Battle over Langho FC’s plans (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Battle over Langho FC’s plans

3:42pm Tuesday 19th June 2012 in Ribble Valley news By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

NEIGHBOUR and football club bosses have entered into a ‘pitched’ battle over a new all-weather playing surface for an East Lancashire community.

Club officials at Langho FC have told Ribble Valley planners that the artificial pitch, at their Dewhurst Road home, will prevent their grass pitches being cut up through over-use.

But people living nearby are worried that they will face a parking nightmare.

And there are question marks over whether 10 metre high floodlights will also prove a menace.

The final decision will rest with the borough’s development control committee, which meets at Clitheroe Town Hall on Thursday.

However the East Lancashire League side have taken an early lead.

Because the proposals have won the support of a council planning officer.

The club have responded to residents’ concerns about the floodlights.

Graeme Thorpe, for the club said that they would be barely be visible above the existing trees that are there.

Mr Thorpe said: “The proposal seeks to meet a clear local need by providing an up-to-date sports facility for the locality.”

The only protected tree which would be removed, he considers, is a poor sycamore specimen.

And the feels that felling would not materially harm the tree cover.

Another objection regarding noise was dismissed.

The club has pointed out that there are currently foot-ball pitches in use there until late.

In a letter to the authority, councillors have been told the trustees of the nearby Sanctuary of Healing have indicated that they would be willing to allow pitch users to adopt their car park as an overspill, outside of their operating hours.

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