DESPITE a number of online objections to a proposed 250 seater stand at Undy playing field, an application was approved unanimously by county councillors.

It was claimed that the land on which the football fields stand was originally donated to the council with a covenant that it be used for leisure purposes only.

Following promotion from Welsh League Division Two, Undy Football Club needed to upgrade their facilities to remain playing in division one of the Welsh League.

The club was earlier awarded £73,236.50 for playing field improvements coming from housing developments, as part of a drive to secure funds for a hard stand, stand, dugout and seated area which would allow the club to remain in the division beyond next season.

One resident of Crossways Close claimed that putting a fence around a large part of the field would reduce access, “thus restricting access, and preventing all but the select few who play football for Undy enjoying the facility adheres to this.

“Regardless of any covenant the playing fields are more than just a football pitch,” the resident wrote. “They are something that the local community enjoy as the open space parkland in the area. Monmouthshire County Council do not provide any other recreational space in the area and should the stand be built and the pitch fenced off then the play park adjacent to it will become almost obsolete for my children and hundreds of other local kids. If this planning permission is granted then only a small minority of footballers will benefit whilst the rest of the village population will lose part of its only green play area”.

Another resident, of Mill Common, said that while she was very pleased that the senior team are doing so well this cannot come at a cost to the rest of the club and wider community. She wrote: “The plans in respect of the first team pitch impacts on the junior teams, the social side of the club, the charity events and therefore affects the future of the club as we know it.

“Decisions in respect of this area only positively affects a minority of the players at the club and given that most of the senior players do not live in the village the positive impact on the local community is even less if positive at all,” adding that a decline in club revenue is inevitable.”

However there were also supporting comments included one resident who said this proposal presents a “significant material improvement to the facilities of Undy Athletic Club and the many young persons using the facilities with little or no obvious adverse impact on the neighbourhood generally.

“It is in line with national guidelines to improve access to sport for all,” he added.

Monmouthshire County council planning committee discussed the application on Tuesday 5th September and heard that officers recommended the application be approved.

Local member County Councillor Lisa Dymock said she would like to see the application approved: “It is vitally important to the club so they can continue playing in division one. Without this application they would be demoted”. She appreciated some of the residents concerns, but as the club are in their second season, the impact would be acceptable.

She said the football club currently has more than 400 members.

Other councillors agreed with her comments and said that the club deserved to have this as they help so many youngsters and keep them off the streets.