Cricket: Gloucestershire consider move to airfield (From Gazette Series)

Gloucestershire could move to Filton airfield

4:43pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Sport By Rob Iles

GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club could build a new 20,000 seater stadium at Filton airfield.

The county have appealed against Bristol City Council’s decision to reject plans to redevelop the current ground at Nevil Road, but are looking at alternative options should that prove unsuccessful.

Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson said: “We remain committed to making our development work here but we have to ensure our future and therefore we are looking at other possible locations.”

The club’s appeal will go to a public inquiry, where an inspector will take submissions from both sides before making a recommendation to the Communities Secretary.

Gloucestershire need to improve their facilities to meet ECB requirements and continue staging international matches, which is a major source of income to the club.

However, Bristol planners said the student accommodation that would fund the development at the County Ground was too big, lacked sufficient parking and would be harmful to a conservation area.

That has led to a cut in the cricket budget of about £300,000, with long-serving batsman Chris Taylor being released as a result, while Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien will not be returning after starring in their Friends Provident T20 campaign last year.

Filton airstrip is due to close at the end of the year, but campaigners are trying to save it.

If the move goes ahead, it will be another big boost for sport in South Gloucestershire after Bristol Rovers announced plans to relocate to the Frenchay campus at the University of West of England.