Advertisement
New talks on Latics stadium plan
Date published: 03/03/2010
Oldham councillors met Latics chiefs yesterday to thrash out the way forward after the Charity Commission’s set back to the Failsworth stadium plan.
The commission failed to rule whether land at Lower Failsworth Memorial Park has a charitable trust on it.
The park land, and the neighbouring Lancaster Club, at the bottom of Broadway, are wanted by Oldham Athletic so the club can move from Boundary Park after more than 100 years.
The 21/2 hour meeting followed criticism from Latics’ managing director Simon Corney last week that the council was dragging its feet. A six-hour public consultation meeting due to be held in Failsworth on Thursday was cancelled at the last minute.
There was to have been an exhibition of the £20 million, 12,000-seater stadium with community sports facilities proposed for a 30 acre site off Broadway.
Mr Corney said council officers were unavailable and legal advice was that the meeting had to be postponed.
The Charity Commission has suggested going to the High Court to resolve the land’s status, but council leaders are believed to be reluctant to go to law.
More details of the way forward will be made public next week.
Yesterday all the party leaders — Liberal Democrat council leader Howard Sykes, Labour’s Jim McMahon and Tory Jack Hulme — met club officials at the Civic Centre with senior council officers.
Councillor Sykes said: “This was a very frank and productive meeting. Oldham Council remains committed to trying to find a solution that works for all stakeholders including the residents, the football club and its supporters. We will be making a formal decision on the next steps at a meeting of Cabinet on March 17.
“A further statement will be issued next week when the report to Cabinet is released into the public domain.”
Councillor Hulme added: “We clarified the situation and both parties agreed to a plan to move forward. It was a long meeting, but it cleared up a lot of misunderstandings and I like to think there was a lot more mutual understanding at the end.”
Comments
I wonder how long this fiasco will go on for. Do we even know who's paying for this stadium yet? Don't get me wrong, I like to see latics do well, but they can't fill the stadium they've got, or what remains of it, so what chance have they got with 12,000? The owners need to wake up. They've also made a poor choice of manager and if they don't buck up then they'll be in League 2, which will sting even more with Rochdale looking likely to go up to League 1. They should concentrate on the game.
"council leaders are believed to be reluctant to go to law"
hmmmm? i wonder why? in Sykes case lighting can strike twice!
stop all this nonsence now before millions more of oldham tax payers money is wasted again
In these troubled economic times it makes more sense to refurbish what youve got,(Boundary Park) than build a TWENTY THOUSAND seater stadium that wouldnt even reach a quarter capacity on the current performance of the team,You expand when youre on the up not on your butt...Call yourselves buisnessmen youre having a LAUGH!
Is it me or am i being stupid.
Failed townhall (crumbling away)
Failed bus station ( now a car park )
Failed promise of rugby in the town ( played out of Oldham )
Failed municipal golf course ( cancelled until further notice )
Failed union street development 9 promise of bowling alleys and cinema )
What do these people get paid for, they should be made to keep good on promises whoever is in power.Can we not plan a new stadium where the golf course should have been to support football and rugby
Build on BP and move to Rochdale whilst this is being done. Oh no wait, theres cash in the land isnt there!!!
Tune in next week to see the next episode of ............
Any court case would have to be funded by Latics. For the council to do it would be a disgraceful waste of council taxpayers money, plus a huge blow to Lib Dem hopes for the May elections.
It seems strange that Latics, who are dependent on the council for any plan, are constantly attacking them. Remember Alan Hardy's crazed rant against them when they initially turned down the skyscraper in the redevelopment of BP? Latics and the council - a marriage made in heaven?
Old_Mancunian is correct about the need for clarification over the land betweeen the Lancaster Club site and Lower Memorial Gardens, as it is the key to the whole development. The Lancaster club site is too small on its own for Latics'current plans. However,ProDriver is wrong, as it would be the council who would have to fund legal action if they leased the land to Latics and were challenged in court. On the other hand if the council withdraws its support they could possibly be sued by Latics!
Have Your Say
We need some clarification. Most people understand about the formally laid out 9 acre memorial ground, but what of the 11 acres of land between there and the lancaster club. This is the land the council want to lease. It is the land bought by public subscription, added to the memorial ground, and which, opponents say, cannot be leased. Does anybody have a copy of the title deeds to this land?
By Old_Mancunian @ 03/03/2010 13:49:35
Report this comment (23527)