Knebworth Park Cricket Club given go-ahead for new grounds

Controversial plans to relocate Knebworth Cricket Club have been approved by North Herts District Council despite opposition from village residents.

Knebworth Park Cricket Club will relocate their clubhouse and cricket pitches from in front of Knebworth house, where they have been based for 143 years, to elsewhere on the estate.

After vast opposition from Knebworth Parish Council and villagers, one of whom dubbed the clubhouse “a glass monstrosity” at a meeting in March, the plans were green-lit at a meeting on Wednesday by councillors.

Chairman of Knebworth Park Cricket Club Chris Johnson said: “We are very pleased, it is really good news and we are really happy about it - it has been a long road and people have worked really hard for it.”

Mr Johnson said he feared the future of the club would be under threat if the plans had not been passed.

He added: “It is a crucial mile stone in the club’s 140-year history and I believe it will be a real asset to the area and not just to the benefit to the club but to the whole community.”

The plans were initially recommended for refusal at a planning meeting in November, but the club deferred the meeting and changed elements of the design.

Mr Johnson said they had changed the designs from a pitched to a flat roof to get the plans passed.

A new pavilion, three cricket pitches and an access road to the site opposite the Lytton Arms pub in Park Lane will be built.