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Belle Vue
Wakefield have been playing at Belle Vue, currently known as the Beaumont Legal Stadium, since 1895. The club are hoping to move to a new ground in nearby Newmarket. Photograph: Mark Cosgrove/Action Plus via Getty
Wakefield have been playing at Belle Vue, currently known as the Beaumont Legal Stadium, since 1895. The club are hoping to move to a new ground in nearby Newmarket. Photograph: Mark Cosgrove/Action Plus via Getty

Wakefield scheme for new 10,000-seat stadium backed by parliament

This article is more than 6 years old
Club hope to become anchor tenants at ground in nearby Newmarket
Planning approval initially granted in 2012 but project has been stalled

Wakefield Trinity have received parliamentary support in their battle for a new stadium in the city as the deadline for them to inform the Rugby Football League of their plans for next season and beyond approaches.

Trinity are hoping to become anchor tenants in a proposed 10,000 all-seater stadium in nearby Newmarket, which was initially given planning approval in 2012 but has since been stalled by a number of delays.

Last week, the leader of Wakefield council, Cllr Peter Box, called on existing developers Yorkcourt to walk away after the latest Heads of Terms agreement put forward by the group last week were described as “not fit for purpose”.

But the All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group, made up of MPs including the newly-elected chair, Bradford South’s Judith Cummins, have pledged to do whatever they can to help Trinity’s hopes of a new stadium become a reality.

In a crucial week for the club’s long-term future, Cummins has said she will liaise with the council and Trinity to try to help the situation. She said: “The Parliamentary Rugby League Group is aware of the ongoing issues regarding the development of a new stadium for Wakefield Trinity. Given that the scheme secured planning approval in 2012, it is disappointing that it continues to face setbacks.

“On behalf of the Group, I will be writing to Wakefield council and Wakefield Trinity, offering the group’s support in finding a resolution to the current situation. Wakefield Trinity have a proud history in rugby league, and it is vital that plans for the stadium are put back on track, to develop a facility for the whole community.”

Trinity must inform the RFL by next Monday where they intend to play in 2018 – with the hope that they can remain at their current Belle Vue stadium home despite it failing to meet Super League standards set by the governing body.

However, the Wakefield hierarchy believe that if they can receive assurances a new stadium will be ready in 2019, they could get dispensation to stay at their current ground for another year. If not, Trinity would be forced to move out of the city and play elsewhere.

The club will hold further talks with the council this week in a bid to try find a new developer: but the Wakefield owner, Michael Carter, is understood to have made assurances to Wakefield council that they would pay the interest on any money the local authority borrowed themselves to try and build a stadium on their own – a figure believed to be around £10m.

Championship side Bradford will face a tribunal on Wednesday in relation to claims made by 47 former employees surrounding the liquidation of the former Super League champions earlier this year.

The Guardian revealed in May how claims against the RFL, Bradford Bulls Northern Limited – the holding company of the Bulls when they were placed into liquidation – and the new company that replaced them, Bradford Bulls 2017 Limited, had been lodged. And the first hearing concerning those claims will take place this Wednesday, at Leeds Employment Tribunal.

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