MP backs new stadium for York (From York Press)
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Julian Sturdy backs new Monks Cross stadium but wants concerns over trade sorting out first
9:44am Saturday 18th February 2012 in Community stadium news
A YORK MP has called on council leaders to allay traders’ fears about a proposed new stadium and retail development to avoid the city being divided over the scheme.
Julian Sturdy, who represents York Outer, responded to a challenge by City of York Councilor Sonja Crisp, to state his position over the Monks Cross project by saying he was a long-standing supporter of a new home for York City FC and York City Knights.
But the Conservative MP also claimed the authority’s ruling Labour group were being “irresponsible” in moving the plans forward before addressing concerns by city-centre businesses that new John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores, which would form part of the development by Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd, will threaten their future.
Oakgate’s planning application is set to be debated by the council’s planning committee next month.
Coun Crisp said Mr Sturdy should outline his stance after the authority’s Conservative group recently said they could not support the new stadium because a “robust and workable business case” had not yet been presented.
“Before the 2010 General Election, Julian Sturdy signed a pledge supporting the proposed community stadium, with a video clip showing him saying he is a great believer in the need for a stadium for York and that it would be a huge blow if the project was stalled,” she said.
“He pledged to do all he could to support the project if he was elected and now is the time for him to do just that. The project is on course and consists of exactly the same plans as when he made his pledge, but is now at a critical point. Unfortunately, Conservative councillors are attempting to throw a spanner in the works at the 11th hour and the public should know whether Mr Sturdy is going to live up to his pledge.”
Mr Sturdy said he had always “firmly supported” a stadium development and saw it as a “huge asset” for York and its sports clubs, but added: “So far, the council’s Labour group has failed to adequately demonstrate that any retail expansion at Monks Cross would not have a detrimental impact on the city centre.
“Put frankly, it is irresponsible of Labour to push ahead until it has clearly responded to the concerns of local businesses. I very much look forward to the council coming forward with plans to protect our vibrant city centre while also securing a sustainable community stadium which will benefit York for decades to come.”
Comments(17)
Even AndyD
says...
11:29am Sat 18 Feb 12
Sarah York
says...
12:46pm Sat 18 Feb 12
Is it up to labour to demonstrate this? Aren't all parties just going off the various reports they are given and have to make a decision accordingly? Much like what was said in yesterday's 'juggling act' article.
Also, without trying to get petty, have the conservatives demonstrated adequately that there WILL be a detrimental effect on the centre? This is where the politics thing doesn't interest me in this country. At no point does anyone work together, it's just random jibes in the paper and passing the buck at every corner.
I don't support either in this article but at the end of the day, as Alexander puts, the exact same plan was fully backed some 18 months ago when they were after votes. Why change?
Even AndyD
says...
12:53pm Sat 18 Feb 12
How about doing some work rather than just feeding the Press vacuous, anti-opposition soundbites? JA was no better in opposition, so I'm not being partisan here - its just so wearisome and counter productive. Just stop it!
holgate
says...
1:39pm Sat 18 Feb 12
powerwatt
says...
2:20pm Sat 18 Feb 12
Even AndyD wrote:Where was the article you were reading?
Oh dear - another Tory u-turn on promises. He said he'd back it, now he isn't, despite his torturous attempts at justification. Simple as that. Good thing the Tories are an irrelevance in York.
Julian says he does back it. He has never said he doesn't support it. Moving York City out of York Central into York Outer is only a good thing for him and a bad thing for Hugh Bayley.
Sarah - Normally an impact report will be produced with something on this scale to see if it will have an effect on York centre, as they were planning with Union terrace. This still hasn't been done yet.
The Labour group act on reports that they action themselves.
powerwatt
says...
2:21pm Sat 18 Feb 12
speaks99
says...
4:32pm Sat 18 Feb 12
powerwatt wrote:There is a detailed impact report which makes up the proposal. If you go through the planning docs its been available since September(??) I think.
Even AndyD wrote:Where was the article you were reading?
Oh dear - another Tory u-turn on promises. He said he'd back it, now he isn't, despite his torturous attempts at justification. Simple as that. Good thing the Tories are an irrelevance in York.
Julian says he does back it. He has never said he doesn't support it. Moving York City out of York Central into York Outer is only a good thing for him and a bad thing for Hugh Bayley.
Sarah - Normally an impact report will be produced with something on this scale to see if it will have an effect on York centre, as they were planning with Union terrace. This still hasn't been done yet.
The Labour group act on reports that they action themselves.
powerwatt
says...
