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UPDATED: Big step closer to new stadium
8:00pm Tuesday 20th May 2008
Comments (228) Have your say »
THE long-cherished dream of building a new £25m stadium for Saints has taken a major stride forward after councillors gave their unanimous backing to a planning application this week.
But the scheme still needs to overcome a series of challenging hurdles to get the go-ahead. Proposals for the stadium to be built alongside a Tesco supermarket at the former United Glass site were recommended for approval by St Helens Council's planning committee at a packed meeting on Tuesday evening.
However, this is subject to a series of conditions and a risk assessment prompted by the Health and Safety Executive's view that the scheme should be rejected because the new stadium would be built 260 metres from the Jackson Street gas holder.
One condition states the development should not go ahead until a conservation plan is put in place to preserve Cannington Shaw No 7 Bottle Shop, which is classed as an ancient monument and afforded protection.
But there is a funding shortfall of more than £1m for such works, and the UG site's developer Langtree and St Helens Council - whose stance is based on legal advice - appear at loggerheads over the issue.
After the meeting Eamonn McManus, who told councillors Saints "would wither and die" if they had to remain at the ageing Knowsley Road ground, told the St Helens Star: "It is a relief and good that a major hurdle has been passed. But there is a slight twist in the tale with the work on the ancient monument which the council is requiring."
Saints fans who attended the meeting cheered when councillors gave their resolution, but John Downes, managing director of Langtree, later urged caution.
He told the Star: "It is a significant step forward, but what concerns me is if people think this is a done deal and we are ready for this stadium to be built.
"We thought the next step was to send the plans to the Government Office of the North West, but we can't do that now until we resolve the HSE issue and there is a funding issue that also has to be resolved over the ancient monument."
He added: "Our consultant assured the council that this doen't need reopening, but the council want to satisfy themselves over this issue again. We are obviously very confident otherwise we would not have invested the millions we already have done."
Downes said he believed the health and safety review could result in a two-month delay in sending the plans over to the Government office of the North West, which will decide whether to call the scheme in for a public inquiry.
However, he is keen that the momentum behind the stadium plans, evident by more than 1,000 fans marching through St Helens on Saturday, is not lost.
Meanwhile, in a council meeting that lasted nearly two and a half hours, two interlinked developments that are crucial to the stadium's success were also recommended for approval.
A planning application to create 192 homes on Knowsley Road was approved and outline planning permission to transform the Tesco at Chalon Way into a retail development was also granted.
Much of the focus going into the hearing was the objection by supermarket chain Morrisons to plans for the United Glass development. The Yorkshire-based firm sent written correspondence to the council calling for the applications to be rejected, however, seats reserved in the committee room for objectors were left empty.
- FURTHER reports, reaction and analysis will follow.
Your Say Your Star
PD, says...
10:08pm Tue 20 May 08
PD, says...
10:08pm Tue 20 May 08
PD, says...
10:08pm Tue 20 May 08
PD, says...
10:08pm Tue 20 May 08
PD, says...
10:08pm Tue 20 May 08
kv, st h says...
11:00pm Tue 20 May 08
PD wrote:Share your concerns with us then.
am i the only one very concerned about this?this is very very far from a done deal...
Rome was'nt built in a day and we all knew this would be a lengthy process due to the size of the project. to climb the highest mountain you must first start with the smallest of steps and this is one of those many steps, have faith.
kv, st h says...
11:00pm Tue 20 May 08
PD wrote:Share your concerns with us then.
am i the only one very concerned about this?this is very very far from a done deal...
Rome was'nt built in a day and we all knew this would be a lengthy process due to the size of the project. to climb the highest mountain you must first start with the smallest of steps and this is one of those many steps, have faith.
kv, st h says...
11:00pm Tue 20 May 08
PD wrote:Share your concerns with us then.
am i the only one very concerned about this?this is very very far from a done deal...
Rome was'nt built in a day and we all knew this would be a lengthy process due to the size of the project. to climb the highest mountain you must first start with the smallest of steps and this is one of those many steps, have faith.
kv, st h says...
