Subject: Action Needed: Help Secure the Future of Our Cricket Club!
Hi everyone,
I need 10 minutes of your time to help protect the future of our club.
A revised planning application for the development next to our ground has been submitted to Bradford Council by Verity & Co (Skipton Properties). Whilst we aren’t opposing the development entirely, the new plans contain critical changes that could seriously threaten our ability to operate.
We need you to voice your concerns regarding two key issues:
• The Loss of Promised Parking: In the original plans, we were promised a dedicated car park behind the pavilion. This is now missing. With the local pub car park closed to us, and Thwaites Brow Road already struggling with congestion and bus route delays, this parking is essential. Without it, we cannot host cup finals, junior representative games, or community events.
• Safety & Ball Strike Risks: The proposed road to the west of the pavilion is dangerously close to our boundary. The current plans offer no solutions for protecting pedestrians or vehicles from stray cricket balls. Without proper mitigation (like professional netting or layout changes), the club faces massive liability risks.
How you can help:
We want this development to be an asset to Long Lee, but it must be done safely and in consultation with the club. As the last remaining sports club in the village, we provide vital free cricket for juniors and a social hub for all.
Please follow the link below and submit your comments in the section Have your say. Focus your objection on the lack of parking and the unaddressed ball-strike safety risks:
https://share.google/U3C7UqZ2YV2qcigrM
Every voice counts. Let’s make sure the council hears us loud and clear.
Thank you for your support.
Want a template that you can edit, copy, then paste? See the following;
Template for the Bradford Council Planning Portal
Instructions for members: Please copy and paste the text below into the comments box. Feel free to add your own personal connection to the club at the start to make it unique!
RE: Planning Application [25/04668/MAR]
I am writing to comment on the revised planning application for the development adjacent to Long Lee Cricket Club. While I am not opposed to the principle of residential development in this area, I wish to register a formal objection based on two critical points that have not been adequately addressed in the revised plans:
1. Loss of Essential Parking Infrastructure
The original plans included a dedicated car park behind the pavilion, which was a vital component of the development’s viability. Currently, the lack of off-street parking for the club causes significant congestion on Thwaites Brow Road, frequently obstructing local residents and the public bus route. Without the promised car park, the club will be unable to host junior representative games or community events. This loss of “community amenity” threatens the long-term sustainability of the last remaining sports club in Long Lee.
2. Public Safety and Ball Strike Risk
The proposed road to the west of the pavilion is situated in a high-risk zone for ball strikes. The current application lacks a professional ball-strike risk assessment and offers no mitigation measures (such as safety netting or boundary adjustments) to protect pedestrians and vehicles. Without these measures, the development creates an avoidable safety hazard and places an unfair liability on a historic community asset.
Conclusion
I urge the planning department to require the developer to reinstate the car park and provide a documented safety solution for ball strikes before this application is approved. The cricket club is a vital hub for junior recreation and social cohesion; it must be protected.
Long Lee Cricket Club 