This is the response from Cllr Simon Wilson:

Thanks for your e-mail.

The situation is this:

The land off Newmarket Lane includes a large amount of greenfield and greenbelt land; to make the scheme acceptable locally and with the council, Yorkcourt's original plans included developing a new stadium for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats whilst at the same time enabling them to develop the bulk of the site (about 250 acres) for industrial development; it could be argued that the stadium plans persuaded WMDC's planning committee to approve proposals for the whole site.

However, WMDC's Local Development Framework proposals, recently approved by the Labour controlled council, change the designation of the Newmarket Lane site to allow it all to be used for industrial and warehousing development. It could be argued that any developer of the site would not need to make provision for a stadium as they would possibly see a warehouse being more valuable to them than a community stadium. On the other hand the council could insist that any developer would need to retain a stadium on the site; however, this is much less clear cut than it was before the LDF was approved.

Kind regards,
Simon Wilson
_______________________________________

Sounds like nothing has been confirmed and Mr Wilson is guessing that Yorkcourt may no longer need to have the stadium on there in order for the plans to be passed due to the re-designation of the land.

IA over to you

It sounds sensible from the developers point of view to build a warehouse instead of a ground.

I thought the view was the approval of the LDF would strengthen the chances of the PI being successful and the Stadium being built.

I'm not privy to how much York Court were putting into the cost of developing the stadium, but clearly if they were putting a substantial chunk in, then it would be sorely tempting for them to build another unit instead if they were allowed to.

So its unfounded speculation being used as a stick to beat the opposition with. I thought conditions had been incorporated into planning permission that the meant stadium must be built prior to the anything else.

That does ring true kk

What a shocker eh, a politician playing to the NIMBY's in his ward to get votes rather than the majority of the electorate in the whole area. His went straight in the bin.

TBH it looks like scaremongering to me, there doesn't seem to be anything in it to say anything to back up his claim.
If anything he is trying to make a gain out of the supporters of the ground/development rather than anything else.
Oh well, that's politics!!!

IMO it's nothing more than speculation and from what I know of the people involved and their level of commitment to delivering a stadium it's well wide of the mark.

Yorkcourt Master Plan - surely not!



Sorry I_A. I could not resist.

Agree, it sound nothing more than waffle and hot air, to try and score a few brownie points. I've had nothing come through my door as yet, but it will be going the same place as yours.

The planning permission and the LDF are linked - but separate.

The LDF allows the land required for the industrial estate to be developed as such, but does not include for the Stadium / Sports Complex.

The Planning Application is inextricably linked to the Stadium / Sports Complex and any change to this application would result in an application for an alteration or possibly a completely new application being required.

Whilst there is a danger with the LDF that the land could be developed without the stadium there are, to my knowledge, no such plans at this time, and to suggest that there is so is scurilous at the very least.

You would imagine that people standing for election would undertake a little more homework before making such comments, but apparently they do not!



Do not let this man worry you!

Welcome back TRB!

Ditto!

Firstly, I have not seen the flyer despite living in the ward but it sounds like Richard has maybe not expressed himself very well (in his leaflet) and is also looking for an angle on Newmarket to attack Clive Hudson's position (who is likely to be re-elected), while still supporting the development... I would have probably not bothered and left it alone altogether to be honest!

So, what I think he is trying to say, based on Simon Wilson's comments, is that he supports the development as long as it includes the stadium and he is trying to paint the picture that the current labour controlled council have potentially opened the door to the stadium not being built by approving the draft LDF! It is just a very poor attempt to score points against Labour on a local topical issue... and indeed fails given the confusion expressed here!

As for Yorkcourt pulling out of their commitment to build the stadium and sports facilities then nothing could be further from the truth.

This just got me thinking about the poster that claimed Yorkcourt had approached agents in Leeds to sell the land... wonder what happened to him?

To me his reply seems to be breaking the bad news to the NIMBYs; when the LDF is rubber-stamped the industrial units will be built with, or even possibly without, the stadium and sports facilities.

It's certainly achieved that, though i don't think this was the aim, i have emailed Cllr Wilson back asking for an explanation regarding Mr Wakefield's comment and the FACTS he has based his comments on, i shall post it should it be received.
I sincerely hope it wasn't scaremongering, but i have my reservations.

I spoke to the leader of Wakefield Conservatives earlier this year/late last year and they were definately 100% supportive of NM, and Cllr Wilson attended the Residents for Newmarket meeting along with two of the Labour Cllr's, held at Stanley Rangers.

Some potentially good news - Labour have gained overall control of Leeds City Council. Labour were having to rely on two Green Party Councillors on key votes (although it was not a formal coalition) and were a minority administration.

The rumour is that Labour's hard stance in Leeds on Newmarket was in part due to this required relationship with the Greens. As such, while I don't think Labour will back-track and remove it's current objection I think LCC's position on Newmarket may now soften a little!

Lets see!

I'll get some hard core taken down there this aft !

If you look closely enough in the bush's, you'll find there's already quite a bit down there!!!!
Watch out for the needles, dog eggs and jonny's though!!!

It looks like the Ratepayers of Wakefield have paid £150,000 towards the plans after all. This slipped under the radar. Page 3 Ref 14/11 www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyre ... er2011.pdf Wakefield and District Community Trust – Loan Guarantee provided by the Council The decision was taken to settle the Council’s liability with regard to the Loan Guarantee provided to the Co-operative Bank in relation to a loan provided by the Bank to the Wakefield and District Community Trust.

It looks like the Ratepayers of Wakefield have paid £150,000 towards the plans after all. This slipped under the radar. Page 3 Ref 14/11 www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyre ... er2011.pdf Wakefield and District Community Trust – Loan Guarantee provided by the Council The decision was taken to settle the Council’s liability with regard to the Loan Guarantee provided to the Co-operative Bank in relation to a loan provided by the Bank to the Wakefield and District Community Trust.

Isn't this loan guarantee repayable by the WDCT at some point in the future?

It is - WAS a loan of £150,000 from the Co Op Bank to W&DCT for "Design Fees" and is WAS guaranteed by The Council in case of default. It would appear that the loan has been called in and the Council have had to pay up, or they may have paid it off out of the goodness of their hearts.!