Cricket clubs' futures at risk after person hit by ball in car park
The Essex cricket ground controversially closed after a person was hit by a ball on the back of a leg in the car park will remain shut indefinitely.
Two recent heated meetings failed to reach agreement on the return of cricket to the Dawson Memorial Field in Danbury.
The parish council has been attacked for a lack of 'common sense' and 2,900 residents have signed a petition urging it to overturn its suspension of cricket, which has left three clubs – Danbury, Oaklands and Tuskers – unable to play home fixtures, placing their futures at risk.
The council acted after a member of the public was hit by a ball as they were about to use the adjacent leisure centre. Last week, a public meeting was held at the village hall. This week a committee meeting discussed the closure.
Rory Carlton, secretary of Danbury CC, claimed it was 'abundantly clear from attending both meetings that residents seem overwhelmingly in favour of cricket continuing in its current form'.
Carlton said: 'It was terrific to see such overwhelming support for cricket in Danbury. Residents made some excellent points; they made it very clear that they felt the response to a single allegation was wholly disproportionate. Parallels were drawn with other activities such as football where a similar incident could easily be imagined.
'One alleged incident surely does not merit the prohibition of cricket which has been enjoyed by generations of villagers. That, in living memory, not a single member of the public has actually been injured. Aside from a few voices of reason, the council were not swayed from their course, insisting that 'process must be followed' whilst ignoring the fact that the entire premise of their argument was fundamentally flawed.
'It's terribly disappointing that a common-sense resolution couldn't be reached. Mistakes are made, as I said during the meeting; I'm sure the council believed they were acting in residents' best interests at the time, but it's very clear that their course of action was incorrect.
'The outcome we were hoping for – immediate resumption of cricket for the village – wasn't obtained. I genuinely fear the wider consequences, both for other activities that operate in Danbury which could fall foul of this approach or village teams up and down the country.'
Carlton attacked the council's over-reliance upon a risk consultancy. He said: 'I and other residents made the point that advice is merely that. It can be followed, amended or discarded. Surely Danbury Parish Council are responsible for the governance of the village and not an appointed third-party consultancy?'
When contacted by Telegraph Sport, Danbury Parish Council said that it was 'surprised at the low turnout' at the residents' meeting on June 19, saying that only 30 residents attended out of a population of 4,000. The council also reiterated that it hopes that the suspension of cricket will only be temporary and that representatives from the cricket teams and the parish council would meet as soon as possible to come up with reasonable solutions that would allow for the recommencement of cricket.
In a statement, Danbury Parish Council said: 'The parish council has taken professional advice which will minimise the risks – the fact that there were at least two car windows, within the last year, smashed by cricket balls being hit into the adjacent car park, across a public footway, indicates that there is a risk to people who are accessing the facilities – and as such would be potentially invalidate its insurance cover and risk litigation if it were to totally ignore the advice that has been received.
'The parish council has set up the working party in good faith with representatives of the cricket team, in order that we can work together towards the re-commencement of cricket – we are waiting for the ball trajectory report that the Essex Cricket Board have recommended to both the cricket clubs and the parish council in order to determine the correct mitigation. The parish council remains committed to supporting sport in Danbury whilst ensuring that the many visitors and residents who enjoy the facilities on offer can access them in a safe manner.'
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