Fears over ‘horrendous’ plans for pitch housing
Issues raised over traffic and bins access for residents
PLANS to move a football club’s home pitch to allow 41 houses to be built on the site have raised major concerns from councillors.
At Leek Town Council’s planning meeting last week, councillors called for more clarification from Staffordshire Moorland District Council on proposals to move Ball Haye Green Football Club to land at Birchall.
Fears have now been expressed that Leek Show and other events planned for Birchall could be disrupted if the plans were approved.
One resident of Ball Haye Green has also stated they would not be able to get their bins out if the development went ahead – despite having a right of way through the present yard.
It comes after a planning application was submitted for the demolition of an existing single-storey building and relocation of the current football pitch and associated facilities to Birchall playing fields, in order to facilitate the provision of an outline application for 41 dwellings on land at Ball Haye Green.
Leek town mayor Councillor Stephen Wales said: “There would be a dedicated site for Ball Haye Green Football Club at Birchall, which looks like it will be in front of the pavilion.
“The move would then allow 41 houses to be built at the Ball Haye Green pitch.
“This is a contentious application. We are being given little information about what is being planned. We should ask Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to make a statement.”
Councillor Pam Wood said if it was a dedicated pitch no one would be able to go on it.
She said: “How does this affect Leek Show?
“This will alter the whole field.
“The area has been used for concerts, this would stop these sort of events. Rate-payers’ money was used for the pavilion. The site morally belongs to the people of Leek.
“We need to invite a planning officer to a meeting to explain themselves as soon as possible as I am worried about Birchall and what is being planned. The district council is going behind our back.
“With regards to the proposed houses you can’t get out of Prince Street without creeping your car out. It is a real bottleneck area and the road cannot be widened.”
Councillor Matt Swindlehurst said that Ball Haye Road was very narrow with cars parked on one side. He said: “This proposed development could bring in more than 70 additional cars, which is a major issue.
“The land is a social area in the middle of Ball Haye Green.
“It is an important space for the community in a deprived area. It’s a non-starter and is unneighbourly. With regard to Birchall, the council are just the stewards of it. If a dedicated pitch was built in front of the pavilion it would disconnect the whole area.”
Councillor Roy Molson said Leek Town Council needed to ask the Moorlands council more questions about Birchall.
He said: “Leek Show is a one-day event. It could adjust its arrangements, but it is giving public facilities to a private club.”
Meanwhile, residents living in Ball Haye Green said they had a right of way through the present entrance to take their bins. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “The gardens to the proposed houses come right up to our back. If this happened we could not get our bins out. We have a right of way through the yard which we had to fight for through the courts.
“There is no room at the front for the bins. The road is narrow and very busy. Cars leaving the proposed estate would not be able to see when they left the development as cars are parked on the left hand side going up.
“The road and pavements are used by many children going to the schools. It is horrendous.”
Leek Town Council agreed to offer no objection to the demolition of the building, but to seek more information from the District Council over the use of Birchall. Ball Haye Green FC was founded in 1880 but in 2018 was told by the site owner they would have to leave the ground.
The move would allow 41 houses to be built at the Ball Haye Green pitch
Mayor Stephen Wales