Failsworth Dynamos awarded extra time

YOUNG footballers are celebrating after their club received a stay of execution.

Officials at Failsworth Dynamos feared that they would not be able to cater for as many children if they were forced to remove their changing rooms.

The steel cabins at Lord Lane playing fields were originally granted two-year temporary planning permission in 1999.

However, two years ago the club was refused permission to keep them permanently and an appeal was subsequently dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.

Some neighbours have branded the cabins as an eyesore and there has been a constant battle over the years to get them removed — with the council accused of failing to act.

But last week the club was again granted a year-long reprieve by Oldham Planning Committee.

Club facilities officer John Bentley told councillors: “We are asking for a stay of execution. Our Lord Lane facilities are crucial to our status as a FA Charter Standard Club.

“If we do not have facilities that are currently there, we would not be able to provide football for the vast majority of children at our club. Taking away the facilities would ring the death knell.”

Failsworth Dynamos was dealt a major blow when Oldham Athletic announced £20 million plans to move to a new stadium in Failsworth.

The dynamos had secured an agreement with the council to transform Lower Memorial Park, part of the land Latics wants to build on, for thousands of children to play football on.

The majority of the club’s 450 players are children and five of its teams play at Lord Lane.

It is currently finalising protracted talks with Oldham Council to secure a lease there. This would then allow it to apply for a Football Foundation grant to replace the current changing rooms which the club admits are not ideal.

Welfare officer David Shenton said that the club would not fold if forced to remove the changing rooms. We wouldn’t let that happen. But it would mean we would have to find somewhere else to play football, we would be struggling to play at Lord Lane,” he said.

“Our children aspire to play at Lord Lane. They enjoy it because it’s Failsworth and it’s where they are from.”

Councillor Steven Bashforth was among the councillors who unanimously approved the application.

He said: “This is a very valuable community thing that is going on here and we can’t just ignore it. We have a moral duty if nothing else to support this club.”

l Got an opinion or more information on this story? Then send an e-mail now to: karendoherty@oldham-chronicle.co.uk