Preston North End respond to ‘astonishing’ decision on Ingol Golf Club plans

Another view of the training centre — A view of the training ground proposed by Preston North End

Preston North End have released a further statement following a decision to refuse part of their plans for Ingol Golf Club.

At a meeting of the Preston City Council planning committee on Thursday (15 June) proposals to build 450 homes, create a new public park and outline permission for a new training ground for the football club was refused.

A separate application for just the building of the training ground was approved by councillors.

Since the decision and outpouring of anger and disbelief has been unleashed by Preston North End fans, the club, the city’s MP and the city council leader councillor Peter Rankin.

A statement released by the club has outlined it’s position on the planning decision.

It states: “Following last Thursday’s disappointing vote with regards to our full plans for a training ground complex to include a housing development and the gift from private to public ownership of circa 100 acres of public open space, we have now had time to reflect.

“First of all we would like to place on record how grateful we are for the reaction of our supporters, the Leader of the Council, Peter Rankin, and Mark Hendrick MP. This morning we welcomed the public position that our local newspaper, the Lancashire Post, has taken in also voicing its support for our plans.

“For local residents to assume that land in private ownership is there for public use when it is not, versus the opportunity to be gifted circa 100 acres for in perpetuity public use is astonishing.

“For any City to throw away the chance to support its only professional football club in its objective of delivering Premier League football for the first time in history is almost without precedent. The reaction from our competitors has been one of disbelief, but joy, given the support that many of them have already enjoyed from their own local authorities.

“As we said last week, we will continue to strive in our objectives with or without the support of our own City Council.

“We will shortly be announcing our next move in our attempts to change the current stance of our local planning committee. In the next few weeks we urge all of our supporters and all in the local community whether supporters or not to get behind the club in our objectives of delivering on all of our plans for Ingol.

“Premier League football brings enormous financial benefits to the City as a whole. The coming weeks will demonstrate once and for all whether or not Preston as a City wishes to distance itself from these objectives or embrace them and work with us for the future economic benefit of all in the community.”

Councillors voted against the recommendation of the city council’s planning department – who stated the scheme should be approved.

We are yet to see the exact wording of the planning committee’s decision on the training ground complex and homes plan.

Previous applications to build homes on various parts of Ingol golf course have been rejected during the last five years.

A petition has been set up calling on the city council to reverse its decision, which has been signed by thousands of people since Thursday evening.

What do you think about the club’s statement? And the proposals for Ingol? Let us know in the comments below