A safety assessment of a proposed new play area for children has said they won’t be at risk from flying cricket balls.
However, they may still be in the firing line of flying footballs.
Residents of Helperby near Easingwold want to create more play facilities for children next to the cricket club.
Sport England have now assessed the proposal, and confirmed no mitigation measures would be needed to protect youngsters from flying cricket balls.
However, it says the trust behind the planned park must show that children will not face being hit by footballs from a nearby pitch. Otherwise, Sport England won’t lift its objection to the plan.
It comes after a Bradford development was quashed by the High Court in 2021 because “ball strike” had not been adequately addressed.
Plans for the play park have gone in after nearly a decade of fundraising by Helperby Brafferton Recreational Trust.
And they are confident that the Sport England assessment won’t delay their progress.
A trust spokesperson said: “We have all the surveys and assessments in place. We are just awaiting the results. The project is not at risk.
“All we require is the ‘no mitigation’ result. If there is a problem with football strikes, then provisions will be made to correct this result.”
It took years of talks between the trust and local landowners before it was agreed a sheep grazing field was the best available place for the facility in the village, which has more than 100 children in its population of about 800.
A planning application submitted to North Yorkshire Council says 95 per cent of residents were in favour of the play park.
It states: “Whilst the local community have access to a very small play facility at the village hall, this caters for children up to the age of seven only. In contrast, the proposed play area would cater for children up to the age of 14.
“Indeed, the subject site is considered as an ideal location for the new recreational facility, with the adjoining cricket club fielding three Saturday teams, three junior teams and a mid-week Wednesday night team the wider site serves as a thriving and cherished community hub and recreational space.”
Numerous residents have written to the council to support the proposal, describing the play area as a “fantastic addition to the village”, and saying there is “currently there is nothing for our young children to do”.