Quote: arliebird "where are wakey with there new stadium, funding and planning permisson ect ?'"
It's good to know that fans of other clubs are taking an interest. Good facilities benefit all fans of the game.
Planning permission has its own time zones. It was approved by the council but then called in for public inquiry, due mainly to greenbelt issues for the adjacent distribution centre, which is funding the development.
A complication is that the land in question (an ex-colliery next to the M62) was, at the same time, being redesignated from greenbelt to industrial/distribution use.
These two processes are clearly interlinked and the PI was delayed further, so that the outcome of the redesignation will be known before the start of the PI.
It would appear that the redesignation is highly likely to happen as the process is well advanced and the council has a legal obligation to find suitable land for this purpose. Any objections must include suggestions for more suitable land within Wakefield.
I believe the PI is now due to start in December, with a decision likely by March 2012. A positive result would mean building could start immediately and the stadium would be in use for the start of the 2013 season.
The stadium complex will also include substantial and much needed community sports facilities.
These decisions are clearly beyond the control of WTRLFC and so the current management are, wisely, not putting all their eggs in one basket and are considering all other options. An enhanced Belle Vue would probably be the first-choice, short-term option, but there are issues over ownership and rental agreements.
Add to this the fact that, as yet, we don't even know which competition we'll be playing in next year; the situation has many variables and parameters and is quite complex.
I think we are quietly confident that the new stadium will happen, sooner rather than later, but we must plan as if it won't.
Anyway, as the fans can't do an awful lot about any of this, so we get to enjoy what seems to be a last hurrah in SL supporting a committed and enthusiastic young team of underdogs,trying to make it as embarrassing as possible for the RFL to kick us out.