The political parties fighting for power in Newcastle have had their say on the future of St James’ Park. Candidates standing in next week’s crunch set of local elections were asked this week for their take on the ongoing debate surrounding the home of Newcastle United. Magpies fans are still waiting for the club to decide whether it will seek to expand and renovate its historic home ground or move to a new stadium.
Widespread reports have suggested that the NUFC hierarchy could look to a new development on Leazes Park, though that idea has already sparked more than 28,000 people to sign a petition against building on the grade II listed green space.
Taking readers’ questions during a special election hustings hosted by ChronicleLive, candidates from the country’s five main political parties were asked whether they would support a new or expanded football stadium if it meant building on what is Newcastle’s oldest public park.
Without any firm plans having been published yet, the election rivals were reluctant to offer concrete opinions.
Views from the parties
Nick Hartley, representing the Green Party, said a “big conversation” would be needed to get the decision right and that the city council would “need to listen to the supporters and make sure we are also protecting our green spaces”.
Karen Kilgour, currently the Labour leader of the city council, reiterated her desire for the club to stay in the city centre.
The NUFC season ticket holder, who is seeking election in Blakelaw and Cowgate, added: “We don’t have a planning application in yet, so until such time as we do it is pure conjecture. What I would say is that under my administration, under Labour, we work as closely with the club as we can to make sure it is the right proposal for the city.
“What I would also say is that I don’t want to see any development, be that on the current site or a new site, built in isolation. I think we have to look at the regeneration of the whole site, we have to look at what the opportunities are around there and how we extract the full benefit of what can happen in that area for residents across the city.”
Liberal Democrat Colin Ferguson said politicians were “grasping at fog” without knowing what the football club’s ultimate plans will be but that it was “clear” that an enhanced stadium would be fundamental to the success of NUFC.
The Gosforth councillor added: “We want to see a net gain in the green space, publicly available green space in the city so that everybody can enjoy it. Let’s see what they come out and say, but if we can unlock regeneration, if we can support economic development in the city, if we can support the club to thrive, if there is a net gain to green space in the city, let’s have a conversation.”
Reform UK’s Steven Rutherford said he wanted to see a bigger stadium, but that any plans would have to be subject to consultation.
The Denton and Westerhope candidate added that Labour had “no problem building 3,000 homes on green space in the outer west”, so should have no such issue with a football stadium. Conservative Connor Shotton, standing in Kingston Park and Dinnington, echoed calls to think hard about what would become of the existing St James’ site if a new stadium was built elsewhere and how to ensure green space is not lost.
