COUNCILLORS have agreed to waive a rule requiring that Durham County Cricket Club assess transport links within the community as part of its £45m expansion plans - despite protests from residents over parking problems.
The decision has dismayed councillors in Chester-le-Street, who say people living near to the Riverside have suffered because of the volume of traffic generated by big matches.
Durham cricket club officials were given conditional approval two years ago to build a 150-bed hotel, a new entrance building for the box office, new stand and s club shop and conference centre for up to 700 delegates at the ground.
But the meeting then granted approval on condition the club undertook a survey of the existing linkages between the ground and Chester-le-Street Town Centre.
After carrying out the survey the club then had to implement the findings to improve the links.
With the improvements yet to start, the club asked Durham County Council to have the condition removed as it was "too vague and potentially costly". Speaking before the county planning committee meeting on Tuesday, cricket club chief executive David Harker said: "It is an unreasonable condition, linkages could be a new roundabout, a subway bus service or bridge and if these were needed it’s not something that we could never do as it is not in our remit."
Planning officers recommended the requirement for the survey be removed.
Coun John Shiell told the committee: "I am disappointed that the cricket club are seeking the clause on the transport survey removed from the planning permission.
"I realise that the park-and-ride and park-and-stride schemes are being brought into operation.
"However, the residents of Lancaster Terrace, Ropery Lane and Red Rose areas, still have problems on match days with people parking all day outside the houses."
He added: "One of the possible ways would be a survey of some of these streets to gauge the level of support for a residents’ parking scheme."
But councillors rejected his arguments and removed the requirement.
Coun Shiell, said after the meeting he would work with residents and council officers to look at possibility of doing a survey for a residents’ parking scheme.
The meeting also agreed to an application by the club to change the visual appearance of the south-west stand and install an electricity sub-station.
With funding for the development still being raised, it is hoped work at the ground will start in 2013 - with the hope that much of it will be complete by the time when England meet Australia in first Ashes test to be staged at the Riverside.
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