3 days Ago
Plans to renovate a football stadium have been approved. Arun District Council gave the green light to the application to replace a grass football pitch with synthetic turf at Bognor Regis Town FC's home ground in Nyewood Lane. The proposal also includes upgraded floodlighting and spectator fencing.
The plans prompted 52 objections, as well as a petition signed by 36 people. Objectors cited worries about the new floodlights, saying they would be a blot on the landscape, and raised concerns about biodiversity loss. Other issues included increased noise, insufficient parking, and a lack of community engagement.
The impact on wildlife, the potential for microplastics to contaminate the environment, and the effect on property values were also highlighted. Read next: Proposals to turn former sweet shop into a takeaway spark mixed reaction Some residents noted the proposal's lack of a noise assessment and insufficient drainage information. Despite these concerns, the proposal also received 201 letters of support.
Supporters argued the synthetic turf was much needed in the area, as it would remove the need to hire all-weather pitches further afield in Lancing and Worthing. They also highlighted the unreliability of grass pitches, stating artificial pitches reduce postponements. Supporters said the new pitch would benefit the community, providing more opportunities for people of all ages and genders to participate.
It was also noted that the synthetic turf would require less maintenance than grass pitches. A shot of the ground from 2015 (Image: Betty Longbottom) The council's planning report stated the development would largely retain its overall appearance, with upgrades to existing lighting, fencing, and pitch. The report said: "This would not result in a harmful visual change upon the appearance of the site nor on the character of the area.
"The physical changes on site would not result in harm by overshadowing, overbearing, or overlooking on neighbouring amenity." Environmental Health assessed the application and raised no objections regarding noise. The floodlights will be upgraded from a lattice tower to column lighting at the same number of four but their height will increase from 15m to 18m.
While higher, the column design is said to be more simplistic and less prominent than the current lattice design. The new design is also aimed to reduce light spill to nearby residents. Read next: The reason that ITV's Grace wasn't filmed at the Amex revealed The application also proposed replacing the current 1.
2m high spectator fencing with a new 1.1m fence. The report added: "While the opening hours will bring additional use and noise, the number of match days would not change as a result of the development.
" The club, nicknamed The Rocks, is an FA Chartered Standard Community Club affiliated with the Sussex County Football Association..
