Sheffield warned of 'acute' pitch shortage as plans drawn up to build on football and cricket site
Concerns raised as developers plan to build on pitches
England cricket bosses want land at the centre of a housing row to be brought back into use as a cricket pitch, amid an acute shortage in the city.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has made the recommendation after a site at the end of Medlock Close, in Handsworth, used for years for football and cricket, was put forward for development into housing by the builders Harron Homes.
And football officials in the city have also warned of a pitch shortage, amid concerns over the housing plans.
It is understood the site next to Medlock Close was used by Handsworth Cricket Club until the mid to late 2000s when they left the site to play at Olivers Mount, just off Sheffield Parkway, with the site then being used for football.
However, the ECB says Handsworth are now looking for more sites to play cricket matches because of reductions in access to their usual current pitch.
In a representation to Sheffield Council, via Sport England, they said: “The site is definitely not surplus to requirements. The current PPS (the council’s 2022 Playing Pitch Strategy) shows large shortfalls for cricket across Sheffield with many sites being overplayed and a large amount of exported demand.
“The PPS ( Playing Pitch Strategy) details a large number of sites where cricket has been displaced. This site could be reintroduced for cricket, especially for the return of Handsworth CC who are seeing access severely restricted at Olivers Mount.
“A key recommendation of the 2022 PPS was to bring back lapsed cricket sites.”
They said that a feasibility study should be requested to look at bringing the site back for cricket or alternatively mitigation in the form of a new cricket ground elsewhere should be explored.
Sport England added the playing pitch strategy showed shortfalls across most sports, with cricket showing an acute shortfall. A proper strategy for all sports including cricket is needed so there aree enough places for sport to be played in Sheffield, it added.
“We strongly object to this proposal without mitigation in the form of another cricket ground within Sheffield,” they added.
Meanwhile, the Football Foundation and Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA has also warned of problems, the report, part of a response to the Medlock Close pitches planning application, revealed.
They said via Sport England that the emerging draft PPS showed capacity shortfalls for adult and youth 11v11 football pitches in the south east Sheffield sub-area, expected to be exacerbated with future demand, and expected to include youth 9v9 pitches in future.
- RELATED: Southey Social Club's fight for survival
- RELATED: Why extreme weather means Sheffield NHS will be busier in summer as well as winter
- RELATED: Boy, 17, accused of sex attacks at train station and college
- RELATED: Remembering Sheffield broker, 33, killed in 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years ago today