PLANS to transform a historic cricket club’s crumbling facilities are finally set to come to fruition following months of disputes after an MP stepped in following a wrangle over planning permission.
Marie Tidball, who represents Penistone and Stocksbridge, helped Penistone Cricket Club to effectively secure approval for their new pavilion.( The original Queen Street pavilion which dates back almost 60 years was deemed no longer fit for purpose due to its perilous structure’s state.
Following many months of fundraising, the club which has been running since 1867 sought planning approval for an all-new replacement.
However Dean Burton, president of the Penistone Cricket and Sports Club, contacted Marie for assistance with overcoming planning application hurdles.
The MP supported the club by quickly liaising with the Environment Agency, which facilitated the club in resolving a previously-lodged objection.
Dean said: “Having submitted for planning approval for a new pavilion at the club, we received an objection from the Environment Agency, whom over a period of weeks we could not contact to understand the objection and overcome this.
“Timescales of a resolution were critical for us to attract the funding we required to progress with the pavilion and time was running out.
“Having tried all options available to us I contacted Marie to see if she would be able to assist.
“Marie responded positively, within hours, and offered to escalate the matter with the Environment Agency on our behalf.
“Just 24 hours later the Environment Agency were in contact to arrange discussion to progress the issues and, working with them, we were soon able to resolve the objection to progress the planning application to a successful outcome.
“Without Marie’s intervention we might still have been waiting.”
The new pavilion will allow the club to better serve its membership, as well as enabling the grounds to realise their full potential as a community asset.
The grounds are used by three adult teams and multiple junior teams with a thriving playing staff of 210, while the club’s membership is over 500.
Its facilities also serve as a vital community resource, with the grounds being used by local schools including Springvale Primary School and Penistone Grammar School.
Marie told the Chronicle: “Penistone Cricket Club has gone from strength to strength over the past few years, with their membership expanding massively and becoming one of the key offerings for sport in the local community.
“I’m so proud of the work club members have done to raise the funds to make the improvements needed.
“I’m glad to have been able to help Mr Burton and the club in resolving his planning issues at the cricket club.
“I’m here to serve our communities and will always try to support constituents who gets in touch with me in any way I can.
“I look forward to visiting the new pavilion when it is up and running, and hopefully I’ll be able to come and watch the club in action when the season restarts.”
