Hundreds of footballers say they have been left without suitable training pitches after ground investigation work at the Dowty Sports & Social Club in Staverton.
Churchdown Panthers say the works have rendered all but one of the site’s 10 pitches unusable, leaving more than 300 children aged four to 18 without their usual training facilities.
“We’re not anti-development. We’re pro-community,” said Panthers’ head coach Max Dawson.
“Every week, hundreds of children and families benefit from facilities like this. Once they’re lost, they’re rarely replaced with the same community value. We want growth, but we also want places where young people can play, learn, stay healthy and build confidence. Today’s football pitch is tomorrow’s healthier adult.”
Developer Ashville has submitted two planning applications to Tewkesbury Borough Council to redevelop the 16-acre Dowty Sports & Social site and an adjoining 32-acre field into a business park.
The company says the current digging work is to provide data to support its planning reports.
Churchdown Panthers team manager Ian Greaves said the impact has been significant.
“They’ve ruined nearly every pitch and have closed down all our training pitches. The workers fill the trenches when the diggers are done, but the surface is like a ploughed field. They are basically shutting us down.”
The Dowty Sports & Social site is used by a range of clubs and organisations, and users have lodged objections to both planning applications, warning the loss of facilities would have a major impact on grassroots sport and community use.
Sport England, Active Gloucestershire, and the parish councils of Churchdown, Staverton and Down Hatherley have also objected to the proposals.
Cheltenham Youth Football League, which has 5,000 registered children, said the loss of pitches would be “deeply felt” across the wider football community.
Stroud & District Football League added that six teams currently using the site would be left without a home ground if the application is approved.
Dowty Sports & Social Club has around 500 members and is also used by a wide range of groups including Cheltenham Swing Dance, Gloucester Pedigree Whippet Racing Club, Cheltenham Canoe Club, Abbeymead Rovers and others.
Ashville’s planning applications include proposals for 18 business units, a relocated clubhouse and upgraded sports facilities, including a gym and multi-use games area with padel, tennis, football and basketball provision.
Following objections, a second application also proposes replacement pitches on adjoining land.
One objector warned the plans could make continued operation of the sports club unviable due to significantly higher rental costs.
Ashville said the development would address a shortage of business accommodation and provide improved facilities for both employees and the wider community.
Grassroots football under threat as diggers move in to Dowty
