THE LONG running saga over Worcester City’s proposed new stadium looks set to continue after Conservative councillors won a vote which could see the proposals ditched.
Despite five members of the Labour group on the city council’s planning committee backing the scheme, all five Conservative councillors voted against the plans.
Committee chairman Coun Chris Mitchell then used his casting vote to push through the minded to refuse vote.
A subsequent vote on a potential thumbs down on the scheme was then won, again with Coun Mitchell’s casting vote, with Conservative councillors telling officers they were concerned about the loss of green space because of the scale and size of the stadium.
The controversial move means the matter is now back in the hands of council planning officers who had recommended the scheme for a 4,400 stadium, six full size pitches and an all-weather surface be approved.
If they decide the reasons for refusal meet the council’s criteria, the application will be rejected. A further debate will be held next month should they decide to reject the councillor’s views.
A packed Guildhall heard from local residents about the potential impact of the scheme, from Worcester City chiefs and from local councillors Gareth Jones and Neil Laurenson and county councillor Matthew Jenkins.
Coun Adrian Gregson also spoke during the debate and branded some of the objections to the scheme as ‘less about operational issues and more about not wanting a football club in their area’.
The proposals won broad support from the Labour group with Coun Geoff Williams highlighting the lack of objections from Worcestershire County Council’s highways department and from Sport England.
He also pointed out the 50 conditions attached to the scheme but Conservative councillor Roger Knight told the meeting the authority couldn’t keep ‘nibbling away’ at land in Perdiswell Park.
Coun Alan Amos claimed local residents should be listened to and following a near two hour debate the result was reached.
The matter will be discussed when the planning committee meets again next month.
