CONCERNS over a cricket club’s plans to serve booze late at night were ‘heightened by a lot of fearmongering’, a committee has heard.

Thirty residents living near the Wraysbury Cricket Club, which is nearly 100-years-old, lodged objections to the club’s plans to extend its alcohol and music hours over concerns of ‘unbearable’ noise.

Locals living on The Green say the loud ‘mind-numbing’ music and screams would make their lives a ‘misery’. However, 12 residents also supported the plans, believing the cricket club will be mindful of its neighbours.

This triggered a licensing sub-committee on Tuesday, June 7, where councillors will have a final say to approve the scheme or not.

READ MORE: Wraysbury locals clash over cricket club plans

Speaking at the meeting, Wraysbury Cricket Club chairman Michael Ward said the concerns were “raised more by fiction than fact” and “heightened by a lot of fearmongering” by individuals.

Mr Ward told committee members they needed an extra revenue stream to raise funds to improve the club’s facilities to support future plans to introduce a women’s cricket team and competition.

He said: “Our success increased the pressure that’s been placed on the club. Lots of youth and new players from the village came down and for that, we’ve had to now make plans to improve the facilities not just for the benefit of the cricket club, but for the benefit of the entire village.

“The entire village does use the village green – it is not exclusively our own – and making it a safer environment for people to play sport.”

He also warned their plans won’t go ahead without these additional revenue streams.

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The committee also heard the cricket club does not plan on turning it into a nightclub but wants to host more fundraising events at the clubhouse.

Mr Ward said the issues have been addressed following an open forum and talks with Wraysbury Parish Council, who is the club’s landlord, resulting in amendments to their licence plans.

The amended plans include opening, serving alcohol, and playing recorded music until 11pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and 1am on Friday and Saturday.

Councillors sitting on the licensing sub-committee will make a decision within five working days.