6:00am Saturday 14th November 2009
By Paul Cook
A FORMER professional footballer has launched a late bid to save Darlington FC’s former Feethams’ ground from being a housing site.
Paul Bielby, who runs a football academy in his home town, has submitted a copy of Feethams’ deeds to demand it be kept for sporting use.
However, both council planners and the land’s owner have denied that his bid will affect a meeting to discuss the proposals.
Esh Group, based in County Durham, wants to build 146 homes on the former football ground.
Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee will debate the plans at a meeting next week. Planning officers’ advice is to approve the housing bid.
However, Mr Bielby has asked the committee to reject the application because the land should be kept for cricket and sporting use, as outlined in the deeds.
Darlington FC played at Feethams from 1883 until 2003, when the club moved to an all-seater stadium in Neasham Road.
Feethams Cricket Field Trust, which was established in 1903, owns the land.
Mr Bielby, who played for Manchester United, Hartlepool United and Huddersfield Town, has campaigned for more playing fields in Darlington.
He was sent a copy of the trust’s deed of foundation, which he forwarded to the council ahead of next week’s meeting.
Mr Bielby said: “Legally, according to the deed of foundation, the building cannot go ahead.
“As it says in the deed of foundation, in 1903, it should be kept as an open space for cricket and other athletic exercises.”
However, the cricket club said it was legally entitled to sell the land and use the proceeds to support the club.
The trust went ahead with its plans after seeking legal advice in 2005. It has also discussed the matter with council officers.
Cricket club chairman Brian Johnson said the deeds were set up to protect the club and land.
He added: “We have powers to sell the land, provided we use the proceeds of the sale for the furtherance of sport.”
The club’s ambition is to build an indoor cricket school to be used by the club as well as the wider community.
A council spokesperson said: “The covenant in the deeds is part of civil law and isn’t enforced under planning legislation.
“Therefore, it does not prevent anyone submitting a planning application or the council determining an application.”
The meeting, which is open to the public, will takes place on Wednesday, at 1.30pm in the town hall.
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