Residents living near a Cheadle sports pitch call for bigger…

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RESIDENTS are calling for fences around a sports centre pitch to be doubled in size to stop footballs landing in their gardens.

Families living near South Moorlands Leisure Centre, in Cheadle, have held talks over 10-metre (32ft) high fences being installed around the artificial pitch after complaining about the flying balls and being verbally abused.

In one incident, a ball almost landed inside a child's pram and another time footballers started throwing bottles over a fence after a resident refused to return their ball.

Centre operator Parkwood Leisure submitted a planning application for the 10-metre high fence after receiving the complaints.

But members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's planning committee have rejected the application after branding the new fence an 'eyesore'.

Councillor Mike Worthington said: "This will double the height of the fence. I think this will be an eyesore. It is a very difficult situation and we need to find a solution."

Councillor Stephen Ellis added: "People will feel like they are living in a cage. If you buy a house next to a football pitch then it is expected that balls will go over."

But residents in Cecilly Grove say their lives have been blighted by abusive footballers for the past 12 months.

Jenna Vickers, aged 32, said: "It is not good. A taller fence would have been better than what we've got now.

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Residents living near a Cheadle sports pitch call for bigger...