Football club in Cwmbran gets permission for new fence, stand and car park

A football club in Cwmbran has welcomed the decision by Torfaen Council to give planning permission for a new security fence, grandstand and car park at its home ground.

Coed Eva Athletic FC play at The Birches off Maendy Way in West Pontnewydd. They submitted an application for:

“New security fence , construction of new grandstand plus ‘dug outs’ and car park plus associated footpaths”

A report says that work is needed so the club can meet the Football Association of Wales’ requirements for progression to the Welsh league. This week they found out their plans had been approved. A 20-space car park with room for a coach will also be built.

plans for a new car park — The plans for the 20-space car park. Image: Torfaen Council planning application

A spokesperson for the football club said: “After years of planning, we are delighted to announce that we have now also been given planning permission to build a security fence around our main pitch, and to construct a stand, dugouts and a car park at our home ground, The Birches.

“This brilliant news follows the planning permission of new changing rooms at The Birches. These are huge steps for our club to vastly improve our facilities which is much needed, to continue increasing participation and the quality of football in our area.”

Views of three local residents

The report included comments from three local residents who are unhappy at the plans. Their comments included:

I appreciate a car park seems a good idea, but in my experience, the players prefer to park as near as they can get to the changing rooms and the planned car park is at the other end of the street to the changing rooms near a childrens playground.
This is going to be such an eyesore for residents and as a homeowner no doubt this will reducethe value of our property
This is a small town football club, there is absolutely no need to implement these sort of plans unnecessarily.
There is a children’s playground situated just from the football fields, having all these extra vehicles is a major hazard and also an environmental issue with regards to pollution etc.
I don’t know how many “fans” this club has but it’s nowhere near the amount needed for stands. And if it does increase due to the facilities it is going to cause a lot of hooliganism and antisocial behaviour. These players have foul mouths and like mentioned this is a residential area and ourchildren don’t need to be hearing the language and “chants” of fans.