Published: 08/09/2010 14:50 -
Updated: 08/09/2010 14:55
A slanging match has broken out between Northampton Saints and Northampton Borough Council over plans to build a new stand at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints chairman, Keith Barwell, stated last week that there is a chance the rugby team will play some of their bigger matches away from Northampton in Milton Keynes.
The Saints already have Stadium:MK registered as their second ground for quarter final matches of the Heineken Cup which are required to be played at stadiums with more than a 15,000 capacity. Franklin’s Gardens currently holds 13,498.
The club want to build the new north stand that would increase the capacity to just over 17,000. The club has partnered with Asda who would construct a supermarket on Saints’ ground as a way to finance the deal.
However, the club has accused the Borough Council of stalling the plans because they feel a supermarket at the ground would divert people away from the town centre.
However, deputy leader of the borough council, Paul Varnsverry, has hit back at these accusations.
In a statement on the Liberal Democrats’ website he said: “The line which Keith Barwell, chairman of the Saints, is choosing to promote is that Northampton Borough Council is obstructing the Saints’ plans.
“This is untrue. It has been made clear to the Saints’ representatives that the council wishes to see the team prosper and supports its ambitions for extra ground capacity.
“My colleague, Councillor David Perkins, portfolio holder for finance, and I have met with Saints representatives - including Mr Barwell - and made this clear.
“My only concern is that match day parking issues across the St James area must be considered as part of the development proposals for the ground.
“The Saints can submit a planning application for the new stand whenever they wish.
Presently, this would likely to be determined by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, rather than the borough council’s planning committee.
“Keith Barwell is threatening to move the Saints to Milton Keynes if the stadium is not expanded. The Saints will only move to MK if that is what Keith Barwell plans to do - not because of any policy of the borough council.
“Keith Barwell has been talking about submitting an application for the Franklin’s Gardens expansion for over a year. Perhaps it is time he just got on with it and made the application.” A Saints spokesperson said: “The proposed plan is not just about putting up a new stand to serve the here and now. We are mindful of creating a lasting legacy for the club both on and off the field.
“The stance that the Liberal Democrat leadership of the borough council continues to take is forcing us down the road of either taking on a massive amount of debt that may threaten the future of the club or moving the Saints out of Northampton.
“The former is not good for a number of reasons, especially because it would mean that revenues from the new stand would have to berepaid to banks rather than being invested into the playing department and community work that the club does.
“The latter would mean taking the Saints away from the town it has been a part of for over 130 years.
“We want to do neither of these things but we are also not scared of making the tough decisions if we need to.
“Up and down the country local councils are assisting their professional sports clubs by allowing planning processes to run their course without political interference.
“That is what we are wanting in Northampton.”
The Saints already have Stadium:MK registered as their second ground for quarter final matches of the Heineken Cup which are required to be played at stadiums with more than a 15,000 capacity. Franklin’s Gardens currently holds 13,498.
The club want to build the new north stand that would increase the capacity to just over 17,000. The club has partnered with Asda who would construct a supermarket on Saints’ ground as a way to finance the deal.
However, the club has accused the Borough Council of stalling the plans because they feel a supermarket at the ground would divert people away from the town centre.
However, deputy leader of the borough council, Paul Varnsverry, has hit back at these accusations.
In a statement on the Liberal Democrats’ website he said: “The line which Keith Barwell, chairman of the Saints, is choosing to promote is that Northampton Borough Council is obstructing the Saints’ plans.
“This is untrue. It has been made clear to the Saints’ representatives that the council wishes to see the team prosper and supports its ambitions for extra ground capacity.
“My colleague, Councillor David Perkins, portfolio holder for finance, and I have met with Saints representatives - including Mr Barwell - and made this clear.
“My only concern is that match day parking issues across the St James area must be considered as part of the development proposals for the ground.
“The Saints can submit a planning application for the new stand whenever they wish.
Presently, this would likely to be determined by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, rather than the borough council’s planning committee.
“Keith Barwell is threatening to move the Saints to Milton Keynes if the stadium is not expanded. The Saints will only move to MK if that is what Keith Barwell plans to do - not because of any policy of the borough council.
“Keith Barwell has been talking about submitting an application for the Franklin’s Gardens expansion for over a year. Perhaps it is time he just got on with it and made the application.” A Saints spokesperson said: “The proposed plan is not just about putting up a new stand to serve the here and now. We are mindful of creating a lasting legacy for the club both on and off the field.
“The stance that the Liberal Democrat leadership of the borough council continues to take is forcing us down the road of either taking on a massive amount of debt that may threaten the future of the club or moving the Saints out of Northampton.
“The former is not good for a number of reasons, especially because it would mean that revenues from the new stand would have to berepaid to banks rather than being invested into the playing department and community work that the club does.
“The latter would mean taking the Saints away from the town it has been a part of for over 130 years.
“We want to do neither of these things but we are also not scared of making the tough decisions if we need to.
“Up and down the country local councils are assisting their professional sports clubs by allowing planning processes to run their course without political interference.
“That is what we are wanting in Northampton.”
