Tory raps Euro-MP's stadium revival bid

Continued attempts to save Cannock's derelict athletics stadium will hold back leisure and sports progress in the district, a Conservative councillor has claimed.

Labour MEP Michael Cashman wrote to Lib Dem/Tory-controlled Cannock Chase Council earlier this month saying he would try to obtain European cash to bring the facility, closed last summer, back into use. But council leaders branded the suggestion as unrealistic, and now Councillor Ann Bernard has criticised Mr Cashman.

She said Mr Cashman was looking to the past instead of planning for the future, and criticised Labour for undertaking a sustained campaign to prevent the people of Cannock from obtaining the type and standard of leisure facilities that they need and deserve.

"The stadium was the public facility least used by Cannock residents," she said.

"Chase Leisure Centre has far more groups using it, so does the Prince of Wales Centre.

"Cannock people's health is below the UK average and it is our aim to rectify that. Saving a stadium that only a small minority use is not going to achieve that goal.

Councillor Bernard added: "We need a new centre with swimming pool, football pitches and fitness rooms that is used by all age groups seven days a week, not a stadium used on two or three nights.

"Money raised by the sale of the stadium would have replaced Chase Leisure Centre with up to date sports facilities and the Prince of Wales Centre would have been replaced with an up to date theatre.

"Because of the Labour Party's sustained campaign, all those plans are now on the back-burner."

Labour group leader, Councillor Doug Thomas, said: "We are opposed in principle to the closing of the stadium. If they had listened to us we wouldn't be in this situation."