Boost for bid to save sports pitches at Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks

David Kilby, of Shropshire Playing Fields Association, asked for the information in an effort to ensure that pitches are retained as part of any housing development at Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks.

Mr Kilby said he discovered that football clubs and cricket teams had played at the barracks since 2004, and will now forward the information to Sport England, which will be consulted on any planning application for the site.

He said: "There has been an outstanding response, it really justifies that the community have had access to sports pitches, therefore when they are looking at applying the national planning policy it is the evidence that is needed to show it is relevant to the case. If we had not found it out, you could have argued that it would make no difference to the community if they were to disappear."

Mr Kilby argued that the loss of playing fields would make no sense when set against the possible construction of more housing. He said: "With more houses on the site it demonstrates there will be more need for open space."

Mr Kilby said the responses to his appeal have shown that the Beacon Cricket Club played at the site from 2005 until 2009, while the Beacon, The Bull in the Barn, and the Welsh Harp played football on the pitches. Historically, Shrewsbury Town Football Club are also understood to have played at the barracks for some time.

Last month the Ministry of Defence unveiled plans for the site which would create 229 houses and apartments.