Cricket club scores a ball net success

SHEFFIELD COUNCIL’S planning and highways committee has unanimously approved plans for a 15 metre- high ball net at the grounds of one of Yorkshire’s oldest cricket clubs.

HallamCricketClubhasplayed at Sandygate for more than 200 years and continues to be one of the best clubs in Yorkshire.

The ground is also the oldest football ground in the world, home to Hallam Football Club – the second oldest football club in the world. Club officials wanted to erect 15m- high netting because new technology means balls are being hit harder and further than before.

Richard Storer, an official at the club, said in the meeting: “Every time there is damage to property from a cricket ball, let alone personal injury, the first thing people say is ‘ why haven’t you got netting to protect us?’

“There is a reasonably foreseeable risk, we can’t continue to ignore it. People often say they are happy to live with a risk until it directly affects them.

“Without the nets, two of our teams would have to stop playing cricket altogether. Without those teams we would lose all the adults and families that go with them.”

Paul Brindley, who spoke at the meeting on behalf of local residents, said they are very supportive of the club but there were ‘‘ major’’ concerns.

At the meeting Councillor Andrew

Sangar said: “Hallam Cricket Club have taken the advice of independent consultants in terms of the netting, clearly the risk of more sixes going out of that ground is greater than it has been any time since 1804.”

Fellow councillor Bob McCann added: “We try to encourage young people in sport, whatever that sport is, so whilst I’ve got some reservations about this I think on the whole I will be supporting this application.”