WEB EXCLUSIVE by TOM JACKSON WISBECH Town Football Club s move to Lynn Road, Wisbech, has finally been given the go-ahead after a year-long battle against protesters. The decision comes from Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council s Development Contro

WEB EXCLUSIVE by TOM JACKSON

WISBECH Town Football Club's move to Lynn Road, Wisbech, has finally been given the go-ahead after a year-long battle against protesters.

The decision comes from Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council's Development Control Board after councillors visited the site on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border this morning (Thursday).

The news has been met with delight by the club's agent Peter Humphrey, who said: "It's good news for the town and good news for the club."

This afternoon's decision was delayed for three days by the development control board, which wanted to visit the site near Bronte House.

The committee returned to King's Lynn, with nine councillors voting for the move and three voting against.

It brings to an end a year-long dispute between the football club and nearby residents, who said they did not want their livelihoods blighted by a football stadium a few yards away from their homes.

More than 50 letters of objection raised concerns with parking, traffic, noise and floodlights.

The Fenmen's move from Lerowe Road is set to secure the future of the club, with spiralling debts of £300,000. The club says the only way it could afford to pay off those debts would be by selling Fenland Park for housing.

It was recommended for approval by West Norfolk Council principal planning officer Keith Wilkinson after he said the benefits "outweigh those adverse effects identified by objectors. It will bring benefits to the community and provide a facility for the town".

The final decision for the move will be referred to the Government Office for the East of England (Go-East) for them to assess whether or not the application should be called in for determination by the Secretary of State.