RESIDENTS living next to a cricket ground have raised concerns about noise coming from training nets.

Darlington Cricket Club has submitted a retrospective planning application for the all-weather practice area, including two tracks within cages and nets.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee will hear complaints from residents whose homes overlook the club's ground off South Terrace in the town centre.

The club, which has been playing at the ground since 1866, has been hit with objections from people who live in properties on Greener Drive, which is part of the new housing development being built on the former Feethams football ground.

In the planning application, the club said that there have been practice nets previously positioned on the south boundary of the cricket ground for many years but the previous nets had deteriorated and were in need of replacement hence the erection of the new nets.

The plan is to make the practice pitches available seven days a week to club players as well as local schools between April and September.

However, the club's nearest neighbours have raised a number of concerns about the noise coming from the practice nets.

The objections include:

  • Based on our experiences of last season we are concerned over noise from bat on ball, bats striking frames of the nets, noise from the effort or bowling and batting; and noise and foul language from patrons and observers
  • The level of noise is dependent on the type of training and practicing being undertaken. Groups congregate around a bench at the bottom of the gardens and those not actively participating have in the past entertained themselves by kicking a football about or by trying to hit crickets balls into our gardens
  • We cannot use out first floor balconies due to the noise
  • There are more suitable locations on the field to house this training facility rather than the back of houses which will affect the quality of enjoyment for the residents

The application has been recommended for approval by council officers with a number of conditions attached. The meeting takes place on Wednesday at 1.30pm in the town hall.