Gala Wilton FC gets go-ahead for ground improvements

The club has been given permission for new facilities

Plans to upgrade a Gloucester football ground have been given the go-ahead by city planners, despite initial concerns from some residents.

Gala Wilton Football Club has been granted permission for a new stand, concrete paving and six floodlights at Fairmile Gardens in Longford.

The floodlights will be 15m (49.2ft) tall and a 6ft-high fence will run between the Gala Club and the pitch.

The club said it struggled to keep players because of its facilities.

Jon Clay, a former player and volunteer at the club, spoke in favour of the plans at Gloucester City Council's planning committee meeting on 5 March.

He said the club, founded 50 years ago, currently have three men's teams, a veteran's team and a youth side.

"As a club we really do have a ceiling on us, and it's a vicious cycle where we get good players in, they do really well, we think we are going to win the league and then all of a sudden we can't go anywhere because we haven't got the right ground grading requirements."

The club plays its home games in the Longford area of Gloucester

"We've got a simple vision at the club and that is to improve the facilities and make them the best in the county," he said.

Mr Clay also said the improvements would allow the club to progress to the next level, and that the focus going forward would be on expanding its youth set-up.

Residents reassured

Ward councillor Linda Castle (Liberal Democrat, Longlevens) said she was contacted by residents concerned about the proposals.

But since then club chairman, Lee Sheridan, approached the ward councillors to arrange a public meeting.

"This meeting was very well supported. Residents were happy with the questions and we felt the outcome of the meeting was positive and we have no objections to the planning application," said Cllr Castle.

The planning committee voted unanimously to approve the proposals.