`We should see County Ground plans'

From the archive, first published Tuesday 15th Nov 2005.

PLANS for the future of Swindon Town's County Ground should be shown to opposition councillors.

That is the call from Coun Peter Mallinson (Lab, Walcot) who says that the Conservatives are keeping the information to themselves in spite of the football club wanting them to be distributed to all councillors.

His comments come after Mark Devlin, the club's vice chairman, said he was angry that the plans submitted to the council had not been made public.

"The issue of the new stadium on the County Ground is of immense importance to everybody in Swindon and especially Walcot and Central residents who will be directly affected by the plans," said Coun Mallinson.

"It is therefore imperative that local councillors have the information so that they can effectively represent their communities.

"I do not understand why Coun Justin Tomlinson (cabinet member for leisure, culture and recreation) has deliberately withheld this information, which the club gave to him to freely distribute to councillors as the start of a consultation process.

"His actions are synonymous with the attitude of the Conservative group towards opposition councillors and demonstrates their contempt for the democratic process. I share Mark Devlin's anger that the release of this information has unjustifiably been delayed."

Coun Tomlinson said that the club had only submitted a business case, not full plans, and that as soon as plans were submitted there would be an extensive public consultation.

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