New Stadium - Hazel Blears speaks

[Lord Bracknell]

From http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342846


The Public Inquiry into Salford City Reds new proposed stadium at Barton has now been adjourned until 10am on the 11 July.

After a first week where the inspector saw many expert witnesses the final day of the first session saw appearances from local MPs Hazel Blears, Ian Stewart and Barbara Keeley all in favour of the development.

Ian Stewart MP said: "I have been a Salford supporter since 1957. The club plays a vital role in civic life by providing civic pride and focus, as well as national and international recognition. This development will enhance and improve these attributes.

It is my view that this Reds' proposal will impact in a very significant and positive way on the issues that affect my constituency."

Hazel Blears MP said: "It is vital to have a new stadium for Salford City Reds. The Willows is full of treasured memories but being 100 years old is inevitably out of date, therefore the new stadium will give the club a chance to flourish.

"Rugby League is a unifying factor in Salford and people come together to support their team from all races and classes and the Salford fans are incredibly loyal.

"The team needs a new home, the fans need a new home, I want to see the club grow and prosper."

 

[bristolseagull]

We're gonna get our new f***ing ground!

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Cor -- if anyone objects to that (and they won't, because they're northern and they LIKE sport there) then they'll have a conflict-of-interest field day...

 

[Scoffers]

If we don't, I'll eat my hat

 

[BensGrandad]

From http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342846


."

"Rugby League is a unifying factor in Salford and people come together to support their team from all races and classes and the Salford fans are incredibly loyal.

"The team needs a new home, the fans need a new home, I want to see the club grow and prosper."

Justa few changes needed:


]"Football is a unifying factor in Brighton and people come together to support their team from all races and classes and the Brighton fans are incredibly loyal.

"The team needs a new home, the fans need a new home, I want to see the club grow and prosper.

The signs look good.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

There are some interesting parallels.

From the Salford Advertiser, 16 December 2005:-

Brighton's plight rocks Reds' stadium dream

WITH the club’s future tied in to the building of a new stadium, years of planning delays and a neighbouring council raising concerns which could scupper everything, there’s a lot in common between the plight of Salford Reds and that of Brighton & Hove Albion. Reporter Tony Howard takes a look at the south coast club’s story which sends a chilling message about the hard road ahead...

SALFORD Reds’ fans celebrating council approval for their new stadium have been warned there could still be a long road ahead.

Brighton and Hove Albion’s proposed Falmer Stadium was at a similar stage to the City of Salford Stadium three-and-a-half years ago, and developers are still awaiting final clearance after a neighbouring council last week took the issue to the High Court.

After their experiences on the south coast, campaign group Falmer for All are warning the Reds they could be in for a long battle to realise their dream of a 20,000 stadium at Barton.

The parallels are worthy of note.

Manchester City Council filed concerns about the retail aspect of the City of Salford Stadium in 2003.

In July of that year, Manchester’s head of planning Peter Babb wrote a letter to his equivalent at Salford entitled: ‘Planning Application 46028 - Proposed Stadium and enabling development at Barton’.

In the letter, Mr Babb recognised the club’s future was tied into the building of a new stadium but suggested ‘this in itself does not demonstrate need’. He added: “The element of most concern is the ‘enabling development’ and specifically the 21,367 sqm of A1 retail development.”

That issue has yet to be resolved. Despite this, Manchester City Council have repeatedly expressed their support for the new stadium.

After gaining planning permission from Brighton and Hove Council in June 2002, the Falmer project has since been through two public inquiries and now, at the 11th hour, faces a court show down after Lewes District Council lodged an appeal against Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s decision to back the plans.

Even if the appeal is thrown out, the stadium won’t be open until August 2008 - six years after getting permission, and Brighton are already £3m worse off due to the delay.

Following planning approval, Salford’s stadium is currently with Mr Prescott who must decide if a Public Inquiry is needed.

Paul Samrah, chairman of Falmer for All, explains the situation in Brighton. He says: “Brighton Council backed the plans and Mr Prescott called it in for a Public Inquiry two months later due to Lewes’ concerns that some of the site was in an area of natural beauty on their land. After the inquiry which began in February 2003, it was recommended different sites be looked at. So another Public Inquiry was opened in July and a further 10 sites investigated, but in February 2005 it was decided Falmer was still the best.

“Mr Prescott gave the stadium the go-ahead in October 2005 after deciding the regeneration and economic benefits to the deprived area of Morscoomb, where the stadium would partly be, far outweighed the environmental negatives.”

But, just when the Brighton and Hove Albion fans began to celebrate getting a new home, Lewes Council struck. As Paul says: “Lewes refuse to see the obvious benefits of employment and the training which will be available on the site.

“My message to Salford is you could be at the start of a long journey. Enjoy celebrating the council’s approval, but be aware that you may need to convince a lot more people to come on side before the dream becomes a reality.”

Adam Thomas, from Red City Developments who are overseeing the Salford plans, is not concerned. He says: “Brighton’s is a worst case scenario but the sites are different. Our sticking point is the retail element and Manchester have said they support the stadium as long as that element is thoroughly looked at - and it is.

