BEWDLEY Town Football Club is hoping to blow the final whistle on a string of complaints about the redevelopment of its ground by giving residents the chance to discuss their concerns.

Since winning promotion last year, the club has spent more than £80,000 improving Ribbesford Meadows to enable the team to play in the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division.

Team manager, Craig Payton, said the club had been inundated with complaints from people living opposite the riverside ground since planning permission was first granted in March.

Following a suggestion by Wyre Forest district councillor, Stephen Clee, club members want to hold a meeting with local residents in January to try and resolve any concerns and discuss the club's aspirations for the future.

Mr Payton said: "They are only small things, like complaints about our floodlights being left on, but they mount up. People complained when we used water from the river to water the pitch during the summer, even though we had permission from the Environment Agency.

"We are all volunteers, none of us are paid. We are worried we will lose some of the volunteers because all their hard work keeps being run down."

He added: "We are a friendly, local club and we are doing a lot for the community. We don't want to cause trouble, we just want to sort these problems out."

There are 11 sides, including an under-18s team, which use the facilities at Ribbesford Meadows, as well as 70 children who attend the mini soccer sixes training sessions every Sunday.

Last season, Bewdley Town were forced to groundshare with neighbours, Stourport Swifts, while their own ground was being brought up to scratch.

The revamp has included a 140-seat stand, which has been painted dark brown to blend in with the surrounding environment, six floodlights and new changing rooms.

Chairman, Geoff Edwards, said: "We are only doing the minimum that is being asked from us. All we want to do is provide facilities here that are suitable for the level we are playing at."

As well as residents, Councillor Clee will be attending the meeting, which will be held on Friday, January 26 at the clubhouse.

Anyone interested in attending can contact either Mr Payton on 07973 533004 or Mr Edwards on 01562 955957.