Restrictions ended at under-threat cricket club

Councillors were told the club faced an "existential threat" if restrictions on use of the clubhouse were not lifted

A cricket club whose future was said to be under threat has had restrictions to its clubhouse lifted so members can raise more income and run services for disabled adults.

The building at Bolton Villas Cricket Club in Bradford was granted planning permission in 2006 on the condition that only events linked to the club would be held there.

But at a meeting of the Bradford Planning Panel on Wednesday, councillors were told the long-running club faced an "existential threat" to its future if the limit was not overturned.

Councillors voted to approve the change following 89 letters of support for the plans and 18 objections.

The club applied to Bradford Council to lift the restriction so the clubhouse, on All Alone Road, could also be used by Assisted Lives, an organisation that works with adults with disabilities.

The application said: "Without planning permission, the 100-year history of the club is under genuine threat and its legacy of creating future cricketers will disappear."

'Significant decline'

Mo Hussain, from Yorkshire County Cricket Club, supported the plans and said the additional use would help the club survive.

He said: "We've seen the demise of many, many clubs due to restrictive models that are unsustainable. Since Covid, playing membership has been in significant decline.

"When the cricket season finishes in a few weeks until April, the clubhouse has no use but costs continue. It is a real existential threat to club finances and viability."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the application stated: "The proposed extension of use will allow for modest, community-focused activities specifically for members of the community who need person-centred care and support, at times outside of match days to ensure the site remains vibrant and financially sustainable.

"The current membership has changed in terms of diversity and communities where alcohol provision is not the main social activity.

"The club no longer relies on this model of income generation. As a result of this, the club's realistic way of generating income, is by the hiring of the cricket facilities."

The grounds are owned by Willowfield CIO and operated by The Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which took over from the previous committee.

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