Middleton sports facility set for refusal

Councillors on the Middleton Township planning sub-committee are set to refuse permission for the construction of one of three sports facilities in the area.

The Council has submitted planning applications for three outdoor pitches; one at Little Heaton C of E Primary School, one at King George V playing fields on Aspinall Street and one near Boarshaw Gym on Stanycliffe Lane. Council planning officers have recommended that the Boarshaw Gym pitch is refused.

The Boarshaw site is part of a greenspace corridor and planning officers say that the pitch would 'harm its ecological and landscape value', restricting the movement of wildlife and limiting public access to the area.

Each of the developments proposes building sports pitches with 4m high fencing and four floodlights at each.

The council hopes that the pitches will reduce low-level crime and anti-social behaviour, which have been prominent in each of the proposed areas.

In total the Council has received 21 objections from members of the public against the three developments, with residents fearing that the facilities could intensify the anti-social behaviour and that there are already problems with car parking at all three sites.

The Middleton Township planning sub-committee meets on Wednesday (21 January) to discuss the plans. The meeting starts at 6.15pm at the Middleton Arena.