A bid to open a new centre for young footballers has suffered a major setback after plans for the new site were rejected following significant local opposition.
The Russell Foster Youth League submitted a proposal to build the new centre, made up of 20 football pitches and an indoor sports facility, in Leamside, County Durham. But nearby residents quickly mounted a campaign against the bid due to its location and lack of transport access.
Bosses at the youth leagues hoped to build the new football centre at the current site of Leamside Equestrian, off Pithouse Lane, near Houghton le Spring as part of an upgrade to its current facilities in Newbottle.
About 23,000 youngsters currently take part in the youth leagues in the North East and it has been praised for providing a platform and football facilities to young stars throughout the region. First formed in 1975, it was the launchpad for dozens of North East footballing greats including Paul Gascoigne, Jordan Henderson, and Stewart Downing.
But the proposed site’s rural location in the green belt and lack of public transport access led councillors to unanimously vote against it at a Durham County Council planning meeting on Tuesday.
Ian Diggory, of West Rainton Parish Council, warned that players and spectators would be travelling to the site by car from Morpeth and Middlesbrough, and the area could not cope with increased traffic.
“The applicant is to be congratulated on the success in supporting and encouraging youth participation in football,” he told the meeting.
“But Newbottle headquarters has not been without its issues, and according to social media comments by residents, continues to have a negative impact on the neighbourhood, particularly parking on neighbouring streets.
“Their subsequent transport plan is unconvincing and something of a wish list insofar as it is self regulatory, voluntary and cannot be enforced.”
Objectors also warned of flying footballs leaving the boundary of the facility and causing a hazard to motorists on the nearby A1(M) motorway, while concerns were also raised about the impact it would have on nearby homes.
“Residents sitting in their gardens would be adversely affected by the noise generated by 14 players shouting, a referee whistling and 20 cheering spectators on pitches,” Mr Diggory added.
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Cllr Bill Kellett said the proposal posed a ‘blot on the landscape’ and an ‘intrusion into the green belt’.
He added: “There never has been any bus services in Leamside and West Rainton, and they often say Leamside is a forgotten village because nobody goes down there. Yet, all of a sudden, there’s going to be hundreds of cars down there. It’s just not acceptable.”
Councillors were shown dashcam photos of coaches struggling to cross a nearby bridge when faced with oncoming traffic, which residents say would only get worse with the new football centre.
But supporting the proposal David Armstrong, a Russell Foster Sports Foundation trustee and self professed “member of the common sense party” said the new Leamside site would benefit future generations.
“I fail to see how a leisure facility to be delivered at no expense to the public purse is not enough for the application to be approved.
However his plea wasn’t enough to convince councillors to approve the application, as members voted to reject the proposal.
Local Labour MP for Durham City and supporter of the local campaign, Mary Kelly Foy MP said: "While I, parish councillors and the local county councillors were fully behind the residents in their objections, I have been clear from the very beginning of this application that I am fully supportive of grassroots football. I would absolutely welcome this facility in the constituency and have offered to meet with Russell Foster and Durham County Council.
"That offer remains on the table, and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can bring this facility to the constituency, in a location that is far more appropriate.”
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