Councillors back Bromborough cricket centre plan

Mar 17 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

WIRRAL Council’s planning committee last week approved plans for an indoor cricket centre in the borough.

The scheme, by Eight4Sport, had been slated for refusal by planning officers as they said the warehouse should be retained for industrial use.

But councillors on the committee unanimously rejected this, praising the scheme for the jobs it will create and the sporting opportunities represented by the plan.

The ambitious plans to create the north of England’s first specialist indoor cricket pitch, in a disused warehouse in Bromborough, were submitted to the council late last year.

The proposal, by leisure company Eight4Sport, will see the unused warehouse in Candy Park developed, and, as well as three dedicated indoor cricket pitches, nets and practice lanes, also provide facilities for other sports, including indoor netball.

Oliver MacPherson, of Eight4Sport, said he and business partner Rob Chadderton were delighted by the committee’s decision.

But Bromborough councillor Steve Niblock had backed the scheme from the start and spoke to the committee urging them to accept it.

Planning committee member Cllr Dave Mitchell had proposed approving the plans, saying he knew the area well as it is close to his Eastham ward, and this was accepted by fellow councillors when it came to the vote.

Cllr John Salter said the scheme would create jobs and a unique sporting facility which would operate all year round, and Cllr Brian Kenny added: “All in all, there is a lot more in favour of this plan than against it.”