by Tommy Todd, former Whitehaven RL director

Last updated at 11:27, Thursday, 03 May 2012

I HAVE long been an opponent of the stadium plan. The main objection I have is the fact that none of the partners seem to have taken into account the needs of who will be the primary end user – WRLFC 2010 Ltd.

It’s fairly clear that the future of the stadium is at least in the balance, and despite FOI requests I have been unable to see the much vaunted business plan. One presumes there can only be one reason for lack of transparency on this issue or the Council would surely have put the document in the public domain – it seems easier at the moment to blame the Miners.

Having spoken to both NMP and BEC, there seems to be no overiding reason (other than £1.25million spent and some very large political egos) as to why there can’t now be a major rethink on the whole project. The money is not ring-fenced for a specific stadium as such but certainly for a stadium.

There seems to be nothing to stop a Super League stadium being constructed on that site. The benefits seem clear: no access problems, a bigger capacity, no fancy designs to constrict the project, it would meet all the “community” needs and more so than the other stadium, and the cost would be significantly less.

To my mind there are only three people who can make a stand for to call a halt and not waste a further £5.5-plus million and that is: our MP, Coun Woodburn and perhaps Brian Wilson.

There is so much animosity in the town that a clear-the-air meeting for everyone, would help the politicians gauge the public feeling.

Those who have been responsible for wasting such a vast amount of public money should look to their collective consciences and do the honorable thing and do it now and not try and let this debacle die away from public notice in the hope of saving them from resignation.

Please – go back to the drawing board and at least have the courage to admit you got it wrong.

First published at 11:11, Thursday, 03 May 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk