Trouble is brewing in the idyllic village said to have inspired The Archers. For residents are up in arms after the peace and quiet of the countryside was shattered by the "shouting and swearing" of footballers.
It's not what's expected in delightful Inkberrow, nestled in lush greenery between Redditch and Worcester and where homes sell for an average of more than £500,000. Shakespeare himself was said to have taken a drink at the village's Old Bull pub while coachloads of tourists have turned up because of its links with the 73-year-old Radio 4 show, the world's longest-running broadcast drama.
But real-life disquiet is now brewing over expansion plans put forward by the village's football team. Inkberrow FC has asked Wychavon District Council for permission to build two new stands. Documents submitted alongside the planning application said there was a proven need for the club to enhance the capacity and sustainability of its existing pitches. But some locals fear the club's stadium is growing too big for the area.
READ MORE: Cody Fisher killers could get more jail time in 'unduly lenient' review
One said it would be "like having Birmingham City FC's ground in the middle of a little village". Another said: “Living in this what was once a quiet idyllic road in a rural village has become like living in a busy city, and our quiet Saturdays and Sundays in our gardens have lost their tranquillity as I’m left listening to shouting and swearing football players.”
Rosie Lee said: “This club is growing way too fast for the size of the small rural village we live in. The applications being put in are for a town-sized club’s amenities.
“I live on a small rural road which is being swamped by this tiny club expanding beyond the size of the road it sits on. There is not enough parking as it stands without extra seating.”
Lynn Moseley said: “I feel this football club is asking for more and more. It will be like (having) Birmingham City Football Club’s ground in the middle of a little village. I have spoken to other residents in Sands Road as to why they have not commented on this application and was told they are scared to say anything as they didn’t want to be alienated in the village.
Inkberrow's first team plays in the Midland Football League Division 2 and Sporting Club Inkberrow compete in Division One of the Hellenic League. Men’s, women’s and junior football teams of various age ranges are all based at Inkberrow, as well as a running club, Inkberrow Cricket Club and junior cricket sides.
In a statement, the club told BirminghamLive: "The planning application we have submitted involves doubling the seating and standing capacity (from 120 currently to 240), and is a mandatory minimum ground standard requirement if our Hellenic league team is successful in gaining promotion to Step 5 of the FA pyramid.
"The team has been in the promotion play-off places for most of the season, won their play-off semi-final last week, and travel to Malmesbury tomorrow night (Fri 26th) for the final. If they win this game then this development will need to go ahead for them to take their place in the higher league. The planning application is currently in the consultation stage which ends on 17 May. To date we believe there have been two responses from the local community."
Stay up to date with the very latest from your Birmingham or West Midlands street or neighbourhood with our Birmingham News Email Updates sent straight to your inbox
