FoBC latest: 6 January press release
Friends of Bootham Crescent welcome possible Compulsory purchase order, and cite Exeter City example as a precedent.
Friends of Bootham Crescent (FoBC) has warmly welcomed the news that the City of York Council may consider making a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on the Bootham Crescent home of York City FC, and believes that a precedent for this has already been set.
Spokesman Ian Savage commented; 'This is a very interesting development, and something FoBC have been researching intensely. It may be difficult to implement, but very definitely possible both legally and financially. Mr Craig (chairman and majority shareholder of BCH, the current owners of the site) may claim a value of anything up to £5 million for the ground, but he should remember that without planning permission, the land is worth a fraction of that. The current owners paid less than £200,000 to own it, and a CPO should be enforced at a similar level. If that were the case, we believe supporters of York City FC would be prepared to help the Council to raise the necessary funds, to avoid a heavy burden on Council tax bills in the city.'
Mr Savage explained that a precedent has already been set by another third division football club - and in eerily similar circumstances: 'Around 6 years ago, Exeter City was in administration, and under the same threat of extinction as York City now faces. Beazer Homes purchased the St James’ Park ground with the intention of building houses on it – however, the local council stepped in and purchased the land under a CPO. Exeter City now have a secure home on a long-term lease from the council, and we see no reason why this couldn’t be the case at York City.' Mr Savage went on to explain: 'Another irony of this story is that Beazer homes have subsequently been bought out, and are now owned by Persimmon Homes – the very same company which has applied for planning permission to bulldoze Bootham Crescent'.
Another FoBC member – local resident Lisa Pickering, whose home overlooks the Bootham Crescent ground, pointed out that Mr Craig is a man who has been involved with CPO’s in the past – from the other side of the table, from his days as a Conservative member of the city council. 'In the early 1970’s we know that Mr Craig voted to approve the proposed inner ring road scheme, which would have resulted in the demolition of large areas of York, acquired under CPOs.'
The ring road scheme caused massive uproar among local citizens, following its approval by York City Council in August 1971. Organised public protest - led by York 2000 - were followed by the public enquiry of 1972, which involved more than 200 objectors. The plans for the ring road were finally shelved in February 1975.
Ms Pickering went on to say 'We suggest that York residents must join forces, as they did in the 1970s, to protect York's resources - in this case, its football ground. We hope that on this occasion the council will use its powers of compulsory purchase to protect, not demolish.'
Press reports from the 1970s show that Douglas Craig was a very keen advocate of the 1970s inner ring road scheme - dubbed by a leading protestor as York's 'tarmac necklace'. Ms Pickering was quick to point out the irony of some of Mr Craig’s words at the time: 'In 1971 Mr Craig objected to the ‘intellectuals’ who opposed the plans, but he did have some sympathy for those who faced having their homes demolished under a CPO. He referred then to the council's ‘moral as well as legal duty’ to treat them with respect and consideration.' She pointed out: 'In 1971 Craig was aware of 'moral duty'. In 2003, it appears he has forgotten about it.'
Ms Pickering added: 'In the 1970s Compulsory Purchase Orders were served on households and businesses in the line of the proposed road. The buildings would have been demolished to make way for the urban motorway. Now, it seems that Douglas Craig wants to demolish another home - the home of York City football club. Thirty years on from voting in favour of that scheme, the boot might be on the other foot. This time, he's not sending out the CPOs - we hope that instead he'll be receiving one.'