Community Group Challenges Football Club's Development Plans
A newly formed community group is opposing Kidderminster Harriers' proposal to construct multiple football pitches on green belt land.
The club intends to purchase and develop 8.5 hectares within Burlish Meadows, a 40-hectare country park located near Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.
While Kidderminster Harriers assert that the development will provide community benefits and promote youth participation in sport, the Friends of Burlish Meadows argue it will harm the local ecosystem.
"Burlish is a big green lung," said the group's co-founder Jason Kernohan. "It's vital for people for recreation, it's vital for wildlife."
Burlish Meadows was formerly the site of a golf course until Wyre Forest District Council assumed control in 2018 and designated the area as a conservation zone.
Skylarks and toads are among the species found at Burlish Meadows
Kernohan clarified that he is not opposed to the construction of additional pitches but recommended that a brownfield site would be more appropriate for such development.
He described Burlish Meadows as an acid grassland, a rare habitat type within Worcestershire.
"There are some scarce species that you don't get in other areas in the county," he said. "One butterfly, the white letter hairstreak, occurs here, and it's one of the few places I know in Worcestershire where it occurs.
"There's a rare plant here called tower mustard that only occurs in less than 30 sites across the whole of Britain.
"To lose such biodiversity would be terrible."
The Harriers' development proposal includes four full-size pitches, three of which would be artificial surfaces, in addition to two junior pitches.
Club owner Richard Lane emphasized the positive community impact of the new facilities.
"Every day, our academy and foundation coaches see the positive difference football can make through coaching, education and our work across the community," he said.
"This proposal would allow us to build on that for many years to come."
Matthew Terry, representing the Friends of Burlish Meadows, expressed concerns that the development would inevitably affect the adjacent nature reserve.
Lane stated that the project would not impact Burlish Top Nature Reserve, which borders the Meadows.
"But nature doesn't know the difference between Burlish Meadows and Burlish Top," said Matthew Terry, another of the Friends. "And the whole point of Burlish Meadows was to take pressure off Burlish Top, which was seeing significant overuse."
He added the site was one of very few outdoor spaces in the area flat enough to be enjoyed by people with limited mobility.
The Meadows was previously the site of a golf course before being redeveloped as a conservation area
David Ross, Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet member for finance and the capital portfolio, commented on the situation.
"We are aware that campaigners have raised concerns regarding the potential sale of part of Burlish Country Park.
No decision has been made at this stage.
The matter is due to be considered by cabinet on Thursday and it would not be appropriate to comment ahead of councillors making their decision."
Matthew Terry, of the Friends of Burlish Meadows, said developing the site would inevitably affect the neighbouring nature reserve
