Widnes FC looking to score with ground redevelopment
Halton Council has received a planning application from the football club for its King George V playing fields project off Dundalk Road.
The club is seeking to redesign the clubhouse for Widnes FC. The proposals include a constructing a viewing balcony, installing floodlighting, and developing a 150-seat stand.
There would also be another stand with a capacity for 150 standing fans, a ticket office, a turnstile, fencing, and parking provision for 57 vehicles.
Widnes FC has submitted plans to redevelop its facilities. Credit: planning docs
Currently, the club plays in the semi-professional Northern Premier League Division One West, the eighth tier of English football’s pyramid.
It operates two adult football pitches on the site and the existing clubhouse has been shut for a number of years according to the planning documents.
Widnes FC has submitted plans to redevelop its facilities. Credit: planning docs
This redevelopment would keep the two adult pitches with one earmarked for FA grading, but also includes two nine-a-side pitches, two seven-a-side pitches, and three five-a-side pitches on the 3.2-acre site.
The development would be funded through sponsorship and, hopefully, grants through the club’s participation in the league system. Once built, the club would be able to hire out the facilities.
The project team features 1618 Architects, Red Acoustics, Arbtech, SEL Environmental, UK Flood Risk, iRIS Sustainable Planning, and SJJ Contracts.
To view the plans, search for reference number 24/00172/FUL on Halton Council’s planning portal.
I’m not local to this proposal and I’m not sure what would most benefit the area, however, fencing off and monetising parts of public green space makes me feel very uncomfortable.
By outsider
Would be perfect for the club..only worry would be any threat of vandalism from juveniles. Security would need to be 100% applied.
By U8's supporter!
This is an amazing idea and will allow local children to progress into amazing careers and allows kids to be kids again and not hanging around on the streets, as this is due to not as many sport teams for them anymore as all the playing fielda are getting replaced for houses which does not benefit the children today.
By Kirsty
More public land being disposed of by HBC.
By Anonymous
Great idea what a great club and also great for the town
By Craig patterson
The development of the site would be really positive for the town and club, and be amazing for young people giving them an amazing place to play and train for many years to come.
By S Harris
This land is designated recreation fields and is controlled by fields in trust for them to permit This club to to do this they would have to tear up their own rule book and it could open the flood gates to other groups wanting to do the same and there would be no public spaces left.
By Anonymous
Great initiative to support sport in the local area. It must, however keep grass roots sport at amateur level in consideration
By Jamie McGillicuddy
To hand over an asset of the people to some private limited company would be a dereliction of duty . These playing fields were established for the enjoyment and pleasure that open spaces bring to the wider community as a whole and should not be given over for the sole use of a private enterprise to promote its own sport of choice .
By Anonymous
This development would not benefit the wider community as a whole . Instead it would prove divisive . A good many members of the local population would be denied access to , what is at present , a free , public open space . If planning permission is granted for a private business enterprise to lay claim to this space , then the only way into this facility will be through a paid for private membership scheme or an electronically controlled payment turnstile .
By Anonymous
There must be land not near houses or main road, it’s the only green space in the area. Dundalk road is not wide enough with all cars and buses not to mention the emergency vehicles getting down the road It’s the only green space in area people can go for a walk.
By Anonymous
Jaguar/Ford club is closing, why don’t they just move there and leave open space for public use.
By Anonymous
Why is Open public space land, free to use being sold, when other sites available? A little concerning.
By D. McGregor