Stadium proposals are given thumbs down by ramblers

12:14pm Tuesday 4th March 2008

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PROPOSALS for a multi-million-pound football stadium have been criticised by ramblers who fear footpaths will be disrupted.

David Harvey, Ramblers' Association Countryside Secretary for Braintree District, said the group was "unhappy" about the plans for a new 6,000-capacity stadium for Braintree Town, off Pod's Brook Road, Braintree, and a 500-home development to finance it.

Mr Harvey claimed footpaths surrounding the site proposed for a new stadium would be breached by a road for cars and coaches to get into the complex which would "completely alter" the character of the area.

He added the Flitch Way, a linear country park, would be affected by more people walking along it as it passes next door to the site.

But Lee Harding, chairman of Braintree football club, said there would not be any disturbance to footpaths along the land where the stadium would be located, adding they would be incorporated or redirected.

He said: "With the football club we are looking at improving pedestrian access at Pod's Brook Road as there is no pavement.

"My own preference would be for people to use public transport to come to the ground and there's a bus that comes from the town centre.

"Also for the foreseeable future for those who come by car there are plans for 450 car park spaces there. The impact on the Flitch Way in my personal view is that it would be minimal."

He added: "If it's a public right of way the public have a right to use it."

Mr Harvey also said west Braintree already suffers badly from light pollution and another set of floodlights at the new stadium would make things much worse.