Controversial advertising boards will help Hartlepool football club survive pandemic, councillors told as plans approved

Hartlepool Borough Council Planning Committee unanimously approved proposals to erect 136 advertising boards around the 11-a-side football pitch at St Francis Field in Rossmere Way.

Submitted by Trevor Robinson, on behalf of Hartlepool St Francis Football Club, plans state the boards would help bring additional revenue to the club for better equipment and to help attract more people to grassroots sports.

The boards would surround the 11-a-side pitch on the field, with the field itself made up of multiple pitches and surrounded by a metal railing fence.

Ahead of the meeting 40 objections had been submitted to the plans from nearby residents, stating they do not want to see alterations to the green space, along with concerns the boards could harm the appearance of the site and be vandalised.

However Mr Robinson said there had been ‘misconceptions’ around the plans from objectors, which lead to the concerns being submitted, many of which featured the same draft letter.

“We’re very big on working with the community, the main reason for the football club isn’t just about football, it’s a sense of belonging and being part of a community,” he said.

“The appearance to the club is a high priority for us. We’ve got visiting teams, fans, also we want the residents to see the club and take pride in the club and how it looks.

“So if there was anything (damaged) whatsoever we would make sure that is addressed straight away.”

He added: “Along with everybody else, we’ve had the pandemic which has really taken a hold on the club, we’ve had a period of time where we’ve had no memberships, funding avenues dry up and really we could do with some investment.

“That was one of the big reasons we promoted having this boarding area where we can get support from local businesses really.”

Mr Robinson said the club is run by volunteers and provides football for more than 250 young people across 14 teams.

Councillors unanimously approved the plans, praising the work done by the club in the community.

Cllr Paddy Brown said: “I think what these people do is tremendous within the community.

“I think there is a great need for it, it probably puts lots of young people on the straight and narrow that otherwise might have time on their hands to do wrong things, so I’m fully behind it.”

However some councillors added they would be ‘watching very closely’ what goes on the advertising boards, stressing although they back the plans, it cannot be businesses not in keeping with the club’s ‘community ethos’.

Cllr Marjorie James said: “I would find it difficult to give support in a deprived community to see things like local burger providers, alcohol, things like that being promoted, because they are not in the best interests of our young people.

“Money lenders in that community would not be in the best interest of that community.”

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