It’s just not cricket
OMISSION OF GAME HAS APPLICATION FOR CENTRE STUMPED
DESIGNS for a new multi-millionpound sports hub in Newcastle have been called into doubt by one of the project’s key backers – because of fears it will harm cricket in the city.
A major transformation of the Bullocksteads Sports Ground in Kenton Bank Foot was expected to be given approval on Friday, with Newcastle City Council bidding to turn it into a new ‘Parklife’ centre with nine football pitches and a two-storey pavilion.
But the plans had to be pulled at the last minute from a meeting of the local authority’s planning committee after a late objection from Sport England, which is part-funding the proposed redevelopment of the site.
The organisation, which is tasked with growing grassroots sport, says it must oppose the council’s plans because the new facilities include no provision for cricketers, whereas Bullocksteads has previously accommodated football, rugby, and cricket.
It said that, after consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), national sport leaders were not satisfied by suggestions that a future proposed pitch at the Newcastle Great Park would be a suitable replacement for the current Bullocksteads site, which was last used for the game between 2012 and 2015 by the Civil Service Sports Council Cricket Club.
Sport England told the council in an objection letter that it and the ECB “do not have confidence the proposals for provision of the sport will provide a setup that can sustain community cricket at Great Park.”
It added: “As the proposal currently stands, it offers significant benefits to football, but it is detrimental to the interests of cricket as the mitigation proposed is not considered of an acceptable quality.” If the council went ahead and approved the plans without the backing of Sport England, the application would have to be referred to the Government’s National Planning Casework Unit for a final decision.
Iain Fairlamb, the council’s assistant director of planning, told the committee meeting there would now need to be a “full assessment” of Sport England’s objection before councillors could vote on the proposals.
Under the plans, Bullocksteads’ existing changing room building would be replaced by a two-storey pavilion that would also feature a cafe, a coaching room, a fitness suite, and studio space.
Two artificial 3G pitches, which will be floodlit and have surrounding spectator areas, and seven new grass pitches, are also part of the plans – as are a 280-space car park and an outdoor children’s play area.
Concerns had also been raised about a loss of rugby pitches from the current Bullocksteads site, which was previously used by Northumbria University sports teams.
However, the Rugby Football Union removed its objections after the city council redrew the plans to include a rugby pitch.
The Parklife project, also sponsored by the Football Association and the Premier League, will also see another hub built at the Blakelaw Recreation Ground.