Stadium plans receive crushing vote

4:10pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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A huge 91 per cent of readers have rejected plans for a new Braintree Town football stadium and housing.

Hundreds of people have taken part in the Braintree and Witham Times referendum on proposals for a 6,000-capacity stadium in Pod's Brook Road, Braintree, and 500 new homes off Rayne Road in Braintree.

Opponents said the outcome was "brilliant" and showed public opinion was against the development, but The Iron remained confident it was wanted and it would go ahead.

Kevin Fenn, 26, a technical consultant of Springfields, who is behind the group Save Our Fields Today, said the result was "great news."

He said: "I thought the majority of people would be in support of the stadium as that's good for the community, but the way it's being funded isn't - through the housing.

"I wasn't sure if people were looking at it from both sides, but I think people have looked at it intelligently.

"It's a very large percentage so I think it will help the campaign no end and it shows public opinion is against this development."

And Jayn Lone, a mother-of-one of Guernsey Way, said: "If it's a significant sample then that result is excellent and I hope we get lots more support when we continue the fight with planning. It shows Braintree doesn't want to see the destruction of the countryside."

Lee Harding, chairman of Braintree Town, said he did not believe the result represented public opinion on the issue.

He said: "Of course we are going to carry on and I think the result of this poll will have no relevance to be honest.

"What will be massive is if we get the support of our local authority with our planning application."

And Gordon Humphris, chairman of the supporters' club, said he was a little "surprised" by the outcome, but it depended on who took the trouble to vote and would be interested to know where they came from.

"The people in north, south and east Braintree would not be bothered either way unless they are a football fan," he said.

Braintree MP Brooks Newmark said he could understand why people were against the housing, but he thought people were enthusiastic for a new stadium.

Wayne Gold, managing director of WG Developments, who have been working on the plans with The Iron, was unavailable for comment.