Killinghall Cricket Club has been given the go-ahead to build a new two-storey pavilion.

North Yorkshire Council approved the club’s planning application today, after saying previous designs would have been too large and overbearing.

The decision paves the way for the demolition of the current 1970s building, which has two small changing areas and communal showers that give little privacy.

The club hopes the new pavilion will be more appealing to female players and umpires, who currently have to arrive in kit or get changed in the toilets or communal areas.

The current pavilion

Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning at the council, included a series of conditions attached to the decision.

They included that development must begin within three years and construction work can only take place between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 8am to 3pm on Saturdays.

Killinghall finished fourth in division one of this year’s Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League.

Since the demolition of the Three Horseshoes pub and the long-term closure of The Greyhounds Inn, the club pavilion and bar has become a social centre for the village at weekends.

It hopes the new pavilion will enhance this and encourage junior players.

The club said in planning documents:

“This development is very much needed to the club and the village community.”

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Glasshouses Cricket Club has issued a plea for new players amid fears it could fold after more than 100 years.

Glasshouses was a founder member of the Nidderdale league in 1894 and has won the league on 19 occasions. But it currently only has five members ready and able to play for the new season in April.

It now has only a short time left to sign up enough players to show the league that it has the strength to fulfil fixtures. If it can’t, it will have to stand down and more than a century of village cricket will come to an end.

The club, which is in the fifth division of the Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League, has good facilities and plays on a well-maintained ground in a peaceful setting two miles from Pateley Bridge.

Kites swoop overhead and the River Nidd flows by the southern boundary line.

The club’s picturesque setting

Committee member Stephen Boyden said:

“If you are a cricketer who wants friendly though competitive cricket, get in touch with the club now and save them from the saddest of endings.

“You don’t have to live in the area to join the club, all ages are welcome from 12 years old, and both men and women are welcome to join too.”

If you are interested in joining or want to find out more, contact Graham on 07740 786588.

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• 24 bus from Pateley Bridge to Harrogate saved
• Killinghall Cricket Club applies to build new two-storey pavilion