Gloucestershire CCC Rocked By Planning Blow

11 January 2012

Alex Gidman described himself as "gutted" following the council's decision.

©Action Images

Gloucestershire have been dealt a tremendous body blow ahead of the 2012 season after having planning permission for redevelopment work at their main ground in Bristol rejected by the city council.

The club had been hoping to have planning permission granted for the construction of flats around the ground, with the money raised from that being used to develop the cricket facilities and fund their cricketing outreach program.

Club captain Alex Gidman outlined the importance of permission being granted ahead of Wednesday night’s council vote, which the club lost by six votes to four, saying, “Should planning permission for our ground development not be given, this will have a major effect on our ability to develop successful Gloucestershire teams.

"Firstly, it will seriously harm our ability to identify and recruit the better young cricketers in the region. Secondly, it would be bound to harm our ability to retain those players who have already developed. All of this is clearly finance-dependent and no development will significantly restrict the budget.”

It is thought that the council’s decision puts the futures of senior players such as Chris Taylor and Hamish Marshall - who signed a new contract last year - into jeopardy, with previous information from Gloucestershire CCC indicating that the club’s ability to retain the duo depended on permission being granted.

Indeed, Gidman seemed to think the decision bad enough to take to Twitter and say, “Planning turned down for the County Ground - unbelievable. [It] could be the end of cricket in Bristol. Gutted. I’m no expert but basically [the council] kept searching for a reason till [sic] they found one - parking mainly. Very sad, WG [Grace] would be gutted.”

Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson spoke on the club’s website of the “massive disappointment” felt by the club. A more detailed statement will be issued by Gloucestershire CCC shortly.

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