Stockport County’s stadium expansion hits sticking point
A patch of 'valuable' woodland is at the centre of a row over Stockport County's stadium expansion.
Campaigners say the club's plans would cause 'irreversible' damage, with the loss of a woodland area behind the Together Stand to make way for a new car park.
The Hatters want to add more than 7,000 seats in a stadium redevelopment.
On June 19, councillors at the Central Stockport area committee had a chance to scrutinise the plans for the first time.
The debate led to deadlock, with a vote cast to recommend neither approval or rejection.
It is a setback for the club after the council's own officials recommended the plans should be given the green light.
A final decision will be made by the town hall's planning and highways committee on July 3.
The club hopes the land behind the south stand could become an 86-space car park.
Parking on residential streets is an issue in the area on matchdays.
The Edgeley Wildlife Reserve group objected an element of the proposals relating to the loss of green land, which includes a new south stand and a western extension to the existing north stand.
That objection did not extend to the first part of the proposals, which includes a new east stand, as well as refurbishing and extending the north stand.
One objector said: "The benefits of retaining the woodland would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the harm caused by the construction of a car park.
"A car park here would take away a valuable woodland designated as open space within a conservation area in a ward deprived of natural habitat."
The group called for part of the stadium development affecting the south stand to be refused.
Most neighbours in the area are supportive of the club's plans.
A total of 547 properties were contacted about the application by the council, with 191 showing support and 41 objecting.
Cllr Asa Caton, of the Edgeley Community Association, said: "Whichever way any of us lands on this, we're going to upset a group of people.
"We should be in a position where we don't chop any tree down, but the reality is that situations occur where that has to be considered.
"Unfortunately, we're not in a position to say we can never chop a tree down, progress sometimes requires that sacrifices are made.
"I don't for one second doubt that this is a valuable natural habitat, but the reality is it has sat there for 20, 30, 40 years untouched, unloved – it's become a natural habitat for wildlife because it's been ignored."
He proposed that the panel gave a recommendation of approval for County's stadium expansion.
Labour councillor Jon Byrne made a proposal, which was agreed by the central area committee, that councillors give no recommendation on the plans, and set up a visit to the woodland site for the planning panel who will make the final decision.
Edgeley Park has been County's home for more than a century and still sits among the terraces in the central Stockport neighbourhood.
If approved in full, the expansion would take the total capacity to around 18,000, nearly double the existing size.
~
Free from clickbait, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.
To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.
Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or X
Share:
