Council plan to help create new stadium for Carlisle Utd
Last updated at 08:16, Thursday, 14 March 2013
An offer from the city council’s leader to help create a new football stadium in central Carlisle has been welcomed by the Blues.
Carlisle United’s managing director John Nixon would not rule out a joint 10-year business plan offered by councillor Joe Hendry.
Talks are set to take place between the council and United’s board of directors with an ambitious option for a stadium and football academy now on the table.
Dr Hendry’s proposal would see a new stadium being built within central Carlisle and not on the edge of the city at Kingmoor Park.
He outlined his vision for the club, which includes improved facilities, coaching for youth football and tapping into TV-generated football revenue to benefit “grassroots” activities in the city.
He warned against earlier plans – now stalled – that envisaged creating a new out-of-town shopping complex at Kingmoor Park as a way of funding a 12,000-seater stadium on the site.
Council chiefs and club bosses are to meet to discuss a “10-year plan” for United – including the possibility of a new Carlisle stadium.
During a News & Star webchat, Dr Hendry warned that any new out-of-town shopping complex could have a devastating effect on the city centre’s economy.
He suggested that Carlisle United’s future should be firmly within the city.
Dr Hendry said: “Many of us have been very concerned that the retail development at Kingmoor necessary to fund the new stadium would damage the city centre shopping.
“The last thing we want is another tired, empty, litter-blown city centre, which is the case sadly in many other towns.
“We have a great city centre and we want to invest in it and improve it.”
On the crucial issue of a location for any new stadium, Dr Hendry added: “I believe another better site for Carlisle United could be found without having to go out of town.”
Mr Nixon said: “From the beginning of the year, we have been trying to put together a meeting with councillors to ensure we find a way forward that is in harmony with the city. We were obviously concerned for a while that we may have been going in the opposite direction.”
Stressing that the club’s owners were not developers, Mr Nixon said that various parties were urging the club to build at Kingmoor Park while others said the club should redevelop Brunton Park. He declined to rule out either a move to Kingmoor, or the building of a brand new city-based stadium.
He said: “I’m sure we will explore all the possibilities, and if there’s a way forward then we will try to find it. We are going to meet with senior people from the council after Easter.
“We will bring some major shareholders from the club and hopefully agree on what is the best thing for the city, for Carlisle, and for the club.”
The Kingmoor Park option for United, first mooted at the end of 2011, suffered a blow when consultants commissioned by the city council said there was insufficient demand in Carlisle for new retail floorspace to justify a large out-of-town shopping centre.
First published at 08:08, Thursday, 14 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
Council tax money should not be spent aiding this enterprise. Keep it for essential services.
View all 3 comments on this article
Have your say
Waste of time if they dont get rid of their manager, because people will not renew their season tickets, and come through the turnstiles, to watch that on display every week.
Posted by Ste Graham on 17 March 2013 at 16:06