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Club plan to save football stadium - COMMENT ON THIS STORY
SCARBOROUGH Town FC are hoping to bring football back to the disused Athletic Ground in Seamer Road, if the bid to save the under-threat club is successful.
In a statement released by the club's committee, it was claimed that council officials had said a possibility that football could return to the ground still exists.
After they won the Wearside League last season, Town attempted to take the step-up to the Northern Counties League, but a lack of floodlights at their Pindar ground meant their application was rejected, leaving their future in the balance.
However club officials hope that plans can be still be submitted to the council which would resurrect the stadium, if they are able to join another league in time for the new season.
The statement says: "We have been actively involved in exploring other avenues as a footballing home for Scarborough Town FC and the young footballing talent of our town.
"We were encouraged by Scarborough Borough Council officials that there was an opportunity to restore the site of the Athletic Ground on Seamer Road to football usage again.
"Figures to make the Athletic Ground usable were worked out and were well below those issued by Scarborough Borough Council."
The site, formerly the home of Scarborough FC, has been shut since June 2007. After protracted negotiations, the council bought the ground for 1.335 million in December 2008. Since then it has lain dormant, and been plagued by arson attacks and vandalism.
The chances of football ever being played at the ground, formerly known as the McCain Stadium, are thought to be slim.
The council have previously discussed demolishing the stadium, although it is hoped that newer parts could be salvaged and transferred to a new venue.
Hilary Jones, the council's strategic director, denied that the local authority had encouraged the club to submit proposals and said the focus was very much on developing a sports village at Weaponness coach park.
"We have been approached several times by Scarborough Town, and our response has been the same," she said.
"We will listen to proposals but we have to consider legal and financial issues, as well as where they sit with our commitment for a sports village."
"This has gone on since November, and no one has come back to us. There are a lot of different issues with the Seamer Road site. We're not encouraging anyone. All talks have been very informal.
"I can say we are moving forward with the sports village. It's progressing well and we're very optimistic we can provide a sustainable project that provides for the whole community."
The sports village, which it is hoped will be open within five years, could include a swimming pool, a sports hall, outdoor pitches and community, health and education facilities.
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
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