Back to square one for stadium plan

STADIUM fight . . . Failsworth activist Warren Bates with the Charity Commission’s decision

Red tape confusion over stadium plans

Oldham Athletic’s stadium dream is back in limbo because charity experts can’t make up their mind if land at the heart of the proposed development is a trust.

Charity Commission experts say the High Court may have to rule whether the land at Failsworth Lower Memorial Park is a charitable trust or simply council recreation land.

Council chiefs are reviewing their options and will make a decision next month.

Lib-Dem Councillor Mohib Uddin, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Officers have now been instructed to present a report to Cabinet on March 3 to outline the next step.”

But Oldham’s opposition Labour leader, Councillor Jim McMahon, thinks it might be time for Oldham’s Liberal Democrat-controlled council to withdraw its support.

He said: “The council should now step back and consider if it is in the public interest to pursue this any further, given the court and legal costs could run into six figures.”

Oldham’s Tory leader, Councillor Jack Hulme, said: “This leaves the situation very much in a state of flux, which for all parties — residents, the authority and Oldham Athletic — is not a desirable situation to be in. We are back to square one.”

Latics chief executive Alan Hardy said he was waiting to talk to the council about the commission’s views. But residents fighting the plans for a 12,000 seater, £20 million stadium at the corner of Broadway and Oldham Road say the lack of a clear-cut case for a charity is a victory.

Failsworth activist Warren Bates and researcher Leon Clegg were contacted by Charity Commission specialist caseworker Alex Young who said: “Unless further evidence is obtained, we cannot advise the council or any other party what powers the council has to deal with the land.”

Mr Clegg said: “This land is for recreational purposes only. There is more protection because it is public land. Without doubt this justifies Failsworth Residents’ Action Group’s opposition.

“We have researched the former Failsworth Urban District Council minutes and it is clearly public land which was presented to the council for leisure and recreational use.”

Alan Shaw, chairman of the Failsworth Residents’ Action Group, said the fight would go on.

“The first battle has been won but the fight is not over.”