Workers to pitch in on club refurb

PITCHING in... the Whitebank Stadium pitch is due an upgrade

PLANS have been passed to upgrade the pitch at the Whitebank Stadium in Limeside ­- despite objections from residents.

The main grass pitch, formerly used by Oldham Rugby League Football Club, will be transformed into a new all-weather 3G surface.

The introduction of a steel fence and new small training pitch in addition to the upgrade will allow more intensive use of the field.

Angry residents said they had been overlooked in the decision made by the body who proposed the scheme.

Councillors voted 11 to one in favour of the scheme at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

Work to install the green artificial playing surface with white line markings for football as well as the new natural turf playing field on land to the north is expected to take 12 weeks. There will be parking for 22 with eight disabled spaces with additional overflow parking also proposed.

A 1.1m-high barrier handrail system will also be installed around the pitch to reduce noise and rubble from affecting the pitch.

However, it could take up to a year before the second field is available for use due to the after-care required.

Applicant Oldham Council said: "This scheme will address a known shortage of pitches in the area and provide a positive facility in what is a vulnerable community. It will bring a disused area back into use.

"It is considered that these benefits outweigh any objections on the ground of the green belt."

Work at the stadium replaces those intended to be carried out at Higher Lime, Limehurst Village, which will no longer be used by Avro FC.

Chris Shingler, of nearby Green Lane, said: "Only about six houses had official letters about it. We had to post out 50 copies on Tuesday night.

"That grass pitch covers half of Green Lane. The fence is less than a metre behind my house."

Resident Carol Lord said: "This will be used 85 hours a week. Once they are getting the revenue they will apply for floodlights. Where is the consideration for residents?"

Concerns

There were 34 objections to the proposal including Oldham Garden Suburb Association which represents more than 400 residents.

The potential presence of badger setts and possible future light pollution were also raised as concerns.

Council bosses also discharged a planning condition for the provision of sports facilities at Failsworth-based Lancaster Sports and Social Club. The condition stated that no development could take place unless full details had been submitted to the local authority and approved in consultation with Sport England.

After the meeting, Councillor Jean Stretton, leader of Oldham Council, said: "This is great news for grassroots sport in the borough as well as local residents as they will have a high quality sporting facility right on their doorstep.

"Once the work is complete the pitch will be able to support football, rugby league and rugby union ­- the only artificial pitch of its type in the borough."

As part of the upgrade, Avro Football Club will be granted a lease to use the site as its home ground and will move from their current home at the Lancaster Club, paving the way for developers Bellway to start work building much-needed family homes on the site.