Decision on stadium expansion is deferred

New info comes to light

- BY DECLAN CAREY

A DECISION on Stockport County's plans to expand their Edgeley Park stadium has been delayed after a late twist.

A planning application for the expansion was due to be voted on by councillors at a town hall planning committee meeting on July 3.

But new information submitted before the meeting caused councillors to defer the decision, so the information can be properly assessed.

The club's application will come back before the planning committee at a later date.

Chair of the planning committee, Coun Steve Gribbon, said: "Because of information that has come to light at short notice, we want to make sure that planning officers give us the correct information and the correct decision is made."

Wildlife campaigners in Edgeley have been calling on the club to rethink part of the application to build an 86-space car park over a green space behind the south stand.

On June 26, the Edgeley Wildlife Reserve group wrote to the 12 councillors on Stockport's planning committee about the football club's plan to build a car park on land behind the south stand of Edgeley Park.

This space, which campaigners call the Edgeley Wildlife Reserve (EWR), could be lost to make way for an 86-space parking area as part of County's stadium redevelopment.