New cricket facilities for village playing field

The facilities, for cricket practice, are set to be installed at the Church Lane playing field in Hixon

Plans to add new sports facilities at a village playing field have been given the green light.

An all-weather artificial grass surface for cricket practice and a net enclosure are set to be installed at the Church Lane playing field in Hixon.

The application was unanimously approved by the council's planning committee earlier this week.

"I think this ticks all the boxes," said committee member Jill Hood.

"At a time when we get so much press about antisocial behaviour and young people stuck to their phones, this is a wonderful facility for them to be outside."

The application was referred to the committee because the agent, Susan McKeown, is the wife of committee chair Brendan McKeown.

He left the room while the application was being decided.

A report to the committee said the all-weather artificial grass area would measure 26m (85ft) by 4.26m (14ft). The nets would measure 3.66m (12ft) high, it added.

It said: "The proposal would create a new facility for cricket practice within an existing playing field. The development would result in the partial loss of open playing field; it should be noted that there is no loss of any formal sports pitch.

"The residual playing field will remain large enough to host other sports events.

"It is also noted that the proposal is well related to an existing multi-use games area."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.