Residents have shared their concerns about a potential loss of green space at a popular Nottinghamshire leisure spot. Those living in Hickings Lane, Stapleford, have said they're "not happy" with proposed plans for a new £6.4m community centre in Hickings Lane Recreation Ground, which comprises partly a multi-purpose building for the community.
Due to open in 2025, Stapleford Towns Fund hopes the building can bring local community groups together under one roof as a central hub for people of all ages to meet, learn, play and keep fit. But those close by have shared their anxieties about the potential development.
Taylor Cockbill, 24, who lives in Hickings Lane, said: "I'm not happy about it. It's a nice space for the public to use. I'm all for them upgrading the building that’s there, but do not take away the green space.
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"A lot of people use it... I use it to cut through to get to the bus stop and to the Aldi. Upgrade the building but leave the green space alone."
The latest CGI images show that a new football pitch, a tennis court, a play area and an extended car park would also potentially be added to the ground, which can be accessed from Hickings Lane, Wesley Place, and Westcross Avenue. A public consultation was held on Thursday, May 24, for residents to present their concerns to a planning officer.
A planning application can be amended by the applicant after neighbours and other consultees have commented on the original plans. Those plans will then be considered by the Broxtowe local planning committee on Wednesday, June 7 2023.
Concern had also been raised about local clubs that use the current ground to train. Broxtowe Borough Council confirmed that it was looking to find Stapleford Cricket Club a new suitable place to play, while the boules club will continue to operate from the recreation ground.
It said: “The cricket team representatives have been fully informed all the way through the process. Their agreement has been sought because they are integral to any work being undertaken on the site.
“We must find a suitable location for the team in Stapleford and we are happy to do this.” Others living in the area also weighed in on the proposal. Another Hickings Lane resident added: "The idea of something is partly good, but building in the park is not, we want the green space.
“The roads and the access are not good enough for the traffic. It seems like a nice idea, but not well-planned.
“It feels like they’re trying to build a football stadium somewhere that’s not big enough. The ground is already well-used by the community.”
Others close by also shared their fears that the plans would take away a well-used and much-loved area. An Ilkeston Road resident who frequents the area added: “It’s just not good news - another green space they’re building stuff on.” In response to claims about the loss of green space, Broxtowe Borough Council has said that the new building will be on the site of the existing building, and the newly demolished skate park.
Some acknowledged the need for a regeneration project. The plans come as part of the town’s proposals on how it will spend a government grant.
In September 2019, it was announced that £3.6 billion would be made available to regenerate more than 100 towns across the UK, with Stapleford securing £21 million.
Stapleford Towns Fund said it will use the money on six key projects, including an enterprise hub, a library learning facility, a safer cycling scheme, a covid-19 town centre recovery grant scheme, and a street improvement scheme, as well as the Hickings Lane Recreation Ground community pavilion and young people’s centre.
Speaking on the proposed plans at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground, Dickson Zidawa, a 47-year-old staff nurse, said: "The old building has been there for a while, it's about re-developing the park. I'm up for it, we need to see some change and some development."
His thoughts were echoed by Matt Byrne, 48, who added: "The kids need something. It'll be great if it's going to be free.
But the sales advisor also echoed similar concerns of other residents. “We are going to lose some green space. I'm concerned about the amount of traffic that we're going to get,” he added.
“When the football is on there's already loads of traffic." Outlining the future plans for Stapleford, Broxtowe Borough Council detailed on its website that it believes Stapleford is a “small town with big potential” and views the funding as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to build a lasting legacy for those living there.
In response to residents’ concerns, Councillor for Broxtowe, John McGrath said: “There’s no potential loss of green space. The benefits for the younger generation and the older generation will be unbelievable.
“With traffic concerns, the town’s deal also involves cycle routes around the town, so traffic calming measures will be put in place and Hickings Lane is part of that - everything has been taken into consideration.”
Speaking on the cost of the facilities, Cllr McGrath added: “It won’t be free but certain parts of it will be, the green spaces will be.”
He continued: “Naturally, if you’re to build anything in front of someone [the houses opposite the Hickings Lane ground], naturally you would be upset. But I would ask the simple question, what people are tending to forget is, we were given this levelling up fund to make Stapleford better, and we don’t make Stapleford better for ourselves, we make Stapleford better for the next generation.
“Another thing I think has gone amiss with the residents is that Hickings Lane was renowned for anti-social behaviour. For too many years, we in Stapleford have said we haven’t had the right facilities, and now is the chance to put the right people in and the right facilities.”
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