Anger over stadium plan

GROUNDS for protest . . . the Lancaster Club entrance that could become Latics new stadium

SHOCK plans for Oldham Athletic to build a new stadium on allotments and football pitches in Failsworth have been blasted.

Latics has teamed with Oldham Council to draw up proposals to switch from Boundary Park to a new ground off Broadway.

But the Chronicle understands it would mean building on Lancaster Sports Club, football pitches at Lower Memorial Park, off Park Avenue, and Broadway Allotments — plans vehemently opposed by users.

Failsworth Dynamos Football Club has spent 18 months securing an agreement to transform the park for thousands of children to play football on and has been left outraged at being dramatically usurped by Latics.

Council and Latics chiefs have refused to publicly discuss the plans and respond to the criticism until all parties involved have been consulted.

But the proposals are on the agenda of next Wednesday’s Oldham Council cabinet meeting with a report stating it, “seeks to obtain the requisite approval to enter into a conditional agreement with the club for the transfer of an area of council owned land in support of the club’s ground redevelopment proposals.”

Failsworth Dynamos chairman Leo Turner said his club has a secured, written commitment from Oldham Council to lease the land and develop it for the wider community. It was getting funding together to build a modest stadium, surrounded by three other pitches, so it could play semi-professionally and was to publicly release its plans next week — only to be left “absolutely dumbfounded” that the land has been offered to Latics.

Mr Turner said: “To take the land from us without any explanation or dialogue would not only be underhand and despicable but immoral. We have promised children and parents we will deliver this and there will be absolute uproar if this does go through and scuppers our plans. We will be completely knackered and have no alternative but to pack in.”

Broadway Allotments has been running since the 1940s and all 15 plots are taken. Secretary Tracy Cunningham said council staff had informed her the most suitable site for the new stadium included allotment land. She has been left shocked and distressed by the lack of consultation.

Lancaster Sports Club is home to 11 Avro football teams, as well as two other football teams, two cricket teams and has bowling and five-a-side facilities. It’s also used by Latics’ School of Excellence and for first team training.

It’s owned by BAE Systems, which could not confirm whether it was in negotiations to sell the site.

After a huge battle with nearby residents, Latics were finally given planning permission in December, 2007 to build 693 homes, a new hotel, leisure centre and conference facility around Boundary Park to finance an £80 million stadium redevelopment.


Why we have to move — chairman

LATICS chairman Simon Blitz has spoke of the urgent need to find a new home.

Mr Blitz said: “I cannot see the club surviving if all we can offer is a dilapidated stadium.

“Boundary Park will only get worse over the next 10 years, so we have to find a way to build a new stadium somehow and somewhere.” Mr Blitz added that relocating is now preferred to redeveloping Boundary Park.

He continued: “A revamp of Boundary Park is getting harder by the day because property prices around the world have crashed.”

Mr Blitz did not rule out a groundshare,but believes Athletic will probably go it alone.

Athletic spent £427,000 in the last financial year maintaining Boundary Park and the club’s training facilities.