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The application was made by Newbuildings Footall and Cricket Club on September 27 last year and was approved on Tuesday last.

The cricket pitch will occupy land at 4 Duncastle Road, in Newbuildings, to the rear of the Community Centre on Duncastle Road and will abut the boundary of Primity Crescent.

It is a green field site, and the application to create the cricket ground will involve the erection of new wire fencing, complete with sight screens. It will also include a ‘secure ball stop netting’ feature to protect homes and the community centre, and planners also gave the thumbs up to an LED electronic scoreboard. The provision is that all features are to be mobile installations.

Welcoming the granting of the application, rural Alderman, Gary Middleton, said the development would bring much needed sporting facilities to Newbuildings.

“In addition to Newbuildings, this will benefit the rural area as a whole. I have been working on this planning application for some time with members of the community and the granting of the application is very timely as there were funding deadlines looming, which had to be met,” Mr Middletown said.

“The club is on schedule to finish this project, and while it might not create jobs locally, it will sustain those that already exist, as local businesses will benefit by carrying out the work needed at the site, suppliers and contractors. The village will also benefit in the long term because of footfall to the premises and to nearby businesses.

“The Cricket Club had been doing well of late, but the big draw back for them was that they were grounds sharing with another club. It will be great once they have their own grounds,” said Mr Middletown.