Majority of York’s councillors support community stadium plan (From York Press)

Majority of York’s councillors support community stadium plan

9:30am Friday 25th June 2010 in

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THE majority of York’s councillors say they support the building of a community stadium in the city.

Thirty eight of the city’s 47 elected representatives back, in principle at least, the building of a new home for York City and York City Knights – ahead of a key City of York Council meeting next month that could decide the project’s future.

The Press emailed all of the authority’s councillors asking them whether they supported the community stadium project – requiring them to answer yes/no or undecided – whether they would vote in favour of the scheme if it came to full council and giving the opportunity to expand their views in no more than 50 words.

Councillors were told The Press would make no judgement on their answers, but would name those who did not respond to the survey by a set deadline.

The first to respond was Coun Steve Galloway, the city’s strategy chief, who said he supported the stadium scheme and reiterated the project was a manifesto commitment of his Liberal Democrat party.

Many councillors were able to answer all the questions but some, those who serve on the authority’s planning committee for example, were forced to abstain from the second on the grounds it could prejudge a future planning application.

The results were: All Liberal Democrat councillors say they support the community stadium scheme. Six of them, Coun Steve Galloway, Coun Keith Hyman, Coun Richard Moore, Coun Keith Orrell, Coun Ann Reid and Coun Keith Aspden responded individually.

Coun Aspden also said he was replying as secretary of the Liberal Democrat group on behalf of himself and “all of our councillors that have not replied individually”.

He wrote: “Providing a community stadium for York was a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment. I still support that commitment.”

But while members were unanimously in support of the project in principle, they were more guarded when it came to the question of whether they would vote for the project in a full council meeting.

All respondents said they would need to wait until they had seen the officer report prepared for next month’s executive meeting on July 6 which will discuss the issue.

Coun Aspden wrote: “It is unlikely any councillor will decide how they vote before having thoroughly examined the issues on which they are being asked to vote.”

Coun Galloway said: “Can’t answer this until the executive – following consultation with its project partners – has made its recommendations on which of the, likely to be three, options it favours (no one could honestly decide without seeing the capital investment and business case structure).”

Of the Labour group, the opposition party at City of York Council, only two councillors were unable to say they backed the community stadium scheme.

Hull Road representative Richard Cregan did not respond to the survey, while Coun Ruth Potter wrote: “I am unable to comment as I sit on the planning committee and any public view could be perceived as prejudging any application.”

Labour leader, Coun James Alexander, said: “The project has been stalled due to a real lack of council leadership showing a vision for the future of the city.

“Labour is supportive of a viable community stadium. We hope to be in control of the council after the local elections next year and we will show this leadership and vision.”

Coun Sonja Crisp, shadow leisure chief, said: “This city is crying out for a community stadium, not only for the football and rugby club’s benefit, but for the benefit to the community as a whole.

“We have a shortfall of sports training facilities for York residents and our local clubs. A community stadium would satisfy that need.”

Former group leaders Coun Dave Merrett and Coun Dave Scott also put their weight behind the stadium project.

Coun Merrett said: “I think a genuine community stadium would be an excellent addition to the city, resolving both the long-standing problems for competitive rugby and football in the city, and providing facilities that can be used by the wider community and particularly young people in the city.”

Coun Scott said: “I have supported this project from the start. To be successful, it needs to be ‘owned’ by the whole community for the benefit of community and for all three sporting associations.

“We always knew there would be difficult decisions ahead, but with leadership and vision it is achievable”.

But the Conservative councillors are split on the issue.

While leader Ian Gillies and Coun John Galvin said they supported the project in principle and, in Coun Galvin’s case, as long as it was at no cost to the council, Coun Paul Healey and Coun Joe Watt both said they were undecided.

Coun Siân Wiseman, Coun Jenny Brooks and Coun Ben Hudson, the other members of the Conservative group, did not respond to The Press survey by the deadline.

Coun Gillies said: “I want many things for this city, but in the present financial climate have a responsibility to prioritise resources therefore cannot guarantee any public funding at this stage.”

Coun Watt, expanding his position, said: “I have been concerned that although the council could become committed to considerable expenditure on this project, nobody formally involved in the project has bothered to make any attempt to inform me about the scheme or to explain or justify the scheme to me.

“I feel as though this councillor has been taken for granted – how must the citizens of York feel?”

Neither of the two Green representatives on the council, Coun Andy D’Agorne and Coun Dave Taylor, responded to the survey questions by the deadline.