Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:29 pm  

For those of you on Twitter, David Spereall ( @DavidSpereall ) of the Wakefield Express is posting updates of the planning meeting.

The rep for Yorkcourt is coming under quite a bit of fire from Councillors but is insisting they are acting within the law.

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:33 pm  

@DavidSpereall

The council's legal adviser Kevin Winter tells the planning committee that councillors have to vote on this matter as a stand alone application.
In other words, ignore the stadium agreement.

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:39 pm  

'Meeting told that council requested contribution from Yorkcourt towards the stadium as part of this app. Developers replied that this was "not a legitimate" request because the warehouse is a stand alone app. Council took legal advice, which supported Yorkcourt's view. On that basis, officers have recommended planning permission for warehouse be approved in the pre-meeting report. It will now be debated by councillors after speakers from both sides have had their say.'


In other words, we're getting nothing and the council won't do anything to stop Yorkcourt taking the peas...

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:41 pm  

@DavidSpereall

'"The council very actively promoted this scheme and didn't distinguish between stadium and other applications that run alongside it," Kevin Swift says, to applause from public gallery.'

Sounds like we are putting up a good fight!

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:41 pm  

@DavidSpereall

Kathy Scott asks if the local authority is in contravention of any rules because it allowed Greenbelt land to be adopted for development (for the stadium) under special circumstances. Council officer says that's not the case cos developers aren't harming the environment

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:54 pm  

@DavidSpereall

"This is an absolute mess," Coun Swift says. "Partly because of the piecemeal nature of the app. The reason why there's no stadium isn't an accident."
Says that the stadium app and other apps for buildings on the site went through together and weren't separate

"It (stadium) can't just be put to one side. And if you do, we've got to have a serious think about what planning permission we put on this site in future. This site was promoted by the council as stadium, stadium, stadium. Leading council spokespeople referred to it as a stadium

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:57 pm  

@DavidSpereall

He cintinues: "People who were opposed to it were given a very hard time, in the local press as well.
The development of the site can't be looked at without the stadium. It's got to be treated as central."
Adds there will be "negative consequences." More applause from gallery

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 1:01 pm  

@DavidSpereall

Council officer says his view is approving the warehouse won't prejudice the stadium. Legal adviser Kevin Winter tells planning committee there must be "robust and defensible" reasons for denying it.

Unbelievable....

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 1:02 pm  

The vote: application is refused by councillors to loud applause.
Only councillor who didn't vote as such was Tony Wallis, who abstained because he missed he start of the meeting

WE WON!!!!

Re: Stadium News Update : Thu Feb 21, 2019 1:12 pm  

Droopy wrote:

The vote: application is refused by councillors to loud applause.
Only councillor who didn't vote as such was Tony Wallis, who abstained because he missed he start of the meeting

WE WON!!!!

Glad it's been refused but is it a Pyrrhic Victory as we still have nothing to show from Yorkcourt.