11:00pm Tue 20 May 08
PD wrote:Share your concerns with us then.
am i the only one very concerned about this?this is very very far from a done deal...
Rome was'nt built in a day and we all knew this would be a lengthy process due to the size of the project. to climb the highest mountain you must first start with the smallest of steps and this is one of those many steps, have faith.
kv, st h says...
11:00pm Tue 20 May 08
PD wrote:Share your concerns with us then.
am i the only one very concerned about this?this is very very far from a done deal...
Rome was'nt built in a day and we all knew this would be a lengthy process due to the size of the project. to climb the highest mountain you must first start with the smallest of steps and this is one of those many steps, have faith.
kv, st h says...
11:00pm Tue 20 May 08
PD wrote:Share your concerns with us then.
am i the only one very concerned about this?this is very very far from a done deal...
Rome was'nt built in a day and we all knew this would be a lengthy process due to the size of the project. to climb the highest mountain you must first start with the smallest of steps and this is one of those many steps, have faith.
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
11:02pm Tue 20 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
11:02pm Tue 20 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
11:02pm Tue 20 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
11:02pm Tue 20 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
11:02pm Tue 20 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
11:02pm Tue 20 May 08
Albert, Windle says...
11:13pm Tue 20 May 08
Albert, Windle says...
11:13pm Tue 20 May 08
Albert, Windle says...
11:13pm Tue 20 May 08
Albert, Windle says...
11:13pm Tue 20 May 08
Albert, Windle says...
11:13pm Tue 20 May 08
Albert, Windle says...
11:13pm Tue 20 May 08
kv, st h says...
11:24pm Tue 20 May 08
If this risk assesment finds the gas tower to be of risk to health & saftey to the development would it be correct to asume the health & saftey of all the poeple who live and work within the same 260 metres of the gas tower would also be at risk ? If so how would the council deal with that ?
kv, st h says...
11:24pm Tue 20 May 08
If this risk assesment finds the gas tower to be of risk to health & saftey to the development would it be correct to asume the health & saftey of all the poeple who live and work within the same 260 metres of the gas tower would also be at risk ? If so how would the council deal with that ?
kv, st h says...
11:24pm Tue 20 May 08
If this risk assesment finds the gas tower to be of risk to health & saftey to the development would it be correct to asume the health & saftey of all the poeple who live and work within the same 260 metres of the gas tower would also be at risk ? If so how would the council deal with that ?
kv, st h says...
11:24pm Tue 20 May 08
If this risk assesment finds the gas tower to be of risk to health & saftey to the development would it be correct to asume the health & saftey of all the poeple who live and work within the same 260 metres of the gas tower would also be at risk ? If so how would the council deal with that ?
kv, st h says...
11:24pm Tue 20 May 08
If this risk assesment finds the gas tower to be of risk to health & saftey to the development would it be correct to asume the health & saftey of all the poeple who live and work within the same 260 metres of the gas tower would also be at risk ? If so how would the council deal with that ?
kv, st h says...
11:24pm Tue 20 May 08
If this risk assesment finds the gas tower to be of risk to health & saftey to the development would it be correct to asume the health & saftey of all the poeple who live and work within the same 260 metres of the gas tower would also be at risk ? If so how would the council deal with that ?
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
12:08am Wed 21 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
12:08am Wed 21 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
12:08am Wed 21 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
12:08am Wed 21 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
12:08am Wed 21 May 08
LES.T., Fingerpost says...
12:08am Wed 21 May 08
Paul Andrew Jennion, Town Centre says...
7:51am Wed 21 May 08
Paul Andrew Jennion, Town Centre says...
7:51am Wed 21 May 08
Paul Andrew Jennion, Town Centre says...
7:51am Wed 21 May 08
Paul Andrew Jennion, Town Centre says...
7:51am Wed 21 May 08
Paul Andrew Jennion, Town Centre says...
