Basingstoke Town FC is facing growing pressure to rethink plans for a new stadium over fears it will create parking misery for nearby residents.
Eastrop councillors have united in condemning proposals for the club to move from the Camrose to a new 5,000-capacity stadium behind the Hilton Hotel off Old Common Road in Black Dam.
Results from one of the club’s public consultations, seen by the Observer, show that more than half of residents living near to the proposed site are against the plans, fearing fans’ cars will clog up residential streets on match days.
But club chairman Rafi Razzak dismissed the concerns, saying measures would be put in place to help curb congestion around the stadium.
Following the Dragon’s December announcement that they intend to move base, the club launched three public consultations, at the Camrose in Brighton Hill, St Mary’s Church Hall in Eastrop and at Festival Place, Basingstoke.
Of the 236 combined responses to the surveys, 64 per cent were in favour of the move, 31 per cent were against and five were undecided.
But the Eastrop consultation on December 15, showed that 57 per cent were firmly against the move, with 39 per cent in favour and four per cent undecided.
Eastrop councillors Stuart Parker and Gavin James said they cannot back the plans.
Cllr Parker said: “We can’t support the relocation to that site. We are not in any way saying they should stay where they are. We understand the pressures on the club, we understand the desires of club, but then, having said that, we have got to look at the local community.”
Grove ward councillor Ron Hussey has published results of an independent survey distributed to 2,000 homes in Eastrop and Kings Furlong.
Of the 170 responses, 65 per cent were against the plans, 20 per cent were in favour and 15 per cent were concerned about the move. Concerns cited included poor parking provision, increased traffic along London Road and the loss of green space.
The club has said that the £10m move, which would end the 127-year-old club’s 60-year history at the Camrose, is vital if the club is to climb the league tables. Up to 280 parking spaces are proposed at the stadium.
Addressing the concerns, chairman Rafi Razzak said the club will look at providing town centre shuttle buses and opening up parking at nearby Costello Technology College.
He said: “As far as we are concerned, we believe that car parking is a surmountable issue. We are fully convinced parking concerns will be mitigated. We are taking into consideration all the issues that came out of the consultations. We’ve listened to all the concerns that have been raised and will reflect on what we’ve been told.
“This is a community stadium, it is to be used by the community. Football is only played once or twice a week at the maximum, but the majority of the time we need to make sure it is used by the community and, hopefully, it will benefit the community.”
