Residents oppose football club's public field fence

A football club's plans to restrict access to its field has prompted hundreds of objections.

Last year, Skelton United Football Club, in east Cleveland, placed a fence around the field used by its players and currently have an application in with Redcar and Cleveland Council to lock two of the three access points at all times, except for emergency services.

The field is leased to the club by the council for football, but also for use by the public as a park.

Skelton East's Conservative councillor Justin Thompson said it was "a step too far" and the community was increasingly frustrated. The club said plans would strike a balance between maintaining public use and protecting its facilities.

The application, which does not yet have a decision date, also included proposals for a cafe.

In a statement, the volunteer-run youth football club said it had "persistent problems" with dog fouling, criminal damage and syringes found on the grounds.

The club said a motorbike cut up the grounds in January and there had been further damage which meant one of its fields could not be used for an entire season.

Skelton United Football Club said: "These proposals are not intended to prevent responsible public access but to help safeguard the site, protect the facilities, and ensure a safe environment for players, volunteers, visitors, and the wider community."

However, hundreds of objections were raised including from residents who used the field as a route to adjoining housing estates and bus stops.

"This route is considerably quicker and, more importantly, much safer than walking via surrounding roads," one respondent said.

Others said the plans were an "overreach" and raised concerns about the local swans and cygnets which have used the field as a route from Skelton wildlife pond for "years and years".

Thompson said: "It's a place where families walk, children play and people exercise their dogs.

"My main concern is just losing that convenient access to the public because the green space does belong to the community."

He said the community supported the football club and understood they were trying to "protect the asset that they work very, very hard on".

"Who knows, one of those kids may wear an England shirt and that would be a very, very proud moment for the community," Thompson said

"But the club need to work with the community because frustrations are building and we must adopt a fair approach for all."

The football club said it had already changed its application so the front access point would be open at all times "following feedback from residents".

It added the proposals may change further "subsequent to a future meeting with council planners that the club is hoping to have soon".

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said the application remained subject to a planning consultation, which included an ecological survey that was being carried out.

"Once the process has concluded, depending on the outcome, discussions will be held with Skelton United FC regarding the future use of the land and public access to the site," it said.

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