“I think we are more like Milton Keynes or Grimsby who built on brownfield land and the Deputy Prime Minister has passed these projects without public inquiries.

“However, we know there’s a chance it could become drawn out and we will not just go away if there are objections - we will fight on until the stadium is open.”

 

[Lord Bracknell]

As a Salford Reds supporter, Hazel Blears must have been REALLY PISSED OFF when Manchester City Council, who have NO responsibilities for Salford, put their oar in to oppose the new stadium.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

And they finally won the argument - without having to wait as long as we have.



From the Manchester Evening News, 3 November 2006:-

Salford scores stadium victory

A £130m sporting and leisure development is to be built in Salford.

Ministers have given the go-ahead after a public inquiry earlier this year.

The centrepiece of the plan is a 22,000-capacity stadium for Salford City Reds Rugby League team, costing £35m. It will be built on an 80-acre site near the M60 between the A57 Liverpool Road and Manchester Ship Canal at Barton. The project includes:

A four-star hotel;
Casino;
Shopping mall.

The decision guarantees the Reds' future in Salford and was welcomed by club chairman John Wilkinson.

He said: "I am absolutely ecstatic. It is a major project that means so much to the city of Salford and to this great club."

Ruth Kelly's Department for Communities and Local Government approved the development after considering recommendations by a government inspector who conducted the inquiry.

As MP for Bolton, Ms Kelly was not allowed to make the decision, which was taken on her behalf by another planning minister.

Alternative

But in a letter to Salford council the government says Mrs Kelly "agrees there is no good reason to question that a stadium with a capacity of 20,000 is appropriate.

"She concedes that if Salford Reds are to retain their place in the Super League the club must build a new ground on a site other than the existing ground at The Willows."

Salford council gave the scheme planning approval in November last year, but it was "called in" by the government due to its size, and a public inquiry was held.

Mr Wilkinson, who is Rugby League's longest serving chairman, has worked for six years to bring a new stadium to Salford.

He had warned that if the new stadium was not built the club's only alternative was to move out of the city.

The stadium is expected to have huge economic benefits for the city, creating jobs, and helping to put Salford on the sporting map.

The stadium will mean the club can compete with the elite of the game, and they have already recruited community development coaches to extend the appeal of the club into Bolton, Manchester, and Cheshire, and scour the country for outstanding talent.

Salford planning spokesman Derek Antrobus said: "This decision is a huge boost for the city, and we are delighted for the club and its supporters.

"We note the inspector's comments about the benefits which will arise from developing a new stadium in the city, and the importance of sport as a driver for regeneration.

"Now the detailed work will begin on delivering a world class, 21st century sports facility for a 21st century city."

Norman Owen, leader of the council's Liberal Democrats, said: "It is not only about having a first-class stadium but also about the community in the Barton and Winton areas, who have been starved of investment getting some benefit.

"I am pleased for the fans, but the community must also gain from the infrastructure that will now be put in place."

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Norman Owen, leader of the council's Liberal Democrats, said: "It is not only about having a first-class stadium but also about the community in the Barton and Winton areas, who have been starved of investment getting some benefit.

"I am pleased for the fans, but the community must also gain from the infrastructure that will now be put in place."

So they've even got their own Lib Dem Norm - but a stadium supporting one

 

[Yorkie]

It's looking good for us.

 

[Starry]

That's really sad, I love The Willows and the working men's club attached to it at t he turnstyle end has some of the most amusing pre match entertainment I have ever seen.

 

[Gully]

Please enlighten us, you mean that it is more entertaining than Gully or his dancing girls!

 

[TonyW]

As a Salford Reds supporter, Hazel Blears must have been REALLY PISSED OFF when Manchester City Council, who have NO responsibilities for Salford, put their oar in to oppose the new stadium.

Barton is in Eccles. Eccles joined with the City of Salford, and Salford City Council is a council within Greater Manchester.

 

[tip top]

C'mon Hazel, you know it makes sense

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Perhaps we could make a Salford Reds and Brighton & Hove Albion scarf...?


I am getting very very excited about this now. All the signs are good thus far...

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Barton is in Eccles. Eccles joined with the City of Salford, and Salford City Council is a council within Greater Manchester.

Indeed. And Manchester City Council is another, quite separate council within Greater Manchester ... with NO responsibility for ANYTHING in Barton, Eccles or Salford.

Except, apparently, a self-appointed right to interfere in the planning processes of a neighbouring authority.

When they lost the argument, at least they didn't then appeal to the High Court.

 

[Blackadder]

And they finally won the argument - without having to wait as long as we have.

NO ONE has waited as long as we have !!!

 

[Parson Henry]

NO ONE has waited as long as we have !!!

Not even the Spanish Inquisition?

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Not even the Spanish Inquisition?

Which no one expects.

 

[Parson Henry]

Which no one expects.

Ahah!! Jumps into this thread!!