COUNCILLORS in Kirkbymoorside have backed pleas for a field on the outskirts of the town to be safeguarded for sports facilities and not to be used for providing housing.
The decision came after Howard Mudd, president of the town’s cricket club, told the monthly council meeting that if the field, which adjoins the multi-facility sports ground, became a housing estate, it would scupper any hopes of providing much-needed new pitches for football and hockey.
The prime site had been earmarked in a wish list of areas for housing put forward by landowners in the planning blueprint for development in Ryedale over the next 15 years.
Mr Mudd said: “If this field is used for housing it will be the death knell of the sportsfield association’s hopes of providing more much-needed pitches and accommodation for Kirkbymoorside’s sports teams.”
There was unanimous support from the council for the sports association’s plans.
Town mayor Cllr Chris Dowie said: “We would like to see the field used as an extension to the sports field, not for housing.”
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