Newcastle Cricket Club faces closure due to parking charges

Jan 22 2009 by Vicky Robson, The Journal

A POPULAR sports club may face closure because of planned increases in neighbourhood parking charges.

Officials at Newcastle Cricket Club, in Osborne Road, Jesmond, claim proposed changes for the area will put visitors off because they won’t be able to park for free on nearby streets.

The club, which has more than 700 members but no car park, fears it may go under if players and spectators are forced to pay when metered bays and permits are introduced.

Newcastle City Council insists it is working with the club to resolve the issue.

But club chairman Mike Randell said: “The concerns of the club are that the new arrangements could deter players, spectators, young people and community groups from using this special facility.

“Our worst fear is that as things stand it may be almost impossible to operate as a cricket club and we know from the widespread support over recent years that this is not what the local community wants.

“There are special concerns about the difficulties facing players as they have a lot of kit to unload and it would be very difficult to carry this from spaces a long distance away.

“Even if people are prepared to pay for metered bays throughout the day, there may not be enough metered spaces available, and the permit bays cannot be used by the public during some of the hours of play or during our training sessions.

“We provide facilities for a range of community activities in the Pavilion and it would be a real shame if people were driven away.”

The changes, which are expected to be enforced next month, come as part of a major shake-up in neighbourhood parking charges planned by Newcastle City Council.

The Holly Avenue scheme aims to reduce commuter parking in Jesmond and help residents to park near their homes.

It will allow permit parking only during early morning and evening, with yellow line restrictions near junctions to help reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety. Councillors on the planning and transport strategy committee gave the go-ahead for the proposals last month.

Several informal objections lodged by the club were examined by the traffic regulation advisory panel, which recommended ploughing on with the plans.

Neil Cuthbert, head of parking services at Newcastle City Council, said: “We are working very hard with the cricket club to establish their needs and believe that the proposals we are working on will safeguard adequate parking for visitors and users of the club.

“We also welcome discussions from any other groups associated with the cricket club to further improve parking in that area.

“Newcastle City Council fully recognises the longstanding heritage of the cricket club and any concerns or proposals should be forwarded to us so that we can help provide quick resolution.”