Festival stadium is to be bulldozed

Cannock Festival Stadium will be bulldozed after a last-ditch attempt to save it was defeated.

At last night's meeting of the full Cannock Chase Council, opposition members tabled an amendment to the ruling coalition's motion to demolish the facility.

Labour group leader Doug Thomas asked the chamber to defer the decision to see if a trust could be formed with Sport England, Cannock Chase Football League, Cannock & Stafford Athletics Club and other interested parties to take over the running and maintenance costs.

But after a lengthy and heated debate the vote went along party lines with the Lib Dems and Conservatives voting against the amendment and passing the original motion.

The council planned to sell off the land at Pye Green for housing, releasing a projected £20 million for its leisure vision. But the application was taken to a public inquiry and permission was refused.