While some of our teams train indoors, we require more space for teams in the older age groups, hence the need for outdoor, larger facilities. There are hardly any such facilities in our area to use and I found myself today seeking other alternatives.
I contacted a local hire company to hire a small outdoor temporary, moveable lighting facility to try and facilitate training for the youngsters, and contacted the council as we rent our pitches from them. They referred me to the planning department who said I may have big problems due to houses in the vicinity of the pitch.
I pointed out that under no circumstances would we point lights at peoples houses. I do appreciate how people would be inconvenienced by light pollution and would ensure that this did not cause anyone any such issues.
We would only wish to illuminate a size of around half a junior football pitch for two hours on two or three evenings a week between the hours of 6pm and 8pm. The lady said that I should send a letter detailing my proposal including a plan, a map with dimensions and full specifications for the lighting.
I would also need to pay £12 for our friends in planning to look at this and tell me if planning permission would be required.
How irritating it is to try your hardest to provide activities for youngsters to keep them off street corners, only to become smothered in red tape due and an alarming lack of suitable facilities in our area.
Steven Dean