5:49pm Sat 18 Feb 12
speaks99 wrote:If you could find it that would be great. There are an awful lot of people who want to see it.
powerwatt wrote:There is a detailed impact report which makes up the proposal. If you go through the planning docs its been available since September(??) I think.
Even AndyD wrote:Where was the article you were reading?
Oh dear - another Tory u-turn on promises. He said he'd back it, now he isn't, despite his torturous attempts at justification. Simple as that. Good thing the Tories are an irrelevance in York.
Julian says he does back it. He has never said he doesn't support it. Moving York City out of York Central into York Outer is only a good thing for him and a bad thing for Hugh Bayley.
Sarah - Normally an impact report will be produced with something on this scale to see if it will have an effect on York centre, as they were planning with Union terrace. This still hasn't been done yet.
The Labour group act on reports that they action themselves.
speaks99
says...
6:11pm Sat 18 Feb 12
powerwatt wrote:http://planningdocs.
speaks99 wrote:If you could find it that would be great. There are an awful lot of people who want to see it.
powerwatt wrote:There is a detailed impact report which makes up the proposal. If you go through the planning docs its been available since September(??) I think.
Even AndyD wrote:Where was the article you were reading?
Oh dear - another Tory u-turn on promises. He said he'd back it, now he isn't, despite his torturous attempts at justification. Simple as that. Good thing the Tories are an irrelevance in York.
Julian says he does back it. He has never said he doesn't support it. Moving York City out of York Central into York Outer is only a good thing for him and a bad thing for Hugh Bayley.
Sarah - Normally an impact report will be produced with something on this scale to see if it will have an effect on York centre, as they were planning with Union terrace. This still hasn't been done yet.
The Labour group act on reports that they action themselves.
york.gov.uk/WAM/show
CaseFile.do?action=s
how&appType=planning
&appNumber=11/02581/
OUTM
I think the retail impact assessment is what you are looking for. The report by Regeneris is in the retail assessment appendices.
Micklegate
says...
10:30am Sun 19 Feb 12
Even AndyD
says...
1:30pm Sun 19 Feb 12
powerwatt wrote:Its like that famous Yes Prime Minister scene when Hacker's cabinet are all for women being given higher powered jobs... 'in principle'. Then they all say why it wouldn't work in their department. Sturdy says he backs the stadium but then gives us paragraphs of the retail-threat nonsense his trader pals have been spouting. Simple as that.
Even AndyD wrote:Where was the article you were reading?
Oh dear - another Tory u-turn on promises. He said he'd back it, now he isn't, despite his torturous attempts at justification. Simple as that. Good thing the Tories are an irrelevance in York.
Julian says he does back it. He has never said he doesn't support it. Moving York City out of York Central into York Outer is only a good thing for him and a bad thing for Hugh Bayley.
Sarah - Normally an impact report will be produced with something on this scale to see if it will have an effect on York centre, as they were planning with Union terrace. This still hasn't been done yet.
The Labour group act on reports that they action themselves.
Micklegate
says...
1:39pm Sun 19 Feb 12
Even AndyD wrote:Not in the slightest, he supports the concept but is worried about the implications for other and wants to see a credible plan..........someth
powerwatt wrote:Its like that famous Yes Prime Minister scene when Hacker's cabinet are all for women being given higher powered jobs... 'in principle'. Then they all say why it wouldn't work in their department. Sturdy says he backs the stadium but then gives us paragraphs of the retail-threat nonsense his trader pals have been spouting. Simple as that.
Even AndyD wrote:Where was the article you were reading?
Oh dear - another Tory u-turn on promises. He said he'd back it, now he isn't, despite his torturous attempts at justification. Simple as that. Good thing the Tories are an irrelevance in York.
Julian says he does back it. He has never said he doesn't support it. Moving York City out of York Central into York Outer is only a good thing for him and a bad thing for Hugh Bayley.
Sarah - Normally an impact report will be produced with something on this scale to see if it will have an effect on York centre, as they were planning with Union terrace. This still hasn't been done yet.
The Labour group act on reports that they action themselves.
ing with this council it will be difficult to get!
Even AndyD
says...
4:23pm Sun 19 Feb 12
mickrick
says...
9:35pm Sun 19 Feb 12
For all to see. ?
Septimius Severus
says...
1:58pm Wed 22 Feb 12
o.uk) there's a simple form that links directly to the planning department at the council you can submit.
Eric Bartholomew
says...
5:42pm Wed 22 Feb 12
There's a simple form that you can fill in to support the new Community Stadium Project.
speaks99 says...
10:09am Sat 18 Feb 12
A nice idea in principle, even one worth following through, but (IMO) a fruitless exercise.