11:00am Wednesday 23rd January 2008
TWO massive community sports developments were kicked into touch by St Helens Council's planning committee on Tuesday night in the face of strong opposition from neighbours.
Controversial proposals to create nine floodlit artificial football pitches on Queens Park, off Boundary Road, and a clubhouse were unanimously rejected by the councillors, who met at The World of Glass.
And a separate plan for Victoria Park to site a sports pavilion, two football pitches, a netball court and restore an existing bowling green were also thrown out.
In both instances the planning committee went against local authority planning officers, who had recommended the plans should be passed.
The decisions were each met with cheers at the meeting by neighbours surrounding both parks, who have campaigned against the plans.
But when the news filtered through to members of the sporting community, who The Star spoke to on Tuesday evening, it was met with dismay and anger.
The rejection of the Victoria Park plan, because councillors were concerned over the impact on the park, has a knock-on effect for proposals to build homes on land off City Road, where two rugby league pitches, used by Pilkington Recs, stand.
The planning application for the City Road housing development cannot go ahead without compensatory sports facilities being created in the Windle City community and was consequently deferred from Tuesday night's meeting.
Key reasons for knocking back the Queens Park soccer scheme included concerns over noise levels from the pitches, impact on the park and the loss of open space, a loss of amenity and increased traffic.
Pulse Fitness, who want to develop the soccer centre, included in their plans installing a three metre high acoustic fence, which would have acted as a sound barrier.
It is unclear at this stage whether developers will lodge appeals against the planning verdicts.
What do you think? Should the council have kicked out these sports plans in the face of opposition from neighbours? Comment below.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk