Concern over community stadium operator search (From York Press)

Concern over community stadium operator search

8:31am Monday 9th January 2012 in Community stadium news

A YORK councillor has raised fears over proposals to start a search for a company to run the city’s new community stadium.

Officers at City of York Council are to be asked to begin looking for an operator for the 6,000-seater home for York City FC and York City Knights at Monks Cross, as well as the adjacent Waterworld facility, at a meeting tomorrow.

Coun Sonja Crisp will also consider whether the contract should include responsibility for the city’s other council-owned leisure bases, Energise and Yearsley Pool.

A report said the move could cut costs and provide extra investment.

Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd’s planning application for the stadium and a neighbouring retail complex is due to go before the council’s planning committee.

Fishergate councillor Dave Taylor said: “The recommendation to start an expensive procurement process is alarming because there has been little, if any, public discussion about what is essentially the privatisation of the council’s existing leisure centres.