New twist in saga of Stafford Rugby Club's home
Contentious plans to relocate Stafford Rugby Club may now being called in by the Government - adding another twist to the ongoing saga.
The Department of Communities and Local Government Secretary Greg Clark MP has been asked to look at the proposal to move the club from Newport Road, Castlefields, to Blackberry Lane, near Doxey Marshes.
It would give Westminster bosses the final say on whether it should go ahead or not.
The DCLG wrote to Stafford Borough Council stating it would be 'inappropriate' to intervene prior to Wednesday's planning committee meeting to decide on the scheme.
But the department also declared if the plans were approved they may order them to freeze the decision while the Government's National Planning Casework Unit reviews the matter.
In a letter to the council Karen Partridge, planning casework manager for the DCLG, said: "In the event that your council is minded to approve the application, following committee, we will then consider the request along with any other issues raised by the application against the call-in policy set out in the Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2012."
Campaigners who have vehemently opposed the scheme all along have welcomed the latest development.
Tony Pearce, chairman of the Castletown Resident's Association, said: "We have nothing against the rugby club and in a way we sympathise with them. Moving the club would be good for them and the town. It is just that this location (Blackberry Lane) unfortunately is wrong.
"We are quite confident the Government would turn this down."
The council have already given the green light to the scheme once only to quash their ow decision after the residents threatened to take the matter to a judicial review over complaints surrounding the planning processes followed.
Mr Pearce said the group had further grounds to call for another judicial review if the scheme was passed for a second time but stated they would listen to legal advice first.
"There is just no way this planning application can be approved under the existing framework," he added.
Martin Lennon, director at Stafford Rugby Club, welcomed the possibility of the Government's involvement.
He said: "I don't think there is grounds for it to be called in but personally I hope the Secretary of State will end up dealing with it. Council officers have recommended it for approval and the issues have been about their processes.
"I suspect the Secretary of State will be more robust than the council."
