Homes to be built on site of Sheffield tennis courts

Coun Roger Davision made the comments as members of Sheffield Council planning and highways committee granted planning permission for the properties to be built on three existing courts at Abbeydale Tennis Club, Abbeydale Road South, Dore.

The Ecclesall councillor said the courts were "well-used" and also raised concerns about the proximity of the homes to the cricket field at Abbeydale Sports Club.

Coun Davison said: "I am very sad to see sporting facilities in Sheffield go. It just seems to be a downward spiral which we are seeing at the minute and it's perhaps something that we should look at later on."

People living near the site had raised objections about access to the site, which will be near a Royal Mail sorting office and Dore and Totley councillor Martin Smith said it would be "chaos".

"The only entrance to the site is directly opposite the Royal Mail sorting office and there is no provision for parking so people have no option but to park on the road and that's directly opposite the site.

"One of the options I have put forward to you would require that no deliveries are made to the site during the peak period of the sorting office because, frankly, it would be chaos."

Other councillors also raised concerns about how close the homes will be to the cricket field.

Coun Joe Otten said: "If somebody is injured by a cricket ball some time in the future is it entirely on the developer's head or may this result in pressure on the sports club to limit the performance of cricket on the pitch?"

Planning officer Michael Johnson said: "The cricket ball trajectory assessment takes into account a professional level of play and recommends a three-metre high fence."

Committee members approved the officers' recommendation to grant planning permission, following the debate.