Plans to expand and upgrade the sports facilities at Alleynes Sports Centre in Stone are due to be discussed by Stone Town Council next week, with public comments showing both strong support and some detailed concerns from nearby residents.
The application, reference 25/41557/FUL, is set to go before the council’s Planning Consultative Committee on Tuesday 7th April. Stone Town Council is a consultee only, with the final decision resting with Stafford Borough Council.
A planning application for major changes at Alleynes Sports Centre on Oulton Road is due to be considered by Stone Town Council next week.
The scheme would extend the existing multi use games area, enlarge the playing surface, resurface it, add new perimeter fencing, carry out minor groundworks, change the parking layout, add EV charging spaces at the front, and build a stand with space for 200 seated and 200 standing spectators.
Planning papers describe the current pitch as an ageing 2G hockey surface which is not full adult size. The proposal is to create a full size 3G football pitch capable of supporting Step 5 league matches.
Stone Town Council’s Planning Consultative Committee is due to discuss the application on Tuesday 7th April, though the town council will only be giving its views. Stafford Borough Council will make the final planning decision.
Backing from club supporters and residents
The consultation responses include a large number of comments in support of the plans.
Many backers say Stone has gone too long without a floodlit 3G pitch and argue the town has fallen behind nearby areas. A number also point to the reach of Stone Old Alleynians, with repeated comments describing it as the largest grassroots sports club in the region and highlighting its work with boys, girls, women, veterans and disability football.
One submission from the manager of the club’s women’s first team says postponed fixtures this season have shown the need for an all weather facility. The comment says a floodlit 3G pitch would help reduce cancellations, support the women’s side’s development, and give younger girls in the club visible senior role models to watch closer to home.
There is also support from some people living near the site. One neighbour said the proposal would be “a great amenity for the area”, adding that a stand would give parents shelter and that the school could benefit too.
Others describe the plans as a long overdue investment in a site many feel has become dated.
Objections focus on practical local impact
But the consultation papers also show objections and concerns from people living closest to the site.
The main issues raised are traffic, parking, evening noise, light spill and the effect on day to day life for residents around Oulton Road and Oulton Grove.
One objector said the site already struggles for parking, with vehicles ending up on pavements and near driveways, and argued that more use would worsen safety on Oulton Road, particularly near the mini roundabout by the entrance.
Another nearby resident said daytime activity was less of a concern than evening use, but warned that noise at night could become intrusive. That comment also called for restrictions on any social club use and limits on alcohol sales if the scheme is approved.
A further submission, which stopped short of outright objection, questioned whether the revised parking layout would be enough for crowds of up to 400 spectators, and asked the borough council to look closely at parking, noise and the construction process before reaching a decision.
Trees, ecology and police comments
The wider planning file shows that the scheme would involve the removal of seven individual trees and one group of trees, while an oak would be affected by a hard surface incursion within its root protection area.
At the same time, the borough council’s biodiversity officer says the proposal would still deliver biodiversity net gain above the legal minimum, with the application exceeding the required 10 per cent threshold.
Staffordshire Police has not objected to the application, though its response notes that while gates and a barrier arm should help prevent unauthorised access to the sports facility, the car park could still attract vehicle related anti social behaviour.
For now, the next public stage will be Tuesday night’s discussion at Stone Town Council, where councillors are expected to give their views before the application returns to the borough council for a decision.
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