From the outside looking in, it is hard not to feel that there has been a huge con-job on the rugby fans of Wakefield, and on the general public. The permission granted was obtained on the provision of a community sports stadium with the city's only professional sports team as the major tenant. For the stadium not to be built looks like a massive con-job. "Thanks for the permission. Now do one!"

I know other factors are involved that change things, but surely the position should be that if there is no stadium, the development ends. If the community stadium is provided at Belle Vue (my preference anyway), I can see how it can be justified, but with no sign of movement on that front it seems like the con-job is almost complete.

The frustrating thing is that there is no lack of will. People (and we know who they are) have put countless hours of their own time into this, and I don't know how they do it.

The answer seems simple enough: are the funds there or not to develop Belle Vue properly? If not, the permission for Newmarket should be withdrawn immediately. You never know, it might then suddenly appear. The community stadium envisaged wasn't a couple of training pitches, and the public inquiry didn't look at that meagre option.

It's frustrating when you see lower and non league football teams knocking stadiums up for fun. Look at fc United of Manchester playing in the league Wakefield FC were the other year and only formed a few years ago and they've managed to build a new stadium. One thing to be said the momentum to get a ground in Wakefield is gathering pace the way York court have shafted us has got people wanting stadium sorted. Let's do this.

See PM.

Whilst it is well known now that the 106 doesn't work as intended, we do not consider it value-less.

The inspectors report is very clear and unambiguous about why PP was granted and what he expected to occur, the 106 agreement doesn't deliver that, but the intention was clear.

We are looking into every avenue to ensure that we know who to hit and what with.

I don't hold it against anyone who has lost all will over this matter - as Slugger says, there is a massive injustice which has occurred - but we can't afford to give up on this - our only chance to achieve something significant (be it NM or BV) - whilst ever there is the faintest pulse in the body of this deal.

I don't think it will be long now before we will be in a position to provide more details about what is going on in the background.

Really sorry that we cant say more at this point.

Whilst it's infuriating as a lifelong supporter of 50+ years, to see the ground situation not resolved after all these years, I know it's not for the lack of effort on the part of you and others closely concerned in the ground effort.

I only hope that if we end up with nothing those unscrupulous individuals responsible are named and shamed

If the 106 isn't legally binding, which it appears not, the options available are limited without the will of the developer to 'do the right thing'. It would seem that in this case Yorkcourt can't or won't do that. The political will of the council would be of great benefit but that also seems to be sadly lacking also in this case, it would appear they have washed their hands of the issue. The local MP's may well pay it lip service but most are as much actual use as a chocolate fireguard and given there was oppostion to the scheme as well it will be a sensitive issue around general election time, especially given the cuts that have taken place since that 15K petition in favour was gained. So it would seem the main option would the entire development going to a judicial review which could in theory either force the re-writing of the S106, at which point the developer could pull out if they felt the need, or the overturning the entire ruling. The obvious downside to that obviously is that there will still be no stadium or requirement for the community facilities and these things are potentially not cheap. Who would fund it? Maybe the threat of this would bring YCP to the table with a genuine offer, probably involving Belle Vue, to remedy the situation and stop the whole development and, more importantly to them, their payday going down the pan.

What I can't see is it being anything other than a re-developed Belle Vue now though. I would imagine for YCP to have anything like the funds to build a stadium and still walk away with a worthwhile (to them) profit for their efforts they would like some of the land designated for the stadium at Newmarket leaving just a token gesture of maybe a couple of 3G pitches there. Question is will their offer (if it ever were to happen and I have my serious doubts on that) be enough to buy back BV AND the surrounding land AND pay for a major revamp of the stadium, which lets be honest is necessary? Again I have my doubts and they will use every trick in the book to get away with paying as little as possible if anything at all.

I have nothing but respect to those fighting this and I really hope you can somehow garner something that benefits the club and the community out of all this but it is really all now down to where YCP will play ball and the threats that will have to be made work. If they don't it could take quite a while to sort out and get very messy.

Don't say that, at the speed he's churning them out he'll have one on the shelves in Asda by bonfire night

What my mate TRB said...

This is a great post too BTW...

It good to hear that our corner is still being fought, we will do this.

Think you maybe mixed up re Pugney's when the Asda was originally built there was an opportunity for a new ground there as Asda wanted the ground as a site for the supermarket. It was reheated at the time by the council I believe. Then thee was the issue of Yorkshire leaving Heading let and a new ground in Wakefield just off Junction 39 Yorkshire decided to stay and develop the HQ at Headingley.
Following that we had the bluster if a stadium at Sharlston on the pit site. We had Queens Drive on of these opting resulting in McAlpines building the toilets and putting barriers in at BV.

Moving on it was Thorne Park and a possible at some point with Ossett Town rejected by Town. Then Newmarket.

So in 30 or 35 years nothing has changed it looks like a distant dream to me

Sums it up for me.