Boost for under fire football club

4:09pm Friday 5th September 2008

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A DISPUTE between Wyre Forest District Council and Bewdley Town Football Club over the club’s refusal to lower its floodlights after every game could be resolved next week.

The council had threatened the club with legal action and had been boosted by the support of a Planning Inspector who ruled against the club when the application went to appeal.

Now the council’s planning bosses are due consider a fresh application by the Ribbesford Meadow club to only lower the floodlights during closed season and this has received the support of the case officer.

Case officer, John Baggott, has recommended the application for approval calling it a “compromise solution”.

He explained that the ground was within a landscape protection area and area of great landscape value but also that it was necessary to meet community needs.

He added that the club’s existence could be under threat it was forced to carry out the “onerous” task of lowering the floodlights after every game.

Lowering all the floodlights requires at least two people and takes an estimated three hours. Officials at the club say they do not have sufficient manpower to cover this.

In addition, a floodlight was badly damaged during an earlier attempt to lower it and it has been recognised that volunteers face the risk of serious injury without being properly trained in the process.

Mr Baggott said: “The proposal would not create an unacceptable or adverse impact upon the character or appearance of the area to a degree that would justify refusal of planning permission.

“The impact of the proposal upon nearby residential properties has been carefully assessed and is considered that there will be no undue impact on the setting.”

The football club is a non profit making club run by volunteers that has 16 teams, including 14 youth teams.

The planning development control committee will decide on the application at 6pm on Tuesday at Duke House, Clensmore Street, Kidderminster.