SOUTHEND’S council bosses have met with Blues’ chairman Ron Martin where they had talks over the club’s multi-million pound stadium move to Fossetts Farm
Council leader John Lamb and deputy council leader James Courtenay met with Mr Martin earlier this week.
It came after Mr Courtenay sent a letter to the Echo setting out the reasons why the Blues’ planning application had not yet been considered by the council.
In a Tweet, Mr Courtenay said he and Mr Lamb discussed the club’s performance on the pitch and added the stadium, housing and retail park was also discussed.
Great to meet-up with Ron Martin, Chairman of @SUFCRootsHall, to discuss the weekend’s 4-0 thrashing the team gave Bradford and the new stadium, retail & housing application the club are progressing with us at @SouthendBC.🤞🏼 we can progress to planning decision in the near future pic.twitter.com/3E63ojLvC2
— James Courtenay (@JamesCourtenay) January 22, 2019
Mr Courtenay said “fingers crossed we can progress to planning decision in the near future”.
In the letter to the Echo, Mr Courtenay said “significant issues” with Southend United’s planning application to relocate to Fossetts Farm were being discussed with Blues' chairman Ron Martin.
Tory Mr Courtenay said the application for a new football stadium at Fossetts Farm and associated facilities including a retail park was “the single largest and most complex major application that the council has received for a number of years”.
He added: “Its impact on the borough as a whole could be quite profound and therefore needs very careful consideration.”
An Echo letter writer asked why the council was waiting and suggested the council was delaying making a decision due to other projects.
Mr Courtenay added: “That is not correct and it is very important to set the record straight on that issue.
“The council has raised a number of significant issues with the applicant that require their further consideration.
"We have a positive relationship with the applicant and are in regular and ongoing liaison with them to resolve outstanding matters relating to this application and will continue to work with them in a proactive way.
“The application will go to development control committee when it is ready to be considered, but at this stage it is not possible for the council to accurately predict when that will be as it is dependent on the resolution of the outstanding matters.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel