New sports pitch near petrol storage approved

Ashford Town FC's Robert Parker Stadium is next to the Esso West London Oil Terminal

Plans to build an artificial pitch in the shadows of a petrol storage site have been approved by councillors, despite safety concerns.

A planning application submitted by Ashford Town Football Club was approved on Wednesday.

But Spelthorne Borough Council's decision could still be called in by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which had flagged concerns over the plans.

The club's vice chairman, Paul Gully, previously told BBC South East the Stanwell club was “on its knees” financially and would "probably cease to exist" if the plans weren't approved.

Ashford Town's Robert Parker Stadium, south of Heathrow Airport, is next to the Esso West London Oil Terminal.

The club hopes to replace its current grass pitch, which will mean more playing time is available and more income coming in for the club.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, club chairman Nick Bailey told the meeting: “To lose a club of our size within our area would be an absolute travesty.”

He said over the last 18 years he'd been part of the club, nine junior teams had grown to 31, with 400 children involved.

Before the meeting an HSE spokesperson said it had advised against the plans which would increase the number of people being exposed to potential fire and explosion hazards in the unlikely event of a major incident at the fuel terminal.

Councillors rejected officers' recommendation to refuse the plans, voting instead to approve based on the community benefits outweighing the increased risks.

The council will now give the HSE 21 days' notice, during which time it will consider whether to make a request to the Secretary of State to decide the application.

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