Plans to install floodlights at Alderley Edge Cricket Club have been approved by the Northern Planning Committee today, Wednesday 7th May.
Committee members voted to approve the application by 7 votes to 4, so the tennis club can now go ahead with plans to enhance the existing sports facilities and enable outdoor play during the evenings and winter months.
Approved developments include installing 9 x 8m high floodlight columns and lights to serve four tennis courts, and 4 x 6.7m high floodlight columns and lights to serve an additional tennis court. The scheme also includes installing lights on two existing columns to another court.
When approving the application, additional conditions were imposed - limiting the lighting on courts 2 and 5 to a 9pm curfew and requiring all temporary floodlights to be removed from the site.
Councillor Craig Browne, who sits on the Northern Planning Committee as Vice Chair, said "This application put me in a very difficult position, as I had one group of residents wanting to play more tennis; and another group of residents wanting to enjoy their homes and gardens without light pollution, noise pollution or loss of amenity. As Ward Councillor, it is my responsibility to represent everyone.
"I have never yet seen an argument resolved by both sides digging their heels in, so I worked hard to try and broker a compromise whereby the club would be able to install floodlighting on some courts, but not on the courts closest to Orchard Green; unfortunately, the club were not prepared to accept this compromise.
"The residents and the club have been neighbours for a very long time and when the dust settles on today's decision, they will continue to be neighbours. In the interests of harmony within the village, I hope they can each find a way to move forward and address each other's concerns appropriately."
A separate application to replace five grass courts with astro-turf, replace an existing grass-covered bank, between the current grass courts, with a retaining wall and introduce a fence around these courts was approved earlier this month on the condition that the fencing along the western boundary is no higher than 2 metres.
The all-weather courts will provide increased capability to play all year round during daylight hours and the floodlights will enable further use of the courts, particularly during the winter months.
Comments
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Your question is very pertinent, but it would be better addressed to the applicant (i.e. the Cricket Club). I sought to have a condition added, requiring a Parking Strategy to be submitted, but this was resisted by the Club and deemed unnecessary by CE Highways.
Kind regards,
Craig
Alderley Edge Cricket Club has been in existence for almost 150 years and is a great amenity for a large number of people.
If you cannot come to terms with the club activities don't buy a house next door!