Court date is a "day of destiny" for Lancs, says Cumbes
LANCASHIRE County Cricket Club’s (LCCC) long-running battle with Albert Gubay’s property firm Derwent Holdings is set for a showdown at the Court of Appeal on July 4.
LCCC chief executive Jim Cumbes has said that the date of the hearing is the most crucial in the club’s 153-year history as it battles to progress with ground improvements and maintain Old Trafford’s test status.
“It’s a real day of destiny,” he said. “The future prospects for the club will rest on the decision, make no mistake.
“We are confident of winning and bringing to an end a protracted legal process which has been draining the club financially and preventing us from transforming our ageing ground and facilities.”
A Public Inquiry into Trafford Council’s decision to grant planning permission to a £70m scheme that includes a redeveloped Old Trafford cricket ground, new sports facilities and a huge new 155,00 sq ft Tesco store upheld the local authority’s decision in March.
Derwent Holdings, which had its application to build a 100,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s superstore at the nearby White City retail park rejected during the same planning meeting, has subsequently appealed against the review’s verdict.
The club. however, has already begun work at the stadium on the basis that its planning consent is in place. For new 53m high floodlights are being erected and will be completed by the 20-20 match with India in August.
Cumbes is also confident that the ground can be completed on time for it to be considered by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as a venue for the 2013 Ashes series.
He added: “Mr Gubay’s own plan for a rival food store at White City has been rejected by the planning authority and a public inquiry. His latest challenge seems a pointless exercise, but it is creating huge uncertainty for us due to its financial implications.”
“It is still not too late for Mr Gubay to drop this further legal challenge, and I urge him to in the interests of cricket and the whole sporting community of the Northwest.”
