Plans for a second cricket pitch at a successful Pembrokeshire club to let it “future-proof” its growth are expected to be backed by councillors.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, recommended for approval at the November meeting of the council’s planning committee, Chris Richards, on behalf of Cresselly Cricket Club, is seeking permission to convert a field to a second pitch at the club.
A supporting statement says: “The Committee at Cresselly Cricket Club over the past five years has been extensively promoting the game of cricket particularly aiming at grass roots level in the local community.
“Our approach has been extremely successful and as a result we currently have four senior teams, ladies team, 10 junior teams, together with the All Stars/Dynamos Programme.
“As a result of our success we have to ground share, but we are finding this increasingly difficult, so our aspiration of the club is to have its own designated second cricket pitch alongside our existing facility.
“This will provide more playing opportunities and enable us to be in control of the second pitch, but more importantly future proof and support our continued growth without reliance on other clubs who are also expanding and may want their facility for their own use in the future.
“We have been in negotiations with the Cresselly Estate who owns the land, and they fully support the proposal, together with the neighbouring tenant.”
It says the land will only be used as a cricket pitch with no permanent buildings being constructed.
Local community council Jeffreyston has unanimously supported the proposal, saying: “Cresselly Cricket Club undertakes excellent work in the community with their senior, ladies, and junior teams, as well as their involvement in other programmes. We wish them continued success for the future. Cresselly is a well-run club with a good reputation and doing positive action for the residents and the youth of the area.”
An officer report ahead of the committee says the proposal would result in the loss of some best and most versatile agricultural land but that is balanced against “the importance of recreational spaces and outdoor facilities in terms of health, well-being and amenity”.
It concludes: “Whilst the proposal would result in the loss of agricultural land, the scheme would provide significant social benefits for the well-being and health of the community. The scheme would have a low impact on the landscape and upon the amenities of nearby residents.”
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