IT’S been delayed by newts, rows and wrangles but finally the new community stadium looks set to come to fruition. After a decade of talks it took councillors just three and half hours to vote overwhelmingly in favour of the scheme.

The future home of York City Football Club, and hopefully York City Knights, is welcome news, but this will be more than just a venue for spectators. With a complex of sports facilities, a swimming pool, a 12-screen cinema, shops and restaurants, the community stadium is for everyone.

So while we sympathise with the Knights’ current difficulties, this is undoubtedly a momentous day in York’s modern history.

But once again we nearly missed the boat. The planning meeting was held yesterday, just one working day before the start of purdah, when the council stops making significant decisions before the election period. Perhaps after all these delays, taking the decision to the wire was always going to happen.