Willington Cricket Club gets the go ahead for a clubhouse extension with lounge. Council addresses parking and noise impact.
The expansion takes up parking spaces. The club will have 26 spots, not 30. Construction must start within three years. Work hours are limited during the week. They can work Saturdays until 2 PM only. No work happens on Sundays or holidays.
The outside must match the current building. The club needs a bat and bird survey first. Someone living nearby had worries. Mrs. Gladys Elliott sent a letter to the council. She worried about parking for visitors. Past events made too much noise, she said. An access gate was misused before, she added.
The cricket ground visitors often park near the entrance. This blocks the view for residents. Loud music bothered her in the past. It went on for hours at events.
The planning officer answered her concerns. The lounge is for players mainly, not big events. Privacy isn’t a problem, the officer said. Parking is adequate, and traffic should not worsen. The access road is public. Parking rules are not the council’s job.
The project won’t harm local wildlife, they stated. It is on existing pavement already. The council approved the extension on February 5. Rules are in place to lessen construction effects. The plan aligns with local and national policies.