Stadium rumours for city's oldest park spark backlash

PLEAS to prevent a new football stadium for Newcastle United being built on the city's oldest park have been presented to councillors.

- By DANIEL HALL

More than 28,000 people have signed a petition opposing the rumoured plans for a new stadium to be built on Leazes Park.

While the NUFC hierarchy are yet to publicly announce their intentions or lodge a planning application for such a development, reports have suggested that the Magpies could move to a 65,000-seater ground close to their historic St James' Park home.

Such rumours have sparked objections from environmental activists dismayed by the prospect of building on the Grade II-listed green space.

Presenting the petition calling for a public referendum on the idea to Newcastle City Council on Wednesday evening, Save Newcastle Wildlife campaigner Rachel Locke told councillors that it would be "scandalous" to sacrifice the city's oldest public park for a "Saudi super stadium" - referencing the club's majority owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The council refused to agree to the request, on the grounds that a referendum cannot be held on plans which have not been submitted.