Council rules on plan to extend floodlight hours at Bowdon Hockey Club

Proposals for Bowdon Hockey Club were discussed last night at Trafford Council’s planning meeting and granted approval for an initial period of one year.

The plans are to allow floodlighting at the venue to be used between the hours of 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday, to facilitate more training into the evening for youngsters and members.

The proposals had garnered a lot of attention from the community with a large number of letters sent into the council ahead of the discussions last night.

More than 90 individual letters were sent to the council ahead of the meeting – with some voicing their objections and others support for the proposals.

Those letters in favour of the plans cited the mental health benefits of outdoor exercise for children in the local area, particularly in the midst of and following the pandemic.

One resident wrote: “After all of the Covid restrictions over the last year, simply getting out and playing with friends does wonders for the mental wellbeing of the juniors.

“Extending the lighting will mean even more youngsters can get involved and ultimately feel better.”

Those against cited concerns over light and noise pollution.

One resident said: “I object to the plans on the grounds of further loss of amenity to local residents. 

“The existing floodlights currently allow for training. The extension is a particular infringement on the amenity of local residents and is certainly unnecessary.”

At last night’s meeting, the planning committee voted in favour of the extending lighting hours, 10 votes in favour, three against.

Cllr Meena Minnis of the Liberal Democrats voiced her concerns of the impact the extending lighting hours could have on nearby families putting children to bed.

Despite these concerns and some letters from local residents worried about light and noise pollution nearby, the council went with officers’ recommendations and granted the temporary extended floodlighting hours.