KAYNE Steinborn-Busse is determined to improve sports facilities for youngsters in Bracknell despite opposition from a small number of local residents, writes Dave Wright.

"We will fight and continue to fight to ensure we can deliver a wonderful facility for the young," vows the CEO of Bracknell Town FC. "It angers me why some people are making objections.”

Ranelagh School and the club's joint proposals to build a sports hub in the school grounds have already gone to Bracknell Forest Council and have the backing of the school's authorities.

The plan is for it to used by pupils during the day and by the football club in the evening and weekends with floodlights around the main area.

There will also be a first-class glass-fronted facility from where school and club parents can watch the youngsters along with, at the request of Bracknell Forest Council's Highways department, parking for up to 60 vehicles.

Despite what some residents fear, there are no plans to build a 5,000 or 10,000-seater stadium.

Since the proposals were first made public last year, there has been tremendous support along with some objections.

“We have been seeing complaints from residents, but I don't think they are all legitimate. I think a very small number have an agenda to spread miss-information" said Steinborn-Busse.

"Where do they want children to be? Do they want them roaming around the streets with some probably causing a nuisance?

"What we want to offer them is playing sport in a safe and fun environment, learning to be better people and building relationships for the future.

"It really angers me that a minority of residents can have such a negative say and sway on the future of the town's youngsters.

"There are only a few houses close by, but if you buy a house backing onto a school's playing fields, how can you have issues with sport being played there"?

Continuing to address the complaints, Steinborn-Busse said: "There is a busy train line adjacent with trains roaring past every 15 minutes from early in the morning to late at night and they probably make more noise than children playing sport.

"As for floodlights, Ranelagh don't need planning permission to have temporary lights put up, so the school can play after-school matches and we can play youth matches there. There is no planning law that can stop that happening.

“We would rather put permanent floodlights onto that field with residents' input on pre-agreed and clearly defined hours. We have had a lot of dialogue with the school, planners and the council on this subject. We have gone for a six-mast system which retracts into their bases when not being used to ensure they don’t cause a visual nuisance during daylight hours.

"When they are up, the backlight from them is very sympathetic to people around. It doesn't give a lot of light spill and it won't be lighting up the area outside the playing field."

He continued: "What the school and club are planning for the Ranelagh playing field is very much a sport and educational site that will benefit hundreds, if not thousands of youngsters.

"Going back three years, I sat on a steering group along with local MP, Dr Phillip Lee, key people at Bracknell Forest Council and key clubs in the town. We were told the playing-pitch strategy was to try to get schools with land to make more use of it on evenings and weekends.

"That is what we are both planning for the playing field and we will continue to fight to get that provision which will benefit the school's pupils and youngsters attached to Bracknell Town FC.

"To those who have an issue with the noise the children might make when playing sport, I would ask why live near a sports field that has been there since the 1940s and a football club since the 1930s.

"The complaints only fuel my drive and ambition to improve sports facilities for youngsters either via this application of by supporting the school achieve their permitted development rights. We will do everything we can to encourage them to lead a healthier life rather than roam around the streets of Bracknell doing nothing."