A FOOTBALL club is looking to "build bridges" with local residents after a planning battle went in their favour.
Prestatyn Town FC has been granted approval to carry out necessary ground improvements to their Bastion Road stadium, after Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee agreed to their application for developments including installing new floodli
ghts and seating to meet Welsh Premier League (WPL) requirements.
The club has until tomorrow (Thursday) to complete the work, with officials optimistic they will be granted promotion after an inspection by WPL officials in the coming days.
Club chairman Tony Thackeray said: “We are confident we will meet the requirements in time for the deadline, with a lot of work having been done this week. I believe we are on track to complete the work in time and am hopeful we will be accepted into the WPL.”
Meanwhile, a resident of Bastion Gardens has approached the Journal to clarify their opposition to the planned developments at the ground, which included several letters of objection to Denbighshire County Council.
Ken Roberts, who has lived next to the ground for 20 years, said: “We have no issue with the football club as a whole and are proud of their achievements. However, we are unhappy that floodlights are going to be touching fences and we do not feel we have had a fair say in the matter, as our suggestion for folding floodlights has been ignored.”
Mr Roberts also alleges a representative of the club told residents to “move if you don’t like it” during a discussion about the planning application.
In response, Mr Thackeray said: “If any residents have questions regarding the whole planning situation, I would like them to call me and I will answer them honestly. I want to build bridges with residents and we certainly have no intention of upsetting anyone.”
Any residents wishing to discuss any issues relating to the planning process with Mr Thackeray can contact him on 07789643230.
A spokeswoman for the WPL said an announcement on whether Bastion Road is now up to the required standard is likely to be made “within the next week or so”, after the inspection is carried out.
The full article contains 372 words and appears in Rhyl Journal newspaper.
