A meeting has been held to discuss plans to replace St Ives Town Football Club with up to 50 homes.

The club has put in a revised proposal for a housing development for their Westwood Road ground with 10 fewer homes than a similar scheme which was rejected by Huntingdonshire District Council last September. They want to create new facilities elsewhere, possibly off Somersham Road.

Neighbour Joanne Wells, who has lived in Westbury Road for 15 years, said very few people knew another application had been submitted.

“Until the end of last week, residents weren’t aware of it,” Mrs Wells said. “Only about half a dozen of us received letters from the council.

“All the documentation seems to be exactly the same as last time. They hadn’t even changed the number of houses on the application form – it still says 60.”

The mother-of-three stressed the majority of people had no problem with the football club, just what was being proposed.

“We do not oppose St Ives Town Football Club. We’re perfectly happy for them to move to new facilities, it would be good for the town.

“We’re not opposed to something sensible being there but it’s 50 houses – only 10 houses less than last time. The same issues still apply.”

Last year’s application was turned down by HDC on six grounds, including concerns about traffic.

“The traffic is dangerous enough as it is and the traffic assessment was done in 2010 and based on data from 2008, so that’s massively out of date,” said Mrs Wells.

“There are so many children that walk up and down Westwood Road. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

“The existing drainage flows into our road. Everything is going to be connected to existing drainage and it’s already at capacity.”

Four hundred leaflets telling people about the plans have been delivered and a residents’ meeting was held at Crossways Church on Friday (October 10). “This is the first chance for the majority of people to hear about it and understand what’s going on,” added Mrs Wells.

“We’re happy to work with them to find a solution to this.”

The matter was also discussed by St Ives Town Council on Wednesday (October 8).

Anyone who wants their opinions to be taken into account by HDC has until October 17 to comment. The plans are available via www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk using reference 1401554OUT or at district council offices.