Two-day hearing to decide Lancs’ future starts today
A TWO-day hearing which will play a crucial part in deciding the future of Lancashire County Cricket Club begins at the Court of Appeal today.
Derwent Holdings, a property company owned by Kwik Save founder Albert Gubay, is appealing against a decision by Trafford Council last year to approve planning for a huge Tesco store as part of a £70m project incorporating the redevelopment of the club’s Old Trafford Ground.
Derwent lost an initial appeal against the decision in March and has already been refused an appeal by the planning inspector to build its own 100,000 sq ft foodstore at its nearby White City development. The proposed tenant for Derwent’s fooodstore, Sainsbury’s, has also distanced itself from Derwent’s latest appeal.
Speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com, Lancashire County Cricket Club chief executive Jim Cumbes said that he was hoping this latest legal challenge will be the last.
The hearing has been set for two days and the case has been expedited which means it will be dealt with by the end of July at the latest. It is even possible that a ruling could be handed down tomorrow.
“We’re hoping that this will be the last of it,” said Cumbes. “The case will be heard by three judges who are all planning experts and if they rule in our favour then the only way an appeal could continue would be if it were on an important point of law, or if the judges gave leave to appeal.”
“But I’ve always thought that our case was strong. I’ve been confident all along that the outcome will be in Trafford’s favour.”
He argued that there was no practical reason as to why Mr Gubay should continue with this case and said that it had already cost the club some £2m in legal fees and another £2m in grants lost as milestone payments were missed in starting construction.
The club has knocked down some outdated seating and carried out other work such as drainage and floodlight improvements. It cannot afford to begin construction, however, until it is clear of its current legal wrangle and receives the cross-subsidy from Tesco needed to fund the £32m redevelopment.
Cumbes said that work must start soon if the club is to stand any chance of becoming one of the host venues for the 2013 Ashes series.
“Without this, the North West loses international cricket after 130-odd years and as a club we need test matches to be able to support the level of activities we have. We’re not like a smaller county and we can’t just downsize.”
