Ashby Ivanhoe Football Club have been given the go-ahead for plans to expand its site with new sport pitches and a larger parking area.

But, after strong objections from people living close to the Lower Packington Road ground, the club have been asked to set up a liaison committee with local residents.

Ashby Ivanhoe also suggested they put together a traffic management plan with North West Leicestershire District Council, Leicestershire County Council Highways and local police, to be put in place when matches are taking place.

The club's application went before North West Leicestershire District Council's planning committee last night (Thursday).

Councillors had been advised to permit the scheme, but they also heard opposition from a representative of people living close to the club, as well as ward councillor Dave Bigby who 'called in' the application so that it could be discussed publicly.

The plans outline how Ashby Ivanhoe FC want to expand their site. Photo: North West Leicestershire District Council

The site to the rear of the club's bar and changing area will be expanded and include extra pitches as the ambitious club look to improve their facilities.

Full details of the project were given in a Planning, Design and Access Statement, compiled by KC Planning & Development.

Part of it reads: "The development would provide enhanced facilities for the football club and much-needed parking provision resolving problematic on-street parking nearby."

You can see details of the application HERE.

But Clare Birch spoke at the meeting for residents living close to the site.

She told councillors: "I speak on behalf of 34 households in the vicinity of the application site. 

"We have no objection to the existence of the football club. But we do feel that the application proposals take the use of the site to a new level of intensity onto land which has been identified as having significant landscape value, and to a point where it ceases to be compatible with its location. 

"We are already experiencing the effects of noise and disturbance from the club's expanding social and commercial activities over and above what is reasonable. 

Ashby Ivanhoe FC is based on Lower Packington Road. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

"The application involves more than the claimed relatively modest intensification of use, as it proposes the expansion of sporting activity and parking and will inevitably increase the popularity of the whole site, including the commercial elements, creating more problems of disturbance and antisocial behaviour in this vicinity, which has also started to occur. 

"However, the biggest problem is that of traffic currently parking on highway verges and footways on Lower Packington Road and on the nearby estate as well as on the application site itself. The proposed increase in parking spaces will not solve the problem as the club's expansion objective to become a sporting and community hub will outgrow the additional provision and on street parking will continue. 

"Lower Packington Road is a narrow winding country lane with blind spots which is not capable of safely accommodating large numbers of vehicles.

"We have no confidence in the club's assertion that there will be no increase in activity as to cause additional highway or amenity problems."

A request to have the application deferred on traffic grounds was rejected as Leicestershire Highways had already said it had no concerns about the proposed expansion.

Cllr Bigby also voiced his concerns at the meeting.

He said: "I do appreciate that Ashby Ivanhoe Football Club provides fantastic and much-needed sporting facilities to the residents of Ashby. I've every sympathy with the parents of children who use those facilities and have written into support this application. 

"I will continue to support their expansion wherever the proposed sites are suitable. 

The land behind the clubhouse has been designated for new pitches. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

"But I called this application in because of the large number of objections from residents living close to the site.

"Their concerns are that the expansion of the club in this particular location is inappropriate, as they are already suffering significant problems due to the large numbers using the club's facilities. 

"In my view, the main issue here is whether the committee can take on face value, the assurance from the applicants that the additional facilities that are applying for, which include three new pitches over and above their current single full size pitch, will lead to significantly more trips to the site, and additional parking and traffic problems on neighbouring residential streets. 

"Regarding existing on-street parking, it's important to note that the applicant does not propose to increase trip generation. And therefore it's not expected that the demand for parking will increase. Now I find this myself and the residents find this quite incredible. 

"When the applicant's own design and access statement clearly states in many places that they are putting forward this application in order to expand the use of the site. 

"It says expansion of the site is required to meet the increased demand and consolidate activities on one site. And that the club are fortunate to secure the use of the land adjacent to the existing site to allow for expansion. 

"Also, the development will provide an expansion of the playing fields allowing the club to consolidate games, training and events at its home ground. Now this is completely opposite to what the committee heard from the agent. 

Ashby Ivanhoe won promotion to the United Counties League last season - now they want to off-field expansion to follow. Photo: Josh Kay

"It says, the development is immediately adjacent to an existing facility and will enable growth and investment. Now how can these statements be compatible?

An agent for the club had already told the meeting that: "Despite the overwhelming support of the majority of the community, the club are aware that some residents have concerns - and a dialogue has been established and will be formalised with regular meetings."

Council leader, Cllr Richard Blunt, said: "Is it reasonable that a liaison committee be established, along the lines of Donington Park which is much bigger.

"There has clearly been a breakdown in communication. We need to see a better relationship between the club and neighbours. When things have been messed up for the neighbours. I think we know that, a liaison committee can solve nine out of 10 of the problems."