AN application to be considered tonight by Chesterfield Council Planning Committee marks one of the biggest off-the-field events in the history of Chesterfield FC.
The planning meeting has been moved from the Town Hall to the Winding Wheel because of public interest in the deliberations of a small group of councillors.
For they will decide whether the club can move from Saltergate, its home since 1871, to a new ground to be built on Whittington Moor.
Permission was turned down by a single vote when the club proposed a move to the nearby Wheeldon Mill back in 1998.
Talk of redeveloping Saltergate, or moving out to a purpose- built ground with conference and banqueting facilities, has continued ever since then.
But suitable partners for the scheme had never been found until now.
With Tesco planning a new store next to the site, the 'enabling development' will involve the club being presented with about 10 acres of ground free.
The work of chairman Barrie Hubbard, who said he'd had enough of football ten years ago when hopes of Wheeldon Mill were killed off, and many other people, will come under scrutiny this evening.
There have been no objections from the Highways Authority or the Environment Agency.
There were just 19 letters of objection from residents.
As a result, the Council's Officers have recommended approval of the scheme, which is part of the local plan, for development.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 297 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
