Beloved Football Club, Hucknall Sports, cruelly booted from home mere days before England’s clash with Denmark
Mark Spencer, Hucknall’s Member of Parliament, was astonished at a decision to evict Hucknall Sports from the fields off of Papplewick Green in the light of the controversial planning application made by Sports Gateway.
Mr Spencer said that “It seems like the application has been predetermined. They are kicking Hucknall Sports off- not giving them anywhere to go, but they are giving all the land to Sports Gateway. I don’t believe that this is a transparent process in the slightest.”
Hucknall Sports were allegedly informed of the decision on Monday 5th July, after many years of operating on the site.
The new planning application for the land off of Papplewick Green has caused a huge amount of local controversy, with residents overwhelmingly against the plans.
Even Sports England has objected to the plans on the basis that it will be removing facilities from other local teams.
Mr Spencer said that “The Ashfield District Council are acting like the Sheriff of Nottingham, stealing from less well off clubs, to give the land to profit making clubs in order to increase their revenue.”
“The last time I checked, this land was for the community; and for their benefit. Not to help line somebody’s pocket
“With the Ashfield District Council, everyone seems to know the score, they’ve seen it all before – the whole thing: the application, booting Hucknall Sports from their Home; Sports Gateway allegedly measuring up the pitches before they’ve got permission - the whole thing is just plain wrong.
“The Leaders at Ashfield District Council know the plans are dodgy- they won’t answer my questions, or my requests for information because they know it will expose the truth.
“We still need to know: who will own the land? What agreements are in place? Who came to these agreements? What is the financial agreement? Who will control access to the site? Who will be responsible for the traffic? Will the car park have enough capacity? What will the impact on residents be?
“Yet again, the Leaders at Ashfield District Council are refusing to answer any questions. They have made up their minds. They don’t care about public opinion. They do not care about Hucknall Sports. They care only about their bottom line.”
