ALVECHURCH FC chairman Richard Thorndike says he fears for the club’s immediate future after the board refused to agree to Bromsgrove District Council’s latest request to delay a decision on their protracted move to The Hayes.
It is the first time since the planning application was registered back in January 2019 the club have refused to agree to an extension with Alvechurch FC officials at a loss as to why the process has taken so long.
The club’s board has refused to agree to an extension proposed by Bromsgrove District Council which would see their planning application determined on June 27 this summer – 12 previous deadlines set by the planning committee have come and gone.
Alvechurch hope to move all of their teams across to The Hayes, a 20-acre site off Redhill Road and Redditch Road, and have already installed a 3G pitch, clubhouse, changing rooms and car park.
However, before completing the move, Alvechurch must first receive the green light from the Bromsgrove planning authority that their current Lye Meadow home and their proposed new site at The Hayes are linked.
The cost-of-living-crisis has seen the club’s utility bills rise to almost £100,000 paying for two sites, and Mr Thorndike is adamant that only the financial rewards of the run to the FA Cup second round have kept them afloat.
Mr Thorndike said: “The future of our club is at stake and we need to get through this red tape as quickly as we can or there may not be an Alvechurch FC to support in next season’s FA Cup.”
He added, as far as he could see, all the issues surrounding the development had been resolved – neither Bromsgrove District Council’s Leisure Services or Sport England had any objections.
A Bromsgrove District Council spokesperson said: “The council are working with the applicant and statutory consultees to address, where possible, issues that have arisen as part of the application process.
“This has been complex procedure and the application will be reported to a planning committee at an appropriate time.”
