Sports clubs could fold after collapse of plans

Linden Homes says that a Totton sports ground will close after councillors rejected proposals to build new sports facilities and more than 100 homes on the site.

Totton and Eling Cricket Club and Totton and Eling Football Club will be made homeless if the gates are locked.

The threat to their survival emerged after New Forest District Council rejected an application to redevelop the former British American Tobacco (BAT) sports ground.

Cricket club chairman John Bellamy said: "I'm shocked and saddened at the council's decision, which will have a critical impact on our future. Indeed, the club may have no future."

Bob Walsh, vice-chairman of the cricket club, said: "The proposals presented the best and possibly the only chance to secure our future. The council's decision is incomprehensible."

Linden Homes is leasing the ground from BAT.

A company spokesman said the council's decision meant that control of the site would revert to BAT, which would lock the ground and put it back on the market.

As reported in the Daily Echo, councillors also rejected Linden's applications to build a new ground for AFC Totton and provide 86 homes on its existing ground at Testwood Place. The schemes had resulted in more than 800 letters of support.

A Linden statement said: "These proposals would have secured the future of the former BAT site, a well-known and popular sports ground, which will now close.

"Furthermore, they would have delivered new and improved sporting and leisure facilities for the benefit of the local community while providing a range of much-needed new homes."

Councillors refused all three of Linden's applications on the grounds that they would have resulted in the loss of open space.

A BAT spokesman said: "British American Tobacco will be discussing its position with Linden Homes.

"However, until the overall planning process is complete we feel it would be inappropriate to speculate on the future of the site."