Fears flats could impact town's traditional game
GoogleConcerns have been raised over the impact that a proposed housing development could have on a traditional mass football game.
Atkinson Building Contractors has applied to Cumberland Council to build 42 retirement flats off Church Road in Workington on land known as The Cloffocks near where the Easter series of Uppies and Downies kicks off.
The no-rule game attracts hundreds of spectators and player Elvin Jarvis said a new building site could "pose hazards to players and spectators".
H21, the company that would be managing the development, said work was likely to start after Easter.
A spokesman said fencing would be placed around the area to secure the building site.
"There's probably not going to be any change [in 2026], but there will be in 2027."
He added the project was just at the planning stage and more details would be firmed up in due course.
In recent years the Cloffocks has been developed with the building of Workington Leisure Centre and a Travelodge.
Work is also expected to start on a new community stadium nearby in the new year.
Uppies and Downies has been played in Workington for centuries and players have been known to take the ball across car parks, the shopping precinct and even in the River Derwent.
The Uppies, who are from the upper part of the town, have to get the ball to Workington Hall to win, while the Downies, from the lower area, try to get it to the harbour.
Mr Jarvis said: "The ball can go anywhere and last year was the first year that the ball went past the Travelodge."
'Work around it'
While not against the plans, concerns remain for people's safety while building work is carried out and more buildings being erected where the game is played.
"Any new development is a concern to the game but as always we will just go round it," Mr Jarvis said.
Cumberland Council, which is leading on the stadium's planned, declined to comment.
The proposed flats would be marketed for social rent or retirement living, plans submitted to the council showed.
In 2018, permission was given for a restaurant and pub to be built there, but the plans did not materialise.
The flats would have one bedroom and would be built over three floors.
Planning papers said the project was developed with the operator H21 and based on a similar development at Newton House in Penrith.
