I have just met with committee members at the Stapleton Cricket Ground. There has been some concern locally about the cricket ground being listed as a possible site for housing development in the draft Local Plan, which has been out for consultation. A petition opposing this has received a lot of support.

I can assure local residents that this is not something being imposed on the cricket club by the Council. The club, which is thriving, would like to find a new site, still in Stapleton, as it has outgrown its present location. For example, if the club was promoted, its pitch would not meet Sport England’s requirements, being too close to nearby houses.