Letter of objection: Appendix 1
Appendix 1 Re. Proposed Development of Bootham Crescent Football Ground
Summary of some of the inaccurate and/or misleading statements included in the application
1.1 Company name incorrect
The application states that it is submitted on behalf of Persimmon Homes (York) Limited. We presume this should have referred to Persimmon Homes (Yorkshire) Limited.
1.3.1 Bootham Crescent DOES "meet modern standards"
The application claims that Bootham Crescent "does not meet modern standards." The application provides no basis or support for this assertion. As far as we are aware, the stadium necessarily meets all required safety regulations and facility requirements as required by the football authorities.
1.3.2 Bootham Crescent DOES comply with Taylor Report and related ground regulations
The application asserts that York City does not comply with the Taylor Report’s requirement for all-seated spectator accommodation. However, York City is not in breach of any such requirements, as following the Taylor Report exemptions were put in place for clubs in lower divisions such as York City. Therefore, there is currently no need for seats to be installed at the ground. We would also question the assertion that, if further seating is required, it would not be feasible – we can see no reason how this could be the case; several areas of the ground having undergone a similar "conversion" in previous years.
1.3.3 Assertions made on behalf of the Club
If this is an application submitted on behalf of Persimmon Homes, we fail to see how they make a statements about what York City Football Club has investigated and what it considers as feasible/unfeasible. We also refer you to appendix 3 to our letter.
Perhaps such an assertion is based on comments from Douglas Craig, the former Chairman and former majority shareholder of York City Football Club and the person who stands to profit from the sale of Bootham Crescent to Persimmon, due to his continued majority shareholding in Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH)?
We would also question what evidence exists in terms of the Club’s thorough and proper assessment of the potential to ‘upgrade’ the facilities.
Neither is it necessary for the Club to undertake expansion of its capacity. In common with other Football League clubs, the Club’s usual attendance is easily catered for by the available facilities.
1.3.5 Housing on Bootham Crescent will NOT help the Club to re-locate
The application asserts that "in order to provide certainty that the proposed relocation can be achieved, the Football Club need to establish that the existing site can be redeveloped for residential purposes".
This is completely incorrect.
The Football Club does not own the Bootham Crescent site, and the sale or development of the site will not assist IN ANY WAY a re-location. Following the transfer of ownership of the Bootham Crescent site from the Club to Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH), and the announcement by the BCH directors that they will be the ones to profit from the sale of the site, then the Club has been seriously disadvantaged. The entire proceeds of the proposed sale of Bootham Crescent to Persimmon Homes will be distributed among the shareholders of Bootham Crescent Holdings, NOT the football club, and we fail to see how this claim can be substantiated.
1.3.5 Concern regarding comments about vacation
Paragraph 1.3.5 also makes comment about "…the vacation of the ground at the end of the 2002/03 season."
There is no alternative stadium for the Club to play its home games in the 2003/04 season. If it has to vacate Bootham Crescent the future of professional football in the region will be at severe risk.
It has been reported that Persimmon and BCH have refused to clarify the meaning of this statement. Neither organisation will confirm nor deny that it is planned that York City Football Club shall be evicted from Bootham Crescent in May 2003, and building work would commence immediately if permission is granted.
As already referred to in the attached letter, we consider that the Planning Committee MUST reject the application on this basis, due to the removal of a "leisure facility" without the existence of a suitable alternative.
2.6 and 2.7 Impact on local residents
The application asserts that the amenity of local residents is disturbed before, during and after matches. This presumption is NOT based on any evidence or consultation with local residents. We suggest that the extent of the "disturbance generated" is minimal.
We have spoken to local residents to Bootham Crescent who have no concerns at all about "disturbance" on match days or other times; indeed the football club currently attracts a much smaller and better behaved crowd than in previous years. In particular, during the mid 1970’s when the club was playing in the old second division, teams such as Manchester United and Aston Villa were league opponents bringing a significant number of unruly supporters with them – this is no longer the case. Furthermore, the vast majority of local residents have moved into the area AFTER the football club moved to the current site in 1932.
2.6 and 2.7 Damaging the amenity of local residents
The most damaging impact to the amenity of the community of York and surrounding region would be ousting of the Club from its Bootham Crescent home leading to the demise of professional football in York.
4.4.7 Talk about the Club relocating DOES NOT PROVIDE EVIDENCE that an alternative leisure facility is available.
The application asserts that "the proposed relocation clearly demonstrates that an alternative facility will be provided." This statement is absolute nonsense.
As yet, the Club has not announced the location of a potentially suitable site and neither has it announced that any kind of funding has been secured. Given that the proposed alternative stadium has already been announced as having a cost of over £17m, this is a very significant barrier to overcome before any kind of new stadium for York City FC shall be "provided".
Eviction from Bootham Crescent at this time would leave only two alternatives for York City FC. First of all, the re-development of the Ryedale Stadium in Huntington. This is clearly unfeasible for several reasons, including the failure of the site to meet Football League minimum requirements (and the associated cost) , and also the severe traffic problems it would cause.
The second alternative would be to seek a ground-sharing arrangement with another football club, thus resulting in the loss of a "leisure facility" within the City of York, and as such a reason to decline the planning application as previously demonstrated.
Only when a suitable alternative stadium is IN PLACE, which provides facilities better than Bootham Crescent, will the future of York City Football Club be secure away from Bootham Crescent.
5.1.4 Bootham Crescent IS suitable for a stadium
The application asserts that "the [Bootham Crescent] site is clearly not suitable for continued use as a stadium and is likely to become derelict if not redeveloped."
We absolutely disagree with this assertion. Bootham Crescent continues to provide facilities that the supporters – of York City and other clubs – appreciate enormously.
The ground is far from derelict. Common with other physical structures, it requires regular maintenance and upkeep, but it is NOT a stadium which is derelict. The applicant’s statement here is subjective and emotional nonsense with neither substance nor foundation.
5.4.1 Amenity would be DAMAGED, not improved
The application asserts that "the amenity of local residents will be greatly improved."
As noted above, in respect of residents who attend football matches at Bootham Crescent, their amenity would be worsened. In respect of local businesses who directly benefit from spectator spending, their businesses would be damaged.
6.3 Turning Bootham Crescent into a housing estate will NOT help the Club to relocate to a better stadium
The application is, again, fundamentally incorrect in its assertion that a housing development on the Bootham Crescent site will enable the Club to relocate to a new stadium.
To reiterate, following the transfer of the ownership of the ground from York City Football Club to Bootham Crescent Holdings and the subsequent proposed sale of the ground separate to the Club, the Club no longer has the benefit of ownership of the ground. The former directors of the Club circumvented Football Association rules (34b), and Bootham Crescent is now held by BCH and its shareholders, who stand to profit at the expense of the Club, the supporters and the community.
To help protect the continuance of York City Football Club as a leisure and community facility, the application to build housing on Bootham Crescent must be denied.
Appendix 2 - re ownership of Bootham Crescent acquired by BCH
Appendix 3 - re contradiction of previous (1996) application