7:51am Wed 21 May 08
Paul Andrew Jennion, Town Centre says...
7:51am Wed 21 May 08
Not Bothered, Somewhere says...
8:03am Wed 21 May 08
Albert wrote:Yes it would be sad if history blighted our future, if all Saints fans think this how come the main argument for the new stadium has always the Saints past history and successes?
Shame if the past blights our future
Not Bothered, Somewhere says...
8:03am Wed 21 May 08
Albert wrote:Yes it would be sad if history blighted our future, if all Saints fans think this how come the main argument for the new stadium has always the Saints past history and successes?
Shame if the past blights our future
Not Bothered, Somewhere says...
8:03am Wed 21 May 08
Albert wrote:Yes it would be sad if history blighted our future, if all Saints fans think this how come the main argument for the new stadium has always the Saints past history and successes?
Shame if the past blights our future
Not Bothered, Somewhere says...
8:03am Wed 21 May 08
Albert wrote:Yes it would be sad if history blighted our future, if all Saints fans think this how come the main argument for the new stadium has always the Saints past history and successes?
Shame if the past blights our future
Not Bothered, Somewhere says...
8:03am Wed 21 May 08
Albert wrote:Yes it would be sad if history blighted our future, if all Saints fans think this how come the main argument for the new stadium has always the Saints past history and successes?
Shame if the past blights our future
Not Bothered, Somewhere says...
8:03am Wed 21 May 08
Albert wrote:Yes it would be sad if history blighted our future, if all Saints fans think this how come the main argument for the new stadium has always the Saints past history and successes?
Shame if the past blights our future
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:04am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:04am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:04am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:04am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:04am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:04am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08
Amazing how counciuls will bend over backwards and take it to appease the might TESCO . Why not abolish the car parking charges in St Helens Town centre and give a massive boost to all the businesses which are already struggling to meet their high business rates. ? A Tesco store of the size proposed will turn the Town centre in to a ghost town during the day...except for the White Lightening drinkers and the skiving school kids.
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08
Amazing how counciuls will bend over backwards and take it to appease the might TESCO . Why not abolish the car parking charges in St Helens Town centre and give a massive boost to all the businesses which are already struggling to meet their high business rates. ? A Tesco store of the size proposed will turn the Town centre in to a ghost town during the day...except for the White Lightening drinkers and the skiving school kids.
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08
Amazing how counciuls will bend over backwards and take it to appease the might TESCO . Why not abolish the car parking charges in St Helens Town centre and give a massive boost to all the businesses which are already struggling to meet their high business rates. ? A Tesco store of the size proposed will turn the Town centre in to a ghost town during the day...except for the White Lightening drinkers and the skiving school kids.
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08
Amazing how counciuls will bend over backwards and take it to appease the might TESCO . Why not abolish the car parking charges in St Helens Town centre and give a massive boost to all the businesses which are already struggling to meet their high business rates. ? A Tesco store of the size proposed will turn the Town centre in to a ghost town during the day...except for the White Lightening drinkers and the skiving school kids.
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08
Amazing how counciuls will bend over backwards and take it to appease the might TESCO . Why not abolish the car parking charges in St Helens Town centre and give a massive boost to all the businesses which are already struggling to meet their high business rates. ? A Tesco store of the size proposed will turn the Town centre in to a ghost town during the day...except for the White Lightening drinkers and the skiving school kids.
don Kidick, nabb End says...
9:42am Wed 21 May 08
Amazing how counciuls will bend over backwards and take it to appease the might TESCO . Why not abolish the car parking charges in St Helens Town centre and give a massive boost to all the businesses which are already struggling to meet their high business rates. ? A Tesco store of the size proposed will turn the Town centre in to a ghost town during the day...except for the White Lightening drinkers and the skiving school kids.
Frankie Flintstone, St Helens, Merseyside. says...
