Thousands object to rumoured NUFC stadium plans

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

More than 28,000 people have opposed rumoured plans that would see the club build on Leazes Park, next to St James', despite NUFC not announcing the move.

Save Newcastle Wildlife campaigner Rachel Locke called on the council to hold a public referendum, and said it would be "scandalous" to sacrifice the city's oldest public park for a "Saudi super stadium".

The Labour-led authority refused to agree to the request and said a referendum could not be held on plans which have not been submitted. The club has declined to comment.

Reports have suggested the Magpies could move to a larger 65,000-seater stadium close to their existing grounds in Newcastle city centre.

St James' Park has been the home of the club since 1892 and currently has a capacity of 52,000.

NUFC has not formally announced any plans but in December the club's chief operations officer Brad Miller said a new stadium could more than double the revenue of their current home.

The alternative, expanding the club's current home at St James' Park, could prove problematic because the Leazes Terrace housing block located behind the East Stand is a listed building and protected against structural alterations.

Grade II listed Leazes Park opened in 1873 after nearly 3,000 people signed a petition calling for working people to be granted "ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation".

Speaking to the council as she presented the petition on Wednesday, Ms Locke said since then "millions of pounds of taxpayers' money" has been spent on the park to make it pleasant for people and wildlife.

"There are more than 1,000 trees in the park, as well as shrubs and hedgerows, which provide food and shelter for insects and other wildlife including bats, birds and hedgehogs," she said.

Labour councillor Dan Greenhough said the council had not received a planning application from Newcastle United to build a new stadium or redevelop their existing grounds, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The speculation around Leazes Park is exactly that - speculation," he said.

"The coverage on the subject in the international media and wherever else is beyond our control."

Greenhough said any application submitted by the club would be treated "no differently to anyone else".

Colin Ferguson, who leads the city's Liberal Democrat opposition, said the sooner there was clarity on the club's plans the better.

He said there would need to be "crystal clear" public engagement and consultation on any future stadium development that comes forward.

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