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Isle of Wight: Plans for Havenstreet cricket ground turned down

Cricket plan thrown out

By Richard Wright - Friday, September 26, 2008
CRICKETHAVENSTREET Cricket Club members’ 30-year dream of coming home to the village has been knocked for six.
The IW Council’s planning committee turned down the club’s application to turn a field opposite the IW Steam Railway into a cricket ground because of unacceptable impact on the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). It had been recommended for refusal.
Club chairman Keith Newbery appealed to councillors to allow the club to once again become part of the village.
He detailed being forced to move in the mid 1970s from possibly the worst cricket ground in the country in the village centre, playing all its games away while searching in vain for a replacement.
Then, two businessmen, who had joined the club as ten-year-olds, managed to secure the land and donated it to the club.
“I realise this is an area of outstanding natural beauty — but I also believe a cricket ground is also an area of outstanding natural beauty,” he said.
The application was supported by Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council which said it would bring one amenity back to a village which had lost its school, post office, shop, bus service and even one of its postboxes, as well as ward councillor Dawn Cousins and neighbouring members Vanessa Churchman, Barry Abraham and Henry Adams.
But officers said there was no evidence the club had looked for a ground closer to the village as an alternative to a site that would harm the character of the AONB.
Residents expressed concern at access onto a busy road opposite the steam railway and its effect on the countryside.
Cllr Mike Cunningham urged refusal because of its effect on the AONB and Cllr John Hobart said: “I can see nothing in its favour — other than it is a flat piece of ground.”