviour.
Resident Peter Mickleburgh, who lives near the pitch, believes the transformation will encourage loitering and littering. “The redevelopment area is directly accessible to anyone making an off-premises alcohol purchase from the Sainsbury’s Local, situated at the ground,” he reasoned.
“As all residents know, this already causes considerable noise, nuisance and rubbish on the stepped area immediately outside the shop. At night it can be both intimidating and anti-social.
“My genuine concern about these plans is that they incorporate several elements that will both further encourage loitering and drinking.
“Why else would you provide seating? At best, this will encourage the further generation of litter.” Mr Mickleburgh believes the “ugly and dysfunctional” entrance is in need of a facelift, but that he would prefer it if it did not “encourage loitering”. However one local, Brenda Mellor, thinks the “long-overdue” plans will be an improvement, both “visually and practically”. Documents lodged with the local authority by the club also say the project will create a better-looking pedestrian way into the arena.
At the same time, the club wants to extend its coaches’ boxes and expand the Frank Woolley Stand’s viewing room. These works will add three additional coaches’ boxes, two officials’ boxes and new bathroom facilities with showers. “The development seeks to enhance the sense of arrival, presence and overall security of the site,” they state. “The proposals focus on a reconfiguring of two spaces to enhance the efficiency of the site and improve the quality of this space.
“They are intended to provide a safer access to pedestrians.”