by @JamesFozard Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:41 am
Great to see all the superb comments on the Council website. I notice that many of the complaints made by locals relate to the use of floodlights, even though HTAFC has had permission to use floodlights until 10.30pm since 1981 (the first lights went up in 1982). See the link below:-
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]I trust that all the complainants bought their houses more than 35 years ago? Or did they?! I know that people say the lights are used more now, but all these years later what do they expect? I remember an FA Vase tie down at Station View kicking off at 2.00pm because Rail didn't have lights. The year was 1988. We are in the 21st century now, although you wouldn't know that from reading some of the comments made regarding Town's application.
Look at one of the recommended conditions in the Environmental Health report (page 6):-
"Hours of use
3. Except for occasional scheduled league or cup matches with teams from the top eight levels of
football (e.g. Premier League to Northern Premier League) and with spectator presence, the
sports pitch shall not be used for sports activities outside the times of 08:00 to 21:00 on any
day."
How are we going to play County Cup matches against teams from the NCEL (eg. below Northern Premier League level) and still comply with the above condition? It is also possible for us to draw NCEL clubs in the FA Cup if they win enough qualifying rounds. A replay against one of these clubs would normally be played on a midweek evening, but such a fixture would fall foul of the above condition as it is currently worded. Do the Council not realize this?
One final point about light spillage. The original floodlight masts (six out of the current eight) were acquired by our former Chairman George Dunnington - from a Colliery! They were not necessarily designed to illuminate a football pitch, and as Town's application makes clear they are not at the optimum height to prevent light spillage. The proposed new lights are taller and will direct light down towards the centre of the pitch, an improvement on the current lighting. Those objecting to the application should take the time to read what is actually proposed. They will discover that many of the changes will benefit local residents.