On January 22 the planning committee heard a planning application to install a 3G pitch at Carshalton Athletic FC.
The application has been supported by the Surrey & National FA and Football foundation, local charities, local schools, the Ryman league, 1000 local people, 100 businesses that operate close to the ground, the overwhelming majority of local residents and our 1000 active members.
If successful LBS would benefit from £400,000 inward investment into borough sports facilities, just when all other budgets are being cut.
The volunteers, staff and stakeholders of the UK community club of the year and thousands of local children, boys, girls, ladies, men’s were all confident - there seemed no good reason to reject such a good application.
The application was recommended for approval by experts in the planning and highways department who spent 8 weeks analysing the implications of noise and disturbance to the local neighbourhood.
Eight councillors unanimously overturned the planning department’s recommendation.
The application was overturned on the basis of increased light pollution despite an independent light analysis (presented in the application) showing that there was NO light pollution within 30 metres of any resident’s house. Light pollution didn’t exist.
The application was overturned because the increase in floodlight usage hours.
Despite having approved an almost identical installation at Carshalton Boys 3G (where light pollution is significant) for the same number of hours. (& there being zero light pollution) The application was refused on the basis of noise Despite the playing area being 110-170 meters away from the nearest resident’s house – some seven to twelve times further away than the Carshalton Boys 3G (which was recently approved by the same committee for the same use) and four to six times further from local residents than Sutton United.
How can the levels of noise be unacceptable when much higher levels of noise to local residents have been approved next door?
Refused because of increase in traffic Despite the experts from the LBS highways department confirming that the traffic estimates and increase were reasonable and acceptable.
An appeal against the decision will cost in the region of £15,000 bringing the total costs to £30,000 so far. This will significantly reduce the funds that this community club has to operate next season.
Paul Dipre, chairman of Carshalton Athletic Football Club
What do you think? Send your letter to: letters@suttonguardian.co.uk.
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