CUSA Chairman Brian Attmore was at this morning's meeting and wrote the following report:

A big day for Cambridge United and the future of professional football in the city today. The City Council Planning subcommittee unanimously approved the amended plans to redevelop the Abbey Stadium.

The public area of the committee room was packed at 9.30am as the meeting was called to order. Any more people present and the meeting would have had to be moved into the main Council Chamber. The Abbey Stadium issue was first on the agenda and all the councillors on the committee plus John Durrant, a local ward councillor, spoke in turn on the issue.

A lengthy preamble by Councillor Mbaya set the tone of the comments. He had voted for the deferral back in January but was overjoyed with praise for everyone involved in getting the agreement last week between the Club and Allotment holders. Councillors of all parties showed great pleasure in the outcome of talks and the redrawn plans that have emerged from what seemed at one time a stalemate situation. There had never been such interest in any planning application before.

Councillor Edwards, remembering attending a meeting with United directors well over 10 years ago on expansion ideas, felt that it was one of the longest running planning sagas in Cambridge even though this application was fairly recent.

There was general agreement that although the original application was 'sound' it now stood a far better chance of gaining government approval. It was stated that the minister involved would receive a full memorandum of all what had happened with the detailed consultations and what had been achieved. This would show that at local level every aspect had been studied carefully and consultations had been comprehensive with widespread support for the plans.

Councillor Hipkin felt that he had been pressurised politically by some people who objected to him supporting the deferral but assured us that it was not done politically.

Councillor Durrant called it a "win, win" situation, and there was a desire to rid United of the "Shabby Abbey" and replace it with a "Fabby Abbey" according to Councillor Harrison.

Councillor Slatter, who had attended the CUSA meeting back in January and bravely explained why the plans were being deferred, is looking forward to meeting us again in the "new Supporters' Club" and toasting the completion of the redevelopment.

By 10.15am the vote had been taken by a full show of hands with no objections and we United fans and officials left the meeting to assemble on the steps of the Guildhall for a gleeful photo-shoot. Reg Smart was holding back the tears as another step was taken along the long road to a modern ground for Cambridge United.

Well done to everyone involved.
Brian

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