Neighbours have been left heartbroken as plans to create a community centre on green space were approved. On June 7, Broxtowe Borough Council passed plans for a multi-million-pound centre on land at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground, Stapleford.
The plans give permission to demolish the existing changing pavilion and construct a community leisure pavilion together with associated external works including the installation of a multi-use games area. The £6.4 million development is one of six projects agreed as part of the Stapleford Town Centre Investment Plan - funded through the £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund.
The application includes the extension of the existing car park, replacing the existing basketball court within the northwestern corner of the site. The existing play area and bowling green located within the southwestern corners of the site will be retained. The development will also see Stapleford Cricket Club, which has used the ground for more than 100 years, relocated.
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Now, Hickings Lane residents have shared their sadness about the approval. Barb Lang, 55, became visibly upset when discussing the approved plans. Holding back tears, she said: "I'm heartbroken to be fair.
"It's not that we don't want something, we just don't want the cricket club to go. I go and watch them, my dad and grandad used to both play for them.
"My grandad was born in 1898 and played for Stapleford Cricket Club and then my mum and dad used to go there and play boules. The ground should be for all.
"The loss of green space will be massive too." Keith Blower, 64, and his wife Dennie, who also live on the street, added: "We hadn't been informed that it had been approved. I think the development is restricting the park for everyone else. It's taken a long time to get the park to what it is today and we don't want to change that."
The site is set to officially open in 2025. The pavilion would facilitate community activities such as fitness classes, yoga, dancing, club groups, elections, meetings and event hire.
Speaking on the plans, another Hickings Lane resident said: "There's nowhere for the cricket club to go. The cricket club has been here since 1912. I think it's terrible that they're doing this to them, it's going to have a real impact on the community.
"I don't understand. We as residents intend to appeal the decision, we don't feel like we've been properly consulted.
"I'm worried about the traffic because the weekend traffic we get from the football is already horrendous. Whether we will stay here or not I don't know, which is a shame because I like living here, we've been here for like 10 years."
Others living close to the development shared their concerns about other details of the proposed plans, including a 3G football pitch, which residents feel will not only take away green space, but also create noise and light pollution.
Karen Massey, 62, who works from home as an NHS administrator, said that Hickings Lane Recreation Ground became a "saviour" for her during the pandemic, allowing her to get fresh air in an open space during lockdown.
"It's really sad, we've lived here for 40 years, and there have been problems in the park in the past but it seems a shame to get rid of the green area that was a saviour during lockdown.
"We're not against a nice building, but we don't want the football pitch. The noise it will bring at night as well as the lights. We don't feel listened to by the council at all in this process."
"We don't want to lose the green space, because then that's it - that's the end of the park." In response to residents' concerns, a spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said: "Stapleford has 15,000 residents and has never before had a community centre of this kind. It has been given £6.4 million by the Government as part of its £21.1m Town Fund.
"Plans for a community centre at Hickings Lane have been in place since the original bid in 2021. There was a community engagement event held in May attended by over 80 people and it was passed by Broxtowe Borough Council planning committee this week.
"Of those who attended the event 37 per cent were likely or highly likely to use the facility, 34 per cent were unsure and 26 per cent were unlikely to use it.
"The new plans not only protect the park for those who use it now but enhance it for many others who don’t currently use it, creating for the first time a community facility for all in Stapleford. The new building will be on the site of the existing building and the now-demolished skate park.
"After listening to residents the site has been moved from the original planned location on the park. the building will be radically improved - the current building is unfit for purpose. The 3G pitch is subject to separate planning applications and floodlights need to conform to regulations and will considered as part of the planning process.
"After listening to residents, the plans were drawn up to increase off-street parking and will create more than double the current available space."
Speaking on the future of Stapleford Cricket Club, the council added: "The whole Town Board have been working very hard with the cricket club to secure alternative provision for the club. The planning application has been recommended for approval by Broxtowe Borough Council, the application will now be referred to the Secretary of State."
Ian Jowett, Chair of the Stapleford Towns Fund, said: “We heard very clearly how much local people wanted better facilities that enable them to come together to enjoy activities and events in appropriate surroundings. This £6.4m state-of-the-art community pavilion and young people’s centre will really deliver this for the whole community, putting Stapleford on the map."
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