Wednesday July 17, 2024
AS we approach six months since the Inspector refused the Brandon Estates appeal over planning permission, we felt it was an appropriate time to issue an update to supporters.

The appeal was dismissed on January 19, and you may remember that the applicants were then given a period of six weeks to launch a High Court challenge, which could only be on the grounds of procedure.

This six-week period expired with no challenge from the applicants, rendering that stage of the process as finalised, and the planning application effectively dead.

Since that time, the political landscape has changed dramatically both locally and nationally, and supporters have naturally been asking whether that affects our position or our prospects.

We’re pleased to say that it does not. Taking local issues into account firstly, in early June there was a change of leadership at Rugby Borough Council, with Labour now governing with support from the Liberal Democrats via a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement.

Councillor Michael Moran was elected as the new Leader, and we have been in contact with him for the last two years as he has consistently shown a proactive desire to resolve the issue of Brandon.

We would like to welcome him to his position, and we hope to forge a strong working relationship with him, as we were able to with previous Leaders Michael Stokes and Sebastian Lowe.

Both locally and nationally, Brandon should not be regarded as a political issue and the important factor is that there is cross-party support for its return as a sports venue.

This is confirmed in the Rugby Labour manifesto, which states:

“By 2035 a Labour-led council would ensure that health services meet population needs and that Rugby and the villages have thriving commercial centres where key buildings and venues, such as St Andrews Church and Brandon Stadium, are maintained with pride.”

Naturally we were delighted to see this commitment in the manifesto, and we look forward to working with the Council to make it happen – and whilst the manifesto spans the period up to 2035, we do know there is a desire for it to be delivered as soon as possible.

We would also like to place on record our thanks to outgoing Rugby MP Mark Pawsey for his steadfast support and assistance over the years. Mark was always prepared to meet us in his constituency, and of course he also tabled the key question to ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the Commons after the inquiry had concluded.

We were also regularly in touch with Conservative candidate Yousef Dahmash, who worked alongside Mark, and have no doubt he would have offered similar support had the party retained the seat at the General Election.

As things turned out, Labour were successful in Rugby and we congratulate John Slinger on his victory.
John was, of course, a member of the planning committee which originally rejected the Brandon Estates application, and he also spoke most powerfully at the inquiry in favour of the retention of the stadium, so we are sure we will continue to enjoy the support of Rugby’s MP.

With the political landscape now resolved, and the various purdah periods now at an end, we look forward to confirming dates for the meetings we require to move things forward.

We will also be submitting further representations on the latest review of the Rugby Local Plan, as the Council had concluded in December 2022 that updates would be required.

In the case of Brandon it is clear that the situation has not changed, and we believe that an update to the Local Plan is an opportunity to re-affirm that position and secure further protection for the site.

Whilst we appreciate that it is frustrating when time passes with no updates, please rest assured that we continue to put considerable time and effort into this, and we are still doing all we can to secure the outcome that we all desire.

It was essential that we put maximum focus into the inquiry last year, and the fact that it was dismissed, followed by the political situation now being resolved, does mean we can move to the next stage, and we will keep everyone in touch whenever possible.

Thanks for all your continued support.