RESIDENTS who are worried about plans to move a community football club into a new home have suggested it could share facilities with a nearby rugby club.

Woodthorpe Wanderers will have to leave its current home on the former Lowfields school fields, as City of York council wants to build on the land.

Council bosses have drawn up possible plans for a new home for the club on Chesney Field, on Foxwood Lane, and this week people in the area had a chance to discuss the plans at a special public engagement meeting.

Cllr Andrew Waller represents the Westfield ward, which includes Lowfield and Chesney Fields. He said many were unhappy that only homes on the perimeter of Chesney Field were leafleted about the event, when the playing field is used by many more.

He also said people were worried about plans to fence off part of the field for the football club.

“That would mean other activities like dog walking were concentrated on the perimeter of the field,” he said.

Besides this, parking could be a problem as Foxwood Lane could be overwhelmed with cars if matches are held on Chesney Field.

Instead, he said, some people locally think Woodthorpe Wanderers could share facilities at the nearby York Acorn Rugby Club - where parking, changing facilities and toilets are already provided.

A spokesperson for City of York Council said: “We welcome the views of residents on our plans at Chesney Fields to enhance and improve the area for residents and to provide facilities that encourage young people to be active. All feedback received will be considered and addressed as we look to improve the area.

“This public engagement event formed part of a wider public consultation regarding the plans, this consultation is still ongoing and we would ask residents to provide any further feedback by visiting www.york.gov.uk/consultations or emailing callum.abbott@york.gov.uk.”

The spokesman also said that information about the event had been sent to local sports clubs, displayed outside the fields, and shared on social media.

The consultation runs until September 22.