Members of Barnet Cricket Club have still not heard from the council following Barnet FC's proposal for a new 9,200 stadium on their pitch.

Trevor Chambers, secretary of the cricket club, said: "Our members are just gobsmacked and they just cannot understand why we have not been consulted.

"We have written a letter to the council expressing our disquiet that we have not been consulted but we have not heard anything."

Bees chairman Tony Kleanthous has already stated he will not proceed with his application until the cricket club are found a new home.

Mr Chambers added the club would be open to relocation if the council offered them a suitable site but he anticipated strong objections from nearby residents to the football club's plans.

Barnet Council's acting head of regeneration, Paul Chadwick, said: "We have consulted the cricket club both before and after the application was submitted.

"If planning permission is granted for the current scheme, then Barnet FC will need to have further dialogue with the cricket club to agree a way forward on relocation."

Meanwhile Barnet FC's scheme got the thumbs up from St John Ambulance, who will be relocated within Barnet FC's new stadium should the planning application be successful.

David Drisedale, chief executive of St John Ambulance London District, said: "We would not be averse to moving at all because our aim is to always support local organisations."

November 7, 2001 20:48