Hundreds of local residents have objected to the Class of '92 proposals to redevelop Salford City FC's Moor Lane stadium and more than double the capacity from the current 2,163 to 5,108.
The deadline for objections or support for the club's planning application closed late last night and Salford City Council received 224 from residents objecting to the plans and only thirty in favour.
"Over the last three years as investment in the club has increased and it has done slightly better, we've just noticed a massive influx of crowds on match days which is making us prisoners in our home" says David Mintz of the newly formed Kersal Moor Residents Association.
Already with crowds of over 2,000 for big matches, residents have complained about massive parking problems and traffic congestion, which they believe will get much worse as the club progresses up the leagues – which it surely will, backed by the Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim and the so-called Class of '92 millionaires Phil and Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt.
The club states in its planning application that "Based on a usual maximum attendance of 4,000 supporters, it is estimated that there will be circa 1,000 vehicles generated per match" but that it "will raise the profile of Salford through the success of the football club". On the latter point, David begs to differ...
"A lot has been said about this being good for Salford" he explains "I was born and bred in Salford it's an insult to the city to suggest that we need Gary Neville to come down here and re-build a ground to make us great again.
"We've got some of the most fantastic places in Salford, we've got art galleries, shops, buildings...and the beautiful natural Kersal Moor which is going to turn into a toilet for away fans – it's already happened for big games" he adds "It's an insult to the local area.
"They are saying that `Increased footfall to the stadium will bring trade to local businesses' but there isn't a local business within earshot" he explains "No local business stands to benefit, except the only local business that's there; which is Hotel Football that has the licence, and that's Gary Neville. It's about big business.
"The residents feel aggrieved because this is not a community initiative and there's been no talk of anything they are going to bring to the community" he says "It's been alluded to but nothing has been said. The only thing we all know is that in this day and age football is big business and Neville and Giggs and the rest of them know this better than anybody else...I'm sure Gary Neville and co would object if they were building a ground at the back of their garden."
And those in the Moor Lane vicinity who are getting a redeveloped ground at the back of their gardens aren't happy at all...
"My main objection is that on match days, when there is a large crowd, there's no parking facilities and Moor Lane itself is chaotic" explains Norbert Gajda, who has lived on Moor Lane for almost forty years "Twice I've noticed that emergency vehicles have tried to get down Moor Lane and couldn't, which I find very worrying. And this is with a crowd of less than 2,000.
"It's just going to get worse" he adds "The area will be clogged up and it's going to be terrible. There's also the increase in noise, litter, anti social behaviour maybe but my main concerns are the parking and traffic. I have no problems with Salford City being a successful football club but there must be other sites in Salford that could be used."
Norbert's wife, Anne, adds: "The traffic situation will be appalling but also the amount of noise that the stadium generates, not only cheering, which is fine, but they have this PA system on so loud and it can be quite unbearable. I'm also apprehensive about litter, while the emergency ambulances and fire engines being blocked are of paramount importance."
Howard Casofsky, who lives next to the ground on Nevile Road, says that his wife can't actually reverse her car out of their drive on match days... "I would like them to come and spend a few hours here when the roads are really busy" he says "Ambulances can't get through, fire engines can't get through...Urban Vision was supposed to come round and sort the car parking in the area but I don't even think they've been.
"There's been very little communication between the club and residents of the immediate community" he adds "They seem to be taking us for granted rather than liaising with us and trying to find the best possible outcome at the fairest price. I'm sure they would feel the same way if the Nevilles, Butt or Scholes were to have the same happen to them."
Alice Searle, who lives on Moor Lane, is a member of Friends of Kersal Moor which has worked tirelessly over the years to improve the site, relate its historical links to the Chartists and protect its environment.
"I was happy about the football ground and the football as it was, because it fitted the area but now with this growth the aims are different" she explains "The redevelopment doesn't fit this area because there isn't the infrastructure to support that growth. The roads are very residential and very environmentally attractive and sensitive.
"The Moor on one side of Moor Lane is a conservation site, it has rare plants, deer and foxes, and could be affected by this growth" she adds "Some people will drop litter, trample plants...and there will be an increase in noise and pollution. I'm recording the air quality with scientific equipment and will know if there is any increase because of what is happening.
"The Moor is something unique to Salford for its environmental and historical importance" she insists "It's an area that should be preserved for the city. The Council has a responsibility to find a more appropriate site."
The club states in its application that it wants to be a "good neighbour" and that it has a Travel Plan in place but it offers no concrete solutions – "If the growth aspirations of the club attract more fans it is likely that pressure for on-street parking will increase" the application states.
It adds that "The provision of off-street parking facilities for limited use on match-days is currently being explored" but that "a commercial deal has not been agreed at this time". It's also proposing "The implementation of a match day Traffic Regulation Order which would prevent parking on Nevile Road and potentially other roads in the vicinity of the stadium on certain match days."
The Club also states that it's "currently exploring options to encourage sustainable travel and the introduction of a Travel Plan in the near future is expected to reduce the supporters' dependency on the private car".
Objectors argue that the Travel Plan is spurious to say the least. The application merely states the club will provide "Literature on the health benefits of walking, cycling and environmental benefits of sustainable modes of transport", a "link to the TfGM website" and produce a newsletter with "Stories of other supporters who travel sustainably to the stadium to inspire others".
It also proposes to offer discounts on pies and tickets for those who use public transport, cycles and walking to get to matches but admits that it will be "hard to monitor".
The Club's targets for getting people to change their travel behaviour are set extremely low with a short term target of a 3% change for car use; the equivalent of around 17 less cars than the current 635 cars at a 2,000 crowd game; and 2% more people walking or using public transport. Just 15 bicycle spaces are proposed at the new ground for 5,000 people.
The Club adds that travel surveys will be "undertaken three months after the redevelopment of the stadium". Indeed virtually all the Travel Plan measures that the club is proposing are for after it has received planning permission, rather than being in place before the planning panel meeting of councillors. The club has paid the Council to fast-track the application which the Salford Star understands will be heard now in mid-December.
The attitude of the club's owners has antagonised the local community which has quickly formed a new Kersal Moor Residents Association to fight the plans, and has petitions both going door-to-door in the area and online*.
"This is absolutely not about the club" explains David Mintz "I don't think anybody wishes the club any malice whatsoever and good luck to them; they should do as well as they possibly can.
"But what I would say" he adds "is that gone are the days when clubs of that sort of size that are doing better are situated in predominantly residential areas. They've all moved because they need better motorway access for coaches and fans. If you've got three coaches on Nevile Road you're not getting in or out.
"All this has brought the community together" he says "I think people are annoyed that there's been no meaningful consultation. A lot of people we've been talking to weren't even aware that it was happening and the letters about the consultation the club sent out were extremely localised and a lot went missing. The plans were submitted just a few days after the consultation and that to me is totally disingenuous."
And David again dismisses notions that Gary Neville and co are investing in Salford City FC to `bring football back to its roots' etc..
"They would not be wasting their time on it if it wasn't a money making opportunity" he insists "And I don't see why residents should suffer while they line their pockets..."
For a full background on Salford City FC's planning application see previous Salford Star article – click here
*To sign the online Moor Lane Residents Association petition which went live last night – click here
To read more about the Class of '92 motivation for its involvement in Salford City FC see the Salford Star article on the `Out Of Our League' book – click here
Update: 19th November 2016: FERGIE TIME!
Salford Council has now extended the deadline for comments on the stadium until Monday 21st November - Salford City have a home match against Worcester City today. The current score is Moor Lane Residents 241 Gary Neville 30
Update: 22nd November:
Final Score: Moor Lane Residents 252 Gary Neville 31
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