York Community Stadium

Community Stadium Nov 2014It is more than slightly ironic that Labour Councillors are now calling for reassurances about the opening date for the Community Stadium

During their tenure of office – which ended in May 2015 – they were repeatedly told that a £37 million design/build/operate project which incorporated most of the Councils other (building based) leisure activities – and which introduced yet more retail floor space into the Monks Cross area – was over ambitious.

The glossy brochures produced to sell the plan convinced some. Many residents remained sceptical.

Labour had inherited in 2011 a project that was “ready to go”.  Planning permission for the John  Lewis development was needed to provide the essential £15 million capital but the deal for a new stadium had been struck a year earlier. A 6000 seater stadium on the “Chesterfield model” was ready and waiting to be built. An opening date of 2013 was achievable.

The (right) decision of the new incoming administration in 2015 to reprieve the Yearsley Swimming Pool (which enjoys steady but unprofitable use levels) meant that a decision had to be taken to remove the additional pool from the stadium contract.

This didn’t happen as, ostensibly, it would have meant re-tendering the work – and another 2 years on the EU procurement merry go round.

Now it seems that the promised final “go ahead” for the contract – due in March – may be further delayed.

We warned that an opening date of July 2017 was optimistic.

It now looks to be impossible.

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