Haslingden Girls and Ladies FC gets café plans approved

Haslingden Girls and Ladies FC was formed in 1996 and has grown to 350 members aged five and above across 24 teams.

The club, which is a charitable organisation affiliated with the Lancashire FA, is the largest female-only club in the area and uses several venues across Rossendale.

However, many of its matches and training sessions take place on the 3G and grass pitches at Alder Grange High School, with training sessions held there on weekday evenings and matches at weekends.

In July, the club proposed to convert the outbuilding, known as the potting shed, which the team has a 10-year lease on.

A planning statement said: “The café will serve a selection of hot and cold food and drinks.

"Cold food will include crisps and chocolate, whilst hot food will include pies, burgers and hot sandwiches.

“Drinks will include hot beverages and soft drinks, and it is also intended to apply for a licence to sell alcohol.

“Seating will be provided for eating inside, although it is anticipated that customers may also wish to take food and drinks outside to the pitches.”

The building is a single-storey shed with a pitched roof and is currently used for storage.

It is split by a central dividing wall, and the applicant will convert the eastern half into a café, whilst the western half will retain its current use.

Rossendale Borough Council approved the proposal, with three conditions, which state that the venue can only be opened between 6pm and 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm on Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sundays.

Transport and parking were not expected to be an issue, as the café will only be used by those attending matches and training sessions and is not intended for use by the general public.