Stadium plans hit by more opposition

OLDHAM Athletic’s £20 million stadium plans have been bombarded with more criticism from the community.

Failsworth Dynamos Football Club has declared it wants to use part of the land itself, while Failsworth Historical Society doesn’t want the land developed at all.

Athletic teamed up with Oldham Council to unveil plans to sell Boundary Park for housing and use the proceeds to build a 12,000-seater stadium with community sports facilities on a 30-acre site off Broadway.

The council has agreed to transfer allotment land and Lower Memorial Park for the club to build on, while Athletic has a deal in place to buy the neighbouring Lancaster Sports Club.

However, Dynamos FC is upset the land was offered to Latics after it had spent 18 months securing an agreement to transform the memorial park for thousands of children to play football on and build their own modest stadium.

The League One club has been in talks to offer Dynamos the use of its new community facilities, but these appear to have failed.

In a letter to Oldham Council and Oldham Athletic, which has been passed to the Chronicle, chairman Leo Turner said: “We believe that the best interests of the children of Failsworth Dynamos and the wider community are best served by our organisation continuing with our plans to develop the land promised to us by the council in order to provide better facilities for hundreds of local children and young adults of the area.

“We would like now to continue to make progress against the original commitment to us and begin discussions on how we would like to develop the land over a period of time in order to clarify for prospective backers the funds we will need to complete our project.”

He said the Dynamos don’t wish to fall out with Latics but challenged the council’s rights to renege on a commitment made after a long formal process and use a public open space for a profit-seeking venture that does not meet the intended use for the land.

He adds: “We intend to drive on and achieve our objectives with the help of the community and the hundreds of people that have pledged support to our cause.”

Latics have organised a question and answer session at The Radclyffe School, Hunt Lane, Chadderton on Monday — but Labour MP David Heyes and Failsworth councillor Jim McMahon have criticised the location and £2 charge.

John Crompton, honorary chairman of Failsworth Historical Society, said: “To expect the people of Failsworth to believe that this farce of meeting called under the heading of consultation, held in Chadderton, at a fund-raising cost to cover attendance and away from Failsworth is nothing short of an abomination.”

He says Failsworth Lower Memorial Park was provided by subscription from local people to commemorate First World War deaths.

He added: “To consider losing something so sacred to the memory of these gallant serving men in such an offhanded manner is nothing short of undignified and lack of consideration.”

Latics says the charge will ensure tickets go to people who will definitely attend. There is capacity for 300 people, with tickets available from the Boundary Park club shop.

Chief executive Alan Hardy urged Failsworth residents, as well as fans, to attend.

Avro Football Club, whose 11 football teams play at Lancaster Sports Club, has been reassured in meetings with Latics that it can use the new facilities.

But plotholders at Broadway Allotments have vowed a David and Goliath style battle to save their allotments from development.

They were furious at a lack of consultation but council chiefs have pledged to meet them and discuss compensation and the provision of new plots.

Athletic director Simon Corney declined to comment on the Dynamos’ decision.

Oldham Council is preparing a response to the letter and said it would be inappropriate to comment until it has first corresponded with Dynamos.