Planning permission has ‘finally’ been approved – but the 11 months wait has taken a toll
Kenny Sharpe, club secretary (right) with Kelly Millward, club chairperson(Image: Supplied)
Long-awaited footballing facilities in a disadvantaged corner of Derby have been given the go-ahead – but the founder of the local team fears it could be “too little, too late.”
Derbyshire Live spoke with Kenny Sharpe in October, after he made the “heartbreaking” decision to cancel Stockbrook Colts’ future training sessions due to the “horrendous” state of the facilities.
“The fencing around the edge is dangerous… it is just sticking out and could seriously injure someone if they ran into it,” Kenny said, back in October.
He also raised issues over lighting due to overhanging trees, and persistent flooding, causing an uneven surface.
A planning application for a new Football PlayZone was submitted back in February, but Kenny says people “only started to care” when the story was published by Derbyshire Live.
There are fears the approval is “too little, too late”(Image: Stockbrook Colts)
“We’ve waited months and months to get the planning permission approved, but they didn’t care until we threw our toys out of the pram and went to Derbyshire Live for help,” said Kenny.
“Over in Normanton, it took less than a month for a similar project to get approved and there was no trouble at all. So why can’t Stockbrook, which is only down the road, have the same urgency?
“Yes, it’s good that it has finally been approved, but the whole thing is bittersweet. It could be too little, too late. I just don’t know how long we can keep waiting.
“We need to pin them down to a date. But I’m afraid if that date doesn’t come soon in the new year, we will have to call it a day.”
Kenny founded the club when he was a young dad, keen to provide his two young sons with a chance to play the game.
He’s lived in Stockbrook nearly all his life, and despite his two sons now being in their 30s, Kenny has continued to run the club nevertheless, with the support of long-term partner, Kelly Millward, chairperson of the club.
The club continued to grow, and now hundreds of children play for Stockbrook Colts, ranging from ages six to 16, as well as a SEN team.
The recent challenges prompted fundraisers from people close to the club, including an ultra-marathon walk raising more than £5,000.
This money is to be used to fund training sessions in locations across the city until Stockbrook gets its upgrade, but many of the children don’t speak English, so communicating that there was nowhere to train – or a new place to train – was a challenge, and led to some children stopping training.
“The whole thing has been heartbreaking, if I’m honest,” added Kenny.
“It’s just so frustrating to think that we need to kick up all this fuss in order for anything to get done, when really it should be done without asking – it should be expected of the council.
“We’ve had some excellent support from people offering advice and donations, but we’re aware that the problem is not solved, it’s just a step in the right direction.”
The project is to be funded by the Football Foundation and Kenny expects work to start in the new year, but fears change won’t come quick enough.
Just hours before Derbyshire Live’s article in October, Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North, raised the issue in Parliament with the Leader of the House of Commons, asking: “Will the leader of the House make time for debate on grassroots football and its importance to our local communities?”
Now, following the approval of the planning application, she’s praised Stockbrook Colts for its “persistence and hard work”, adding: “I’m absolutely over the moon that Stockbrook has taken another important step forward with planning permission granted for a new Football Playzone at Stockbrook Park.
“This has been a long time coming, and I know just how much it will mean to local families, young people and the wider community.
“I want to pay tribute to the Stockbrook Colts for their persistence and hard work, as well as to local councillors who have lobbied tirelessly to get this project over the line.
“I also thank the Council for approving this much-needed facility, which will provide a safe, well-lit space for sport and activity for years to come.”
The project, which is a collaboration between the Premier League, the city council, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation will be funded by the latter (75 per cent), with the remaining funding coming through Section 106 contributions.
Cllr Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks and Leisure said: “We’ve been working with our partners for some time to bring PlayZone projects forward and we’re delighted planning permission is now secured for both Stockbrook Recreation Ground and Dale Road Recreation Ground.
“PlayZones offer safe, inclusive, and accessible places for football and a whole range of other physical activities. Developed with local residents, these two sites are a vital part of our ongoing commitment to delivering accessible recreation facilities across parks and greenspaces across the city.
“I’d like to thank the ward councillors, residents and community groups that have worked on this.”
