Improvements to ground for Bexhill football club win backing

Proposals for a FA-approved grounds in Bexhill have been backed by planners, although objections from Sport England mean a final decision has yet to be made.
Little Common recreation ground and football pitches. SUS-180516-141410002Little Common recreation ground and football pitches. SUS-180516-141410002
Little Common recreation ground and football pitches. SUS-180516-141410002

On Thursday (September 10), Rother District Council’s planning committee approved proposals for a number of improvements at Little Common Football Club’s grounds in Bexhill Recreation Ground, including the building of a fence around the pitch.

While approved by the committee, objections had been raised by Sport England due to the loss of part of a cricket pitch from the site. Due to the organisation’s role in the planning process, the decision has automatically been referred to the secretary of state for a potential appeal.

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Despite Sport England’s concerns, the application was supported by the cricket club, which believed the proposal would have “no detrimental impact” on the use of the pitch.

In a letter to planners, cricket club chairman Paul Meredith said: “I am pleased to confirm that the cricket club are very happy to support your plans to develop the football club to meet Football Association guidelines.

“I am aware that you are planning to erect a fence around the pitch. The fence will have no detrimental impact on the third eleven cricket boundary. I am aware how important the return of football is to the club and also to the pavilion finances.

“The income generated helps both the cricket and football clubs thrive and support the junior sections which have taken many years of dedication to get to the position they are in at the moment.”

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The proposals had initially been due for decision back in July, but the item was pulled from the agenda in order to seek views from Sports England, which said it had not been formally consulted on the plans.

The proposals would see fencing – just shy of two metres tall – erected around the grounds, as well as new roofed stands added at the sides of the pitch

The erection of the fencing requires an existing footpath to be diverted outside of the grounds. 

When taken together, the  proposed improvements would mean the football grounds would meet FA standards, allowing the club to play league games at home in Bexhill for the first time in three seasons.

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While backed by many in the community, several neighbours have raised a number of concerns about the potential impact of the proposals on their amenity. 

Planning officers, however, concluded that these concerns do not outweigh the benefits of the scheme.

This view was shared by ward councillor Sarah Errington (Bexhill St Marks, Independent) during the meeting. She said: “I would like to thank all the previous councillors involved in this application. It has taken a long time to get this far. 

“I would like to thank Cllr Jimmy Carroll, Martin Kenward, Mrs Joy Hughes, Mrs Gillian Johnson and Ian Hollidge. They were involved in this in 2018 and had it not been for their support it wouldn’t have got this far. 

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“I do want to acknowledge there have been concerns from the neighbours. Some of those concerns do relate to existing issues in terms of the floodlights which  have been there for over 15 years. 

“The main concern I think from neighbours is the parking, however, I have met the manager of the football club on a number of occasions, I have read all his correspondence, and I am convinced that he is genuinely committed to working with the community to minimise any parking problems.”

While Bexhill Recreation Ground is council-owned land, Little Common FC is in the process of agreeing a eight-year lease agreement with Rother District Council. 

Rother District Council anticipates it will see a loss of income as a result of the lease – approximately £3,000 each year in pitch fees. However, it also expects to make a saving of around £2,500 per annum as a result of no longer having to maintain the football pitch.

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The club will also be charged rent of £500 per year as part of the eight-year lease agreement.

For the last three seasons The Commoners have played home games at The Oval in Eastbourne as it is the only local venue with the capacity to host the team.

However this arrangement is no longer viable and was not due to continue after the 2019/20 season.

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