Last night around forty Cambridge United fans met Club Directors and Councillor Phillipa Slatter to discuss the deferment of the planning application, and to agree what the fans can do to help. General Manager Colin Davies and PR Manager Graham Eales were also present as was PC Trevor George and the Mayor of Cambridge Richard Smith, who is an associate director of the club.

CUSA Chairman Brian Attmore started proceedings by announcing that Councillor Slatter (Lib Dem) of the planning committee would be joining the meeting, and director Gary Harwood then gave a brief resume of the last 15 years' worth of action regarding both relocation and redevelopment. He was followed by Richard Smith who gave his version of events and said he was grateful that he finally had a chance to speak on the issue as he is not allowed to attend the council meetings due to conflict of interest. "I am as angry and frustrated as I'm sure all of you were," he says in today's Cambridge Evening News report.

Gary Harwood stated that he wanted the application to go back before the Committee on February 9th but it looks increasingly likely to be put back to the following meeting in March. He also stated that out of the nineteen plots to be taken only between six to eight were actually being cultivated. In the CEN he is quoted saying, "If the councillors refuse the application, they have to tell us on what planning grounds they refuse. If they do, we could indeed go to appeal."

Phillipa Slatter arrived at that point and gave her explanations in response to many questions from those present. As Brian Attmore explained, "The main issue that caused a deferment appear to be a technicality on the Cambridge Local Plan whereby the anticipated use in the future of allotments that are empty overrides the tremendous benefits both economical and social to the City of Cambridge itself, its residents, Cambridge United plus the fans from around the world who support the Club and the many who travel into the Abbey Stadium to follow the U's."

He added that the Lib Dems also want United to adopt a 'greener' approach to transportation. They want evidence from the Club with statistics, surveys etc. The Traffic Survey Report commission in 1996 was not made available to the councillors on this Planning Committee as the Planning Department itself did not see it as an issue on this application as the capacity of the stadium was only going up from a licensed 9,980 to 10,000. Attmore continued, "The Lib Dems however see this as an opportunity to to be shown to be tackling Cambridge's traffic problem by restricting the development."

CUSA Secretary Nigel Pearce said after the meeting, "Fans appreciated Councillor Slatter taking time to meet us and for trying to explain why the application was deferred. The fans reaction was predictably unsympathetic, but never abusive. At the end of the meeting, however, we were still largely confused as to precisely why the Planning Committee had ignored their officials advice and not approved the application.

"It is clear to fans that certain elements within the Council have no time for Cambridge United Football Club and would be quite happy to see it disappear. That attitude has been witnessed countless times over the past 15 years as the Club has sought to relocate or redevelop, only to be blocked time and again. When United were promoted last season the players were treated to an official reception at the Guildhall - some people are quick to bask in reflected glory without making any contribution whatsoever to that success. Councillor Slatter simply cannot see, or refuses to see, the overwhelming benefits the re-developed ground would bring to the local community and the city of Cambridge.

"At the meeting we decided to hold a mass 'yellow card' protest before the high profile FA Cup fifth round match against Bolton on 29th January. Our message to the Council doubters will be clear: 'We have been patient for 15 years. The Council must demonstrate once and for all whether or not they support Cambridge United Football Club. Stop sitting on the fence and approve the Club’s planning application at your next meeting on 9 February'."

Brian Attmore explained to U's Net: "Basically, the fans have taken over the redevelopment campaign. We will urge fans to keep writing to the CEN, to take part in phone-ins and our media profile will be heightened. We now have some idea of the points in the plans objected to, we must write to the Lib Dem councillors involved and urge them to support the redevelopment.

"A mass protest is planned for the Bolton game with everyone being given a large A4 yellow card as they arrive at the game and will have a co-ordinated show of solidarity with the Club for the plans in World Cup style just before the kick-off and again at half-time. With Match of the Day and the national media covering the game we aim to make our point."

Councillor Slatter stated during the meeting that the club had yet to provide details of a travel plan, which could include working with the city's park and ride manager to supply an extra service to Saturday matches. She was asked at that point why similar consideration was not made when permission was given to build the B&Q and Tesco superstores on Newmarket Road.

"We want to see more evidence of both the allotment holders and the club working together. You must try to find some compromises," she said.

Brian Attmore responded, "The issue of what compensation United are offering the allotment holders was questioned last night and the Lib Dems want it to be demonstrated to them that the Club are going to offer benefits in addition to the financial package. Although it is hard to see how this could have been achieved up to now when dialogue from the allotment committee has stated that the allotments are non-negotiable! The CUSA are willing to meet with any allotment-holders and discuss what they want from United."

Local MP Anne Campbell has urged Cambridge United to be patient with council planners, saying, "It is understandable that the city council planning committee is taking some time to reach a decision even if that is inconvenient for the club. They must understand it is a hugely complex matter. The club have to be patient and make sure that the right decision is reached".

The CEN Opinion column took a firm stance again this week with the following words:

Patience is fast running out at the Abbey

AN APPEAL to Cambridge United to be patient with city planners deciding the future of the Abbey Stadium was never likely to get a warm welcome.

The club has been planning for years for a new ground, and feels it has already waited for far too long for a decision.

The anger of supporters over further delay should be evidence enough for everyone, including the city's MP, Anne Campbell, that tolerance is reaching breaking point.

What is needed now is action.

Mrs Campbell can best help the club by using her considerable influence to speed up the decision-making process.

Time and patience are rapidly running out.

~

(With thanks to Ian Elliott and other Moosenet members for some of the details of the meeting).