THE recent decision for a school not to move onto a sports ground has been welcomed by the resident cricket club.

Leyton County Cricket Club said it welcomes the decision by governors at George Mitchell School in Leyton not to merge with Norlington School for Boys to become a trust school.

The rejection of the proposal means the council will not go ahead with building a large school on Leyton Sports Ground - formerly Essex County Ground - where the club is based.

Chairman of the 133-year-old club, Errol Francis, said: “We are very happy because we didn't have enough say in what was going on. It was always important to us to play on that sports ground in the community.

“We could see it being a mistake, not only for us, but for the community, because of the loss of green space and putting such a large school in a congested area."

He added: "I also think the community effect of having different schools doing different things is always good.”

A council spokesman said he was unable to say at this stage what the future of the Leyton Sports Ground will be now the school build is not going ahead, but that the council is seeking a management committee to ensure the charitable objectives of the land are met.

He said: "The management committee will manage the land. The decision-making body, however, is the Council, in its role as the charity trustee."