12:00am, Fri 7th Sep 2007
Woking Football Club will be able to move forward with its development proposals after Borough Councillors at last night?s Executive meeting (Thursday 6 September) agreed to sell an area of Council-owned land to the local football club at open market value.
Woking Football Club has put forward proposals to redevelop the football ground in order to secure its long-term future through football and non-football related income.
The proposals include a range of quality improvements to enhance the club and provide better facilities and activities for the club and the community. These include additional community facilities for conferences, improvements at the ground which will strengthen activities including Football in the Community and the Football Academy, plus improved spectator facilities with larger stand capacities.
In order for the development to move forward, the Council has agreed to sell its land adjacent to the club?s Kingfield Stadium to the football club. Councillors agreed that this would be the best possible way forward for the Council to honour its ongoing commitment to supporting the local club, plus securing full open market value for the disposal of land in Westfield. These funds will be used as a valuable contribution to the Council?s proposals for the Hoe Valley Scheme.
The Hoe Valley Scheme is a development plan that aims to transform areas of Westfield. It will include the creation of flood alleviation landscaping, which will protect around 300 homes from flooding in extreme weather, along with the development of the former Westfield Tip to create a nature reserve and more homes for local people.
Cllr Anne Murray, Leader of Woking Borough Council?s Executive, said: ?We are really pleased to have come to this agreement with Woking Football Club. This will not only enable the club to further its development proposals but allow the Council to gain open market value for its land. This money can then be used towards financing the Hoe Valley Scheme and help prevent future flooding in that area.?
Chris Ingram, Chairman of Woking Football Club added: ?We are delighted with this decision, which demonstrates the ongoing partnership between the club and council. We are especially pleased that this will help alleviate the threat of floods to residents in in our surrounding area. We will now go forward to draw up detailed plans for new facilities on the Kingfield site that will provide a stadium worthy of our fans, our community and our town. When these are ready, we will share them with the local community and with our supporters.?
For more information from the club, please contact davidtaylor@wokingfc.co.uk. More information about the Hoe Valley Scheme is available on the Council?s website at www.woking.gov.uk
For further information, contact Woking Borough Council's Press and Communications Officer, Melanie Taylor on 01483 743027 or email melanie.taylor@woking.gov.uk
