Plans for 1,000 seater stadium unveiled at Canterbury Football Club
Site plan for the £1.5
million football hub at Ridlands Farm Canterbury
by Jamie Bullen
jbullen@thekmgroup.co.uk
Major plans for a 1,000 capacity stadium to bring
Canterbury’s football club back to the city are set to be unveiled
today.
The city council has released a draft masterplan for the stadium
at Ridlands Farm, which includes a full-size pitch, floodlighting,
terraced stands, changing rooms and a clubhouse.
Earlier this year it agreed the preferred site for the £1.5
million football hub, which will see Canterbury City return two
years after starting a ground share in Herne Bay.
Plans have been approved by the Football Association and been
published for a public consultation, which runs from Monday until
Sunday, February 3.
Club chairman Tim Clark said: “It has been a long time getting
to this stage and we are aware the council has been criticised for
a perceived lack of consultation.
“We hope anyone looking at the proposals should be able to see
there has been a considerable balance between public amenity and
local concerns.
“It is a major handicap for the football club not to be playing
in Canterbury. The supporters are not travelling to Herne Bay and
we have heard from sponsors who would really like us back in the
city.
Ridlands Farm,the
proposed site of Canterbury City Football Club's ground
“There is a chance here for Canterbury to have a real asset of
the city can be proud of.”
Remaining land at Ridlands Farm could be transformed into
mini-football pitches or enhanced for informal public use.
Executive member for sport Cllr Darren Ellis said: “It has been
the council’s ambition for many years to find a new home for
Canterbury City Football Club.
We have assessed more than 20 sites around the city and Ridlands
Farm is our preferred site to test further in terms of working
towards a planning application.
“The proposals in the masterplan are considerably scaled back
from those put forward previously, but they would provide the club
with a home in which they could develop in the years ahead and play
a full role in the community.
“We hope the potential for new public recreation space will also
be an attractive proposition for local people.
“This period of public consultation gives residents the chance
to see what is being planned and have input into how it takes
shape. I hope we will get lots of comments on what we believe is an
exciting project for Canterbury.”
Copies of the masterplan and questionnaire can also be found at
The Beaney and the council offices in Military Road.
10/12/12
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