A Sheffield sports centre, closed for years, could re-open. The Derek Dooley Sports and Community Centre, in Crookes, closed during lockdown
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00:00A well-known Sheffield Sports Centre could reopen, years after it was last used.
00:05The Derek Dooley Sports and Community Centre on Western View, Crookes, has not been used
00:10since it closed during lockdown, but now Sheffield United, who operated the venue, say they want
00:16to bring it back into use, but they have warned that it can only viably happen if they can
00:21install floodlights.
00:23The centre consists of an all-weather sports pitch and a building that has been used as
00:29a gym.
00:30When the venue had applied for permission to install floodlights in the past, people
00:34living nearby have objected.
00:37Now another planning application to build floodlights has been filed with Sheffield
00:40Council and the club says it would use new LED lights that direct light more directly
00:47onto the playing areas, so it would have less impact on neighbours than lights previously
00:51planned and they would be switched off at 10pm.
00:55Sheffield United state that the only way that the site will be viable is with floodlighting
01:00to enable the pitches to be used in the evening, but two objections have been made by neighbours
01:04citing noise and concerns for wildlife.