Boundary Park plans amended

Last updated : 24 November 2007 By Dave Moore

Athletic have amended their plans for the development of Boundary Park which will go to a new planning meeting next month. Alan Hardy said, "We still have one or two meetings with various organisations. I would hope by the end of the week to be in a position to say what we expect to do next. All kind of things are being considered. The owners could say, 'That's it. If that's how you want to treat us, we'll just let the club carry on, but it won't last for long.' That's an option we don't want to see and we are still trying to make sure it's not the outcome."

Simon Corney said that the club would not appeal the decision and a spokesman for Residents' Together, the opposition, said, "Simon Corney told fans outside the planning meeting that the club would not be appealing. Residents living near the ground were delighted to hear this and trust Mr. Corney is a man of his word. But we believe an acceptable outcome is possible with some compromise and a more sympathetic building plan which does not include this level of high-density, high-level flats. These officers produced a report that appeared to include false mathematics on density, a petition which was signed by Donald Duck and a dog, and a computer report that predicted a queue length of four cars in Sheepfoot Lane. It was met by howls of laughter."

Simon Corney added, "Yes, I did say there won't be an appeal, and I will not be appealing, but there are many other avenues we are exploring both with the council and without. We have not given up. We don't need to go back to the drawing board, we need to get out heads down and get it done whichever way we can. An appeal would take six months at least, and we are not waiting. I'd like to think we can make an announcement in the near future. There is still hope."

Controversial Planning Committee Chairman Councillor Steven Bashforth, who has refused to stand down from chairing the meeting, commented, "The council has been in intense negotiations with the Latics directors to try to resolve the concerns of the committee."