Despite over six hundred objections in letters and petitions, today Salford councillors on the planning panel voted through proposals by Salford City FC to double the capacity of its Moor Lane stadium from 2,163 to 5,172. Only one councillor voted against the plans, while another abstained.
Earlier, residents had spoken passionately in opposition to the plans, stating issues of car parking and traffic, potential anti-social behaviour, noise and lack of consultation.
As eighty residents crammed into the meeting room, Moor Lane's Alice Searle spoke first, citing the "right for people to live pleasantly and peacefully where a football ground wasn't dominating their lives" before adding that the protected Kersal Moor was likely to be damaged from litter.
She then presented Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs with a bin liner full of fresh litter collected from outside the ground. The bin liner was tied with a red ribbon, while the `gift tag' read `Happy Xmas Mr Neville and co. This is yours I believe...' Their `people' quickly batted the offending bag away.
As the ex-footballers recovered, Councillor Howard Balkind told the panel that the report in front of them was "biased towards the applicants". He took issue with an amendment to the planning application, only released to objectors last night, in which Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which had previously slated the traffic plan put forward by the club, had done a u-turn... "Something must have been done or said that's not been made available to the residents" said Councillor Balkind.
Residents Mr and Mrs Gayle cited "insufficient parking" and the "impact on local people" and argued that the club's traffic plan was "minor tinkering measures". Reverend Lisa Batty, from St Paul's Church on Moor Lane, also mentioned parking and impressed the need to "make sure this will not damage our work".
David Mintz, from Kersal Moor Residents Association, called the Class of 92 a "commercial monster" and argued that residents had been ignored by both the club and Salford Council's planning department... "It's an act of injustice that the people of Salford will never forget" he said, adding that they had tried to "silence voices".
To much amusement, he quoted a local resident who said that he could read Gary Neville's autobiography in the dark with the curtains shut, such was the light from the stadium. "Only the pockets of the applicants themselves would benefit" from the stadium redevelopment, he concluded.
Resident Jonny Wineberg, talked of the lack of early and meaningful consultation and engagement by the club, while a representative of the orthodox Jewish Forum spoke about how their Saturday sabbath would be "disturbed", adding there would be a "real risk" of anti-semitic incidents.
Those in support of the planning application included Mr Flint, of Salford Quays, a lifelong supporter, who said that the Class of '92 was "putting money into grassroots football" and "will include the community if given a chance". Club President, Dave Russell, argued that the downsides of the proposals could be solved and said it was a "fantastic thing for Salford".
Local resident, Derek Brent, in favour of the application and involved with the club for thirty years said "This is a community club for the people...it's a facility that should be used". He added that, as a resident he could understand the parking problems but that "the ground was here when I moved in...this is progress. The thought of Gary and Ryan making money out of this is ridiculous..."
Finally, from the public supporters, Frank McCauley argued that the club was raising the profile of the city, explaining that people were coming to matches from Europe, Asia and America... "This is only good for the city" he concluded.
Next up was Gary Neville, who resides in Bolton, and argued that he had never shied away from challenges and "will continue to confront them whatever happens today", adding, post bin liner, that "litter has always been a shared concern; the idea that our fans and opposition fans litter the streets is unacceptable to us and unacceptable to residents".
He argued that the volunteers who work at the club had been "overwhelmed with what's happened to the club over the last few years in respect of promotions and the increasing size of the club something unexpected even to ourselves...
"When we do move towards full time status in the next six months we will make sure that we have a proper litter strategy...we will put bins outside and if we have to get the first team players and ourselves to pick up litter outside the ground we will do so; that is a commitment we will make."
With respect to anti-social behaviour, Neville admitted he was "shocked", adding that "it's the most peaceful friendly atmosphere in that football ground...there is no evidence of anti-social behaviour...I will be horrified if there was anti-social or anti-semitic behaviour...it will be absolutely stamped upon."
In terms of parking he admitted that the club "had to do something...we accept that we need to make a more pleasant environment...and will put measures in place...
"We want to do something beyond a football club, we will commit to opening this facility every single day for residents and the use of the community" he explained "...it's not our football club, it is the football club of the original fans, the committee, the residents and the people of Salford..."
"From our point of view the idea that this doesn't connect with the community would be an absolute disaster" he added "Success for us in this is not about making money it is about giving opportunity to local people to play football, enjoy the facilities and delivering something in the city that everyone can be proud of."
His sentiments were underlined by Ryan Giggs, who described himself as a `Salfordian Welshman'. He added that he had a commitment to the city... "We will be willing to open up the stadium to the community..."
The two local Kersal Councillors Peter Connor and Ann-Marie Humphreys, opposed the application on the grounds of an "inadequate" consultation and problems with traffic. In response, planning officers argued that there was no "absolute requirement" for consultation.
Meanwhile, Councillor Derek Antrobus explained that there were "two stories going on here... one a "commercial monster" and the other "a group of lads putting something back into grass roots football".
He concluded that the "only way to improve" the issues that residents were complaining about would be to pass the planning proposal which would have conditions attached to it to ensure Council control. He moved that the panel approve the application.
Councillor Bernard Lea moved to refuse the application on noise contamination grounds but got no backers from fellow councillors, while Councillor Wheeler tried to get the application deferred pending a "proper transport plan", and got no backers either. Councillor Hamilton said the stadium was a "no-brainer" and "too fantastic for Salford" to refuse.
The planning application was passed, with only Councillor Lee voting against and Councillor Wheeler abstaining.
After the meeting, David Mintz, on behalf of Kersal Moor Residents Association, was furious...
"It was gross miscarriage of justice on a huge scale" he said "It is the saddest day for democracy in Salford. The Council has admitted that there's never been this volume of objectors turn up to a planning meeting before. People came here to show their feelings and they've been ignored. They've been ignored in two reports, ignored in over 600 petition signatures, ignored in over 300 live objections to the application, as the Council has actively sought ways in which to push this through.
"In my opinion they've been wowed by celebrity and taken the opinion of people who live outside the area instead of listening to the residents" he added "This makes me truly ashamed to be a citizen of Salford today.
"I've never sat in a planning meeting before" he explained "Our councillors stood up and opposed it which I'm pleased about but I've never seen a planning panel so hell bent on pleasing celebrities. The chairman actively sought to twist a way around every objection, and actively stood there and tried to disprove them. The decision was made before we turned up here today, and that's the only thing that gives me any kind of comfort, to know that it was actually bent from the beginning."
The Kersal Moor Residents Association is now seriously considering standing a candidate in the forthcoming local Kersal by-election...
"It's very possible" he said "We need to make our feelings known to the local council and that's one way of doing it. After what I've seen today I don't believe there is a single councillor who speaks for the people..."
Before the meeting, Gary Neville approached the editor of the Salford Star and accused the publication of bias. The Salford Star tried to speak to him after the meeting but couldn't.
For a full background see previous Salford Star articles – click here and follow the links
Main photo shows Alice Searle addressing the public after her rubbish dump on the ex-United players
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