UNPOPULAR plans to build a three-storey block of flats and a car park on a unique field used by 50 young footballers have been reviewed by a planning inspector.

Abingdon Vale Cricket Club had its appeal heard by a planning inspector on Wednesday after it had its application rejected twice by Vale of the White Horse District Council.

The Northcourt Lane site, which developers want to build nine flats on, is owned by the club, which operates at Hales Meadow on Culham Road, but Abingdon United Football Club has had an agreement to use the site for training since 2013, in exchange for maintaining the green patch.

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Paul Wenman, who lives opposite the field and has campaigned against the controversial development for years, was one of the locals who attended the appeal.

Mr Wenman said it was clear that, if the development went ahead, a third of the pitch would be lost, which he said would have numerous consequences, especially to the junior footballers using the field.

He added: “The cricket club’s offer is to have one small on-site pitch and to find another small off-site pitch.

“To find a replacement pitch they have to talk with the council where they can find land, when that would be, how much it would cost.

“So, the developers have agreed that they would fund, I believe, 50 per cent of the cost to find land – but I do not know where the other half would have to come from.

“It is an uncertainty and I raised this at the meeting.”

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Mr Wenman said that Monday's appeal hearing primarily focused on the future of the football pitch, the new cricket club and financing.

It is unclear when a decision on the appeal will be made, however, the campaigner revealed that the planning inspector visited the site yesterday.

The planning inspector was also presented with a petition signed by nearly 500 people that was started by campaigner Helen Flynn in February, which Mr Wenman hopes that it will show how residents feel.

Ms Flynn also commented on the plan: “The building will essentially be a concrete block overlooking an historically valuable area of Abingdon which retains the feel of its rural origins.

“As well as destroying the open space at the heart of the conservation area, it would impose itself crudely upon ‘rural’ Northcourt Lane and will damage the only views across the existing open space to protected listed buildings in the historic core of the conservation area.”

Paul White, chairman of Abingdon Vale Cricket Club, did not wish to comment on the latest developments until he received a decision from the the Planning Inspectorate.

To view the full planning application visit the Vale of White Horse planning portal.