Ellesmere Cricket Club could be forced to relocate due to flooding

Ellesmere Cricket Club, which is currently based at Birch Road, is in discussions with Ellesmere College about using land there.

The club says drainage issues at its ground is also causing difficulties with it being able to develop its junior teams.

The issue was discussed by Ellesmere Town Council, which owns the Birch Road ground, at its meeting on Monday night.

Councillor Ryan Hartley, mayor of Ellesmere, said: "The ground is very wet and the drainage is not ideal.

"The problem is where the water ends up. It just sits at the lower end of the ground and has nowhere to go.

"The club is looking at the possibility of moving to Ellesmere College to develop a cricket pitch and facilities there. It wouldn't happen straight away, probably five years.

"The club has done a feasibility study about drainage. It now wants to do a study about moving.

"The general consensus of club members is that they are happy to move to a better site. Obviously costs will come into that."

Councillor Hartley added: "The town council currently owns the ground. The club has a long term lease. The town council hasn't yet discussed what it would do with the ground if the club moved."

Ellesmere Cricket Club was formed in 1876 and is believed to be one of the oldest clubs in Shropshire.

Its first and second teams compete in the Shropshire County Cricket League.