9:43am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick wrote:Well Don are you not aware that 8500 Saints fans represent the majority in the town in this matter, you and I may not believe this because when we went to school this number of people equaled 4.25% of the population of the town and the other 96.75% are in the minority, maybe we should enroll for night classes to correct our mathematical skills. one more thing the Council have played a blinder by approving this scheme, if at some later date the HSE or the historical monument lot get this approval refused the councilors' will sat "we did our best, vote for us again" I wonder what the 4.25% will think then.
What a lot of fuss so that an average crowd of 8,500 people can watch a rugby match once a fortnight for few months.
Frankie Flintstone, St Helens, Merseyside. says...
9:43am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick wrote:Well Don are you not aware that 8500 Saints fans represent the majority in the town in this matter, you and I may not believe this because when we went to school this number of people equaled 4.25% of the population of the town and the other 96.75% are in the minority, maybe we should enroll for night classes to correct our mathematical skills. one more thing the Council have played a blinder by approving this scheme, if at some later date the HSE or the historical monument lot get this approval refused the councilors' will sat "we did our best, vote for us again" I wonder what the 4.25% will think then.
What a lot of fuss so that an average crowd of 8,500 people can watch a rugby match once a fortnight for few months.
Frankie Flintstone, St Helens, Merseyside. says...
9:43am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick wrote:Well Don are you not aware that 8500 Saints fans represent the majority in the town in this matter, you and I may not believe this because when we went to school this number of people equaled 4.25% of the population of the town and the other 96.75% are in the minority, maybe we should enroll for night classes to correct our mathematical skills. one more thing the Council have played a blinder by approving this scheme, if at some later date the HSE or the historical monument lot get this approval refused the councilors' will sat "we did our best, vote for us again" I wonder what the 4.25% will think then.
What a lot of fuss so that an average crowd of 8,500 people can watch a rugby match once a fortnight for few months.
Frankie Flintstone, St Helens, Merseyside. says...
9:43am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick wrote:Well Don are you not aware that 8500 Saints fans represent the majority in the town in this matter, you and I may not believe this because when we went to school this number of people equaled 4.25% of the population of the town and the other 96.75% are in the minority, maybe we should enroll for night classes to correct our mathematical skills. one more thing the Council have played a blinder by approving this scheme, if at some later date the HSE or the historical monument lot get this approval refused the councilors' will sat "we did our best, vote for us again" I wonder what the 4.25% will think then.
What a lot of fuss so that an average crowd of 8,500 people can watch a rugby match once a fortnight for few months.
Frankie Flintstone, St Helens, Merseyside. says...
9:43am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick wrote:Well Don are you not aware that 8500 Saints fans represent the majority in the town in this matter, you and I may not believe this because when we went to school this number of people equaled 4.25% of the population of the town and the other 96.75% are in the minority, maybe we should enroll for night classes to correct our mathematical skills. one more thing the Council have played a blinder by approving this scheme, if at some later date the HSE or the historical monument lot get this approval refused the councilors' will sat "we did our best, vote for us again" I wonder what the 4.25% will think then.
What a lot of fuss so that an average crowd of 8,500 people can watch a rugby match once a fortnight for few months.
Frankie Flintstone, St Helens, Merseyside. says...
9:43am Wed 21 May 08
don Kidick wrote:Well Don are you not aware that 8500 Saints fans represent the majority in the town in this matter, you and I may not believe this because when we went to school this number of people equaled 4.25% of the population of the town and the other 96.75% are in the minority, maybe we should enroll for night classes to correct our mathematical skills. one more thing the Council have played a blinder by approving this scheme, if at some later date the HSE or the historical monument lot get this approval refused the councilors' will sat "we did our best, vote for us again" I wonder what the 4.25% will think then.
What a lot of fuss so that an average crowd of 8,500 people can watch a rugby match once a fortnight for few months.
Phil, StH says...
12:10pm Wed 21 May 08
Phil, StH says...
12:10pm Wed 21 May 08
Phil, StH says...
12:10pm Wed 21 May 08
PD, says...
10:08pm Tue 20 May 08