Cricketers won approval to have a beer at their club after a match.
Denby Cricket Club secured consent from Kirklees councillors to sell alcohol at the Denby Lane club during the season.
James Gumpert, club treasurer, told the three-strong Licensing Panel that alcohol sales were sought for two reasons – financial and social.
The club’s plan was met by opposition from the land owner, the Crossland family, plus some villagers who submitted letters against the plan.
Clr Ken Smith, chair of the Licensing Panel, and his colleagues Clr Christine Iredale and Clr Bill Armer backed the club’s bid, with Clr Smith saying: “We have decided to approve the application as it has been put to us, we fully approve it. It will begin immediately.”
Councillors’ approval means the club can sell alcohol from 6pm to 9pm Monday to Thursday (except Tuesdays); 6pm to 10pm on Fridays and 1pm to 10pm on weekends from April to September.
Mr Gumpert had told councillors: “We’ve got a growing junior section which costs us money to run.
“Without the money coming in from the sale of alcohol – beer and wine – we think we will have to fold at the end of this season and that will be to the detriment of lots of children and adult players.
“Almost every single club in the Huddersfield area does have this sort of facility, we are very much alone in not having this licence.
“Cricket is a social game and we would like to invite opposition players and parents to join us for a drink after the match. The social aspect is important.”
Mrs Crossland, land owner, said it may be because the club was in a residential area which was unsuited to outside drinking.
She said: “Nobody wants to see the cricket club fold. We are not monsters in the village, but people are very concerned and don’t want this alcohol licence. We can foresee what will happen with parking and access an issue, it’s in a residential area and there are no lights, even in summer it gets dark fairly quickly.
“If Denby Cricket Club are wanting to do this perhaps it is time they should look for a different, more suitable venue.”
Some 15 letters of objection were submitted before the cut off date, while cricketers handed in a petition in support but councillors would not base their views on it as it was submitted after the cut off date for representations.
Councillors also said the financial issue was not a consideration for them, with the focus solely on the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm. Their ruling was that alcohol sales would not compromise the licensing objectives.
Denby Cricket Club runs senior teams which play in the Huddersfield Drakes League,and under 9s, under 11s and under 13s teams which play in the Sellers Huddersfield Junior Cricket League.
