Transfer plans for land at Kings Park to AFC Bournemouth approved
“I just commend this motion the fact that we are investing in an asset for Bournemouth that goes around the world”
Transfer plans for land at Kings Park to AFC Bournemouth have been approved by full council.
Councillor Mike Cox introduced the cabinet’s recommendation to council that the minutes of a confidential meeting are noted, Option C of the outlined options in the report is approved, and the proposed head of term go to cabinet and council as soon as possible.
Option C will see existing leases surrendered and two leases granted, one for stadium land and the other for car park land.
Plans show that the club’s plans to demolish the existing South Stand and building a new, larger stand, infill all four corners to create additional capacity, renovate East and West stands to provide improved player facilities and hospitality, and expand the height and width of the North and East Stands to increase capacity.
Cllr Cox reminded members: “This is not selling anything; this is just asking them to go away and negotiate and then come back to us with what the terms are for that negotiation.”
Cllr Cox added: “I would also like to point out that isn’t it excellent that AFC Bournemouth are investing in the area just like JP Morgan have done recently.”
During the debate on the plans councillor Bobbie Dove spoke in opposition to the plans saying, “we were told all along that this negotiation does not affect the expansion of the club at all, that the two are entirely separate, that the planning application for the club can still continue and that we do support. But this report is absolutely riddled with inaccuracies, and it is incorrect.”
Cllr Tarling said: “I just commend this motion the fact that we are investing in an asset for Bournemouth that goes around the world.”
He added: “Now I can proudly say as a Christchurch person I’m from Bournemouth.”
When summing up the debate, Cllr Cox responded to Cllr Dove saying: “I want to thank Councillor Dove for her contribution, and it will be looked at.”
Cll Cox added: “This is just at the start of a negotiation, and it will go back to cabinet and it will go back to council. So you do have an opportunity to come back to cabinet if you don’t like whatever it [the club] comes up with. You were entitled to go to cabinet when it first came to cabinet but there was nobody there to say anything.”
The plans were approved in a recorded vote 44-2 with two councillors abstaining.
