Green light for community sports centre
28 October 2011
A community sports centre ground that will benefit a wide range of groups in north Manchester has been given the go-ahead.
FC United's application for a 5,000-capacity sports stadium at the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields on Lightbowne Road, Moston, was given permission at Manchester City Council's planning and highways committee on Thursday October 27.
The proposal, a partnership between Manchester City Council and Moston Juniors FC, who currently use the ground, was also for a community club house with changing rooms, community rooms, catering facilities and a new artificial pitch. Two junior grass pitches on the site will be kept.
The approval means Moston Juniors FC and other sports groups will be able to provide more evening and weekend activities for young people and increase the number of people taking part in healthy activities in the area.
The ground will also create a venue for competitions and other events organised by local groups and schools.
Meanwhile, the club house will become a hub for non-sports events such as meetings for community groups, dinner dances, advice and drop-in sessions, while it will also be used for education and training sessions.
As part of the planning permission, FC United have guaranteed that the centre will be cheaper to use than the standard commercial rate, and that all facilities will be available to the community for a minimum number of hours.
Today's decision is an agreement in principle and is subject to a legal agreement with FC United.
Cllr Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure, said: "This will mean Moston Juniors FC and other sports groups in the area will have access to a top class facility which will enable them to thrive.
"It will also mean more evening and weekend sports sessions and healthy activities can be provided for residents, while schools such as St Mary's C of E Primary School and St Matthew's RC High School will benefit from this."
Andy Walsh, general manager of FC United, said: "We're very pleased with the decision that's be taken today. We now want to continue to consult with people in Moston and north Manchester to make sure that the facility does deliver real community benefit.
"We've got a strong track record of delivering community benefits across Manchester and we want to concentrate more of that in the areas around the ground."
