Neighbours on a road where parking is already 'terrible' have been angered by 'unbelievable' plans for a new Stapleford community centre. The £6.4m project would transform the existing changing pavilion used by Stapleford FC and part of Hickings Lane Recreation Ground, Stapleford, into a community and young people's centre.
The community leisure hub, planned by Broxtowe Borough Council, would host a range of community activities such as fitness classes, yoga, dancing, club groups, elections, meetings and event hire. A young people's centre, which would include a play area, would replace the existing young people's centre in Stapleford.
But residents along Hickings Lane have been united in their opposition to the proposals, citing a lack of notice, parking problems, antisocial behaviour, concern over light and noise, and that the building would be too large for the park. Matt Byrne, 48, who represented Great Britain three times in wheelchair basketball at the Paralympics, feared the extra people coming to the area would add to the park's existing parking problem and ruin what he thought was Stapleford's best view.
Read more: Plans for new £6.4million community centre to become 'heart' of Stapleford
"With the double parking that happens on weekends for football, I already can't get down my own road in a wheelchair. If this happens I will be completely blocked off the path everyday - with the increased traffic it will be an accident waiting to happen," Mr Byrne said.
"It is a well used park at the minute, and people say it is the best view in Stapleford. When we were shown the original plans before they were within the footprint of the existing pavilion, not this huge building.
"The park has really calmed down in recent years, but the noise from this will be unbelievable. In summer people picnic and fly kites here, but with this new pitch and building there wouldn't be much park left."
Nottinghamshire County Council's youth service would provide social and recreational activities at the site, and post-16 learning would also be delivered by Inspire. The existing redundant clubhouse will be demolished and replaced with a combination of grass and planting, with the number of car parking spaces increased.
The building will also facilitate Stapleford FC, which has supported the proposed full-size 3G pitch on the site. This has led locals to accuse the project of being overly weighted towards the football club to the detriment of other park users.
Annabel Kane, 39, who lives on Hickings Lane, said: "We absolutely don't want it, the nice thing about this street is the view of the park. All of that space will be gone because there will be this huge building and then the 3G pitch, not everyone likes football - what about the cricket team.
"For us it would take away the reason why we wanted to be here. Also, the parking is already terrible here when the football is on - I don't think there is enough parking in the plan.
"I don't have a problem with the idea of it, but it just doesn't make sense to put it all here. There's an awful lot of dog walkers and locals who are completely against this too."
Esther Jelley, in her 50s, and Owen Jelley, 21, also opposed the plans. "The parking is already horrendous on the streets near the park, it is always double parked all the way around on the weekend," Esther said.
"It is just a mix of drawbacks, like that we would lose green space. The park, which is supposed to be for everyone, will be swallowed up.
"It is like being in a village in the summer when they play cricket in the park, but we won't have that view anymore. There will be a lot of noise as well."
Owen, who had enjoyed the skatepark on Hickings Lane Recreation Ground as a child, added: "I grew up on the skatepark so have a lot of memories of the park. But it seems like people have been told about this at the last minute.
"It feels like they are trying to cram a lot in, but it doesn't seem very well thought out. People use the green space a lot for their mental wellbeing and picnics in summer, so losing some of that is not good."
Applicant Broxtowe Borough Council said the "state-of-the-art, accessible, energy-efficient multi-use building" is expected to be open by 2025. The project is one of six regeneration projects funded through the £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund, gained through Broxtowe Borough Council's successful bid to the Government's Towns Deal fund.
Broxtowe Borough Council said it was unable to comment on residents' concerns as the planning application was yet to be determined. A public consultation event will be held in spring for people to speak to the developers and input into the project.
Previously when the plans were announced, Paul Sweeney, vice-chair of the Stapleford Towns Fund, said: "People told us they wanted a place to be able to meet for activities and events, and better facilities that help them to live healthier and more active lives. The new centre will really deliver this, and become the heart of our community, bringing people together in a building that will stand the test of time for generations to come."
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