Councillors have unanimously approved a project to upgrade Whifflet Park, the home ground of grassroots club Burnbank FC. The overhaul involves demolishing the existing pavilion building and removal of two bowling greens, followed by adding four containers, manager dugouts, floodlighting, fences and a new 3G football pitch.
Project Details
The upgraded Coatbridge facility will also have 35 parking spaces. A report to the council's planning committee recommended granting the application on the grounds that it would not represent a significant detriment to the surrounding area.
Objections Addressed
The planning application attracted 13 objections expressing concerns over the effect of floodlighting on nearby properties, noise, complaints about the consultation process and an alleged disregard from the club for engaging with the community, traffic, loss of open space and also trees which are more than 100 years old, anti-social behaviour and the operating hours of the clubhouse.
These issues have been addressed in conditions attached to the planning permission, removal of the clubhouse and spectator stands during revision of the proposals and clarification that matters such as anti-social behaviour are not planning considerations. No objections to the plans were made by the council's various departments.
The report also noted that the club positively affects the mental and physical health of those involved, and overall there was no reasonable justification for refusing the application.
Decision
The committee agreed and unanimously granted planning permission subject to conditions.
