from the tweets it sounds like LCC are trying their damned hardest to stop this going ahead and clutching every possible straw. Sounds like there's more to it than their so called worries over green belt land

"Should he choose to use the two letter word, no professional teams will exist in Wakefield for the public of Wakefield to follow in this great city of ours. Crime rates will soar current jobs will be lost as well as new,the national health bill will soar with all sorts of health issues connected with the loss of having something for our children and childrens children to aspire to. In reality it is DO or DIE."

No it won't be that bad.

Even LCC must realise how weak their case is. It just sounds like they are objecting because it's the wrong side of the M62 for them. Politics or whatever their reasons, the fact they are willing to spend their tax payers money on trying to stop 2000 jobs being created outside of their district while chopping 600 jobs and cutting back on services must really be setting themselves up for the next elections.

You could tell their case is weak listening to them cross examine today.
He dotted around trying pick fault with John Francis statements and spent so much time on silly arguments with no point, they seem to just be picking fault to see if they can get a rise and a mistake.

Did the Inspector give any indication that he was aware of the weakness of their arguments and more importantly, did the YC rep do a good job in defence?

At the end of the morning session the inspector looked very weary of the scattered and nit picking nature of the LCCs questioning.
Before allowing the day to lapse into an afternoon session he directly asked the LCC barrister if his next line of enquiry was actually relevant.

He was sat with his head slumped onto his right hand looking a little bit bemused and a little bit annoyed.

Sounds promising; I'm guessing that the Inspector will be more than used to coming up against vexatious objections that are politically motivated, so he'll be able to see LCC's intervention for what it is.

Had a chit chat with a professional planner who is an expert in projects like Wakefields and Castlefords. Out of the two proposed developments,the Wakefield project is more feasable unlike Castlefords. I dont wish to go into detail or mention any names but i suspect RW IS AWARE of this and there fore joined sides with LCC and wrote a letter in panic fuelled with fear of his own club surviving.

Two things I picked up.
John Francis is very good and presented very well. He gave the impression of being here before and was well used to the questioning. Reminded me a bit of Sir Rodney.
The LCC guy came across as weasely to me in comparison.

Second, I was in line with the inspector so I could see his reactions. He wrote quite a few notes when John was talking but he didn't write one note while the cross examined and as Clan said he looked a bit fed up and forced a break so John Francis could stop talking after 3 hours.
He rambled on too much and argued about irrelevant points to me. Got to hurt his credibility with the inspector.

Sorry, but could you just clarify.
Do you mean the LCC guy rambled on too much.
Not nitpicking , just like everyone else desperate for news.
Thanks for the report by the way.

I think from day one starting with the demonstration and all of the presentations to date have been first class. The whole affair has been professional. All credit must go to all concerned there has been an awful lot of research and preparation = alot of hard work.

I was there all day, the LCC guy did like to ramble on over the same point for more than was needed, it seems they have very little to work with within their objection therefore are dragging out the interpetation of certain policies and rulings referred to within the respective reports in relation to greenbelt use.

The inspector seems to be on the ball and seemed to be taking note of any important points made, then at end made sure the matters discussed were clear. I got the impression at the end of the evening with certain suggestions he was making he was giving tips to make our case even stronger, for eg. getting letters of interest for the industrial part of the site etc

John Francis presented our case very well, and I think its important to note that his experience within these matters can't be disputed. He said along the lines of that the newmarket development is one of the most impressive projects he has come across where a stadium and other developments are tied hand in hand and also made clear to the inspector that the glasshoughton option is a lot less likely to happen than newmarket at this point in time.

Hi Wrenstudent.
Who were the guys on the left at the big table? I thought I recognised them but not sure what their role is.

Also, the LCC guy started and his mike didn't work so just started talking. The inspector looked to the public and asked if we could hear him.....a big shout went up from the corner where Clan and James Elston were..."NO!" The inspector smiled and the LCC guy got a bit sulky Very funny.