Struggling Sheffield sports club given more time to make changes before enforcement action

A struggling sports club has been given more time to make changes before Sheffield Council takes enforcement action.
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Ecclesfield Red Rose Junior Football Club submitted a planning application to retain an extended car park put in place without planning permission.

But council officers raised concern. In a report, they said: “It is considered there is insufficient information to properly assess the impact of the proposal on the highway network, drainage, land contamination and air quality.

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“The proposal is considered to have an unreasonable impact on the residential amenity of the neighbouring residents along Whitley View by virtue of noise and disturbance from car engines and headlights, air pollution due to engine fumes, overlooking and loss of privacy due to the increase land levels which allows drivers of vehicles to look directly into the private gardens and main downstairs living rooms.

Sheffield picture quiz answer is Sheffield Town hall.Sheffield picture quiz answer is Sheffield Town hall.
Sheffield picture quiz answer is Sheffield Town hall.

“It is also considered the provision of additional car parking to serve the needs of the club could, subject to detailed design, be more appropriately sited elsewhere on the site.”

They went on to say: “It is therefore recommended members refuse planning permission and authorise the head of planning to take all steps, including enforcement action and the institution of legal proceedings, to secure the removal of the unauthorised structure.”

Councillors on the committee unanimously decided to refuse the application in a meeting this week but gave the club more time to make necessary changes before taking enforcement action.

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Councillor Adam Hurst said: “I’m very torn. The number of times you sit in planning meetings and things get through because somebody basically ignored what the officers said and it almost becomes a ‘well we’ve done it now so let’s try and stop us’ so I really have a lot of sympathy for where the officers are.

“We do have an area of low sports participation, we do have a club that is short of money - I don’t think they have gone about doing this the right way but I would like to give as much leeway as possible so I support refusing the planning permission but we should give a bit more leeway with the enforcement.”