It's just not cricket, say Park residents

PARK Crescent residents are objecting to plans for a new cricket pavilion near their houses, claiming that it would cause disruption throughout the summer.

An objector representing several residents from the Appleton street voiced his concerns about the Appleton Cricket Club plans at the parish council's December meeting.

Residents are concerned that the pavilion will overshadow their houses and cause a disturbance in the summer when up to five matches can take place in a week.

Elvin Meachin, Appleton Parish Council clerk, said: "The parish council agreed that the proposed site was far from ideal especially as the proposed building is around 25 feet tall and would be in use several times a week during the cricket season. There was also concern that a mature oak tree would have to be felled."

Councillors believe that the new pavilion could be built at the southern end of the grounds where it would back on to the playing fields of Bridgewater County High School.

But Anthony Hurst, ground project manager, argued: "The existing facilities can't cope with the number of children we have coming down to the ground. We also have the only girls' side in Warrington and so we need three changing rooms instead of two."

He said that the pavilion was planned for the Park Crescent end of the ground because a pavilion should be placed with the sun setting behind it so that spectators do not face the sun.

He also said there would not be any major disturbances throughout the summer because any noise will come from the pitch, not the pavilion.