Football club steps nearer to goal

PLANS for Rotherham United FC to create a new community stadium have taken a major step forward.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s cabinet agreed officers’ recommendation that the council buy the land needed at the Guest & Chrimes site between the River Don and Centenary Way.

The stadium will stand next to the council’s own new civic offices, now under construction at Guest & Chrimes just outside the town centre.

The club has been playing at neighbouring Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium after having to quit its former home in Rotherham when terms could not be agreed with the ground’s owner.

The new plans would see the council buying the 10.85 acres from Evans of Leeds, which has cleared and prepared the site for development.

The council and Evans hope to conclude the deal early this month, when the official scrutiny period expires.

Those, together with the recently announced deal with Anglo-Dutch developer TCN UK for the former civic, other council properties and Forge Island, represent major  progress for Rotherham Renaissance – the scheme that is regenerating the town centre.

Karl Battersby, the council’s strategic director of environment  and development services, said:  “It’s a good deal all round. Good for the people of Rotherham, good for the club, and good for the future prosperity of the borough. Among other things, it could mean a lot more business for town centre companies.

“But most immediately it’s good for Millers’ fans – realising their dreams of bringing the club home. Having your home club on home ground – that’s important to a community.”

He added: “We just want to get on now, together with the club and Evans, with the job of bringing Rotherham United back to Rotherham.”