Arnold Town to meet with planners

YOUNG players at Arnold Town Football Club could get the green light to set up extra pitches at their new Eagle Valley ground within a fortnight.

The club will meet with planning officials from Gedling Borough Council and officers from Notts County Council on Monday.

Club chairman Roy Francis said: "Gedling has invited us to a meeting. We are very hopeful that the situation will be resolved and that we will be in a position to start playing."

The borough council has said it could hold a special planning committee to discuss the plans seven days after an agreement is reached.

A spokeswoman for Gedling Borough Council said: "We have supported the club and are working with them and the county council to resolve this as soon as possible."

Gedling's planning committee voted on Wednesday to defer its decision on whether pitches close to the A614 could be used by 22 junior teams.

Councillors said they could not approve the scheme as the county council highways authority was concerned balls could stray into the road.

The club believes a 4m high fence and a 'no ball zone' would mean junior players could not kick balls into the road.

Officials now hope to reach an agreement before the club is forced into administration by the cost of finding other pitches for games.

The talks will take place at the Civic Centre.