Over 300 North Springfield residents from nine streets have signed a petition demanding Chelmsford Borough Council reconsider plans to site a £521,561 sports pavilion close to their homes.
They claim that the proposed 350 square metre pavilion for Springfield Hall Park - nearly four times larger than the present building - will block views across Chelmer Valley, lead to parking chaos in nearby residential streets, and attract rowdy youths late at night and weekends.
Leisure Services, who submitted the planning application, are keen to press ahead to double to number of football pitches in the second phase of improvements at the developing Park.
The application for the pavilion goes before the council's planning committee on December 17.
Leisure bosses want the new structure on the site of the current pavilion, saying it will cater for the increased number of sports enthusiasts using the park, which will have five senior soccer pitches, four mini pitches and a full sized training area.
But residents living in nearby Arun Close, Humber Road and Waveney Drive say Springfield FC's newly built £150,000 clubhouse has already led to parking difficulties.
The club, which boasts 19 teams, has 600 members and residents complain that either they or visitors are parking in streets when the car park is full, obstructing pavements and driveways.
Peter Cook, of Humber Road, said: "We fully support the council's desire to improve sports facilities, but this plan is fundamentally flawed."
Published Monday, December 16, 2002
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