Southend Council’s cabinet will recommend to Full Council that a resolution made over three years ago to compulsory purchase land at Roots Hall is withdrawn.
The CPO resolution was agreed on 1st March 2012 but the order has never been made because Roots Hall Limited and Sainsbury’s have not entered into the required indemnity agreement or wanted the council to proceed.
Cllr Ron Woodley, Leader of the Council, says: “The council wholeheartedly backs the Football Club’s ambitions to move to a new stadium and this does not represent any change in that approach. However three and half years have passed and circumstances have changed, so it is only right that we re-consider the Roots Hall CPO status.
“Unfortunately, little progress has been made on the original proposal for a new stadium scheme at Fossetts Farm, the original permission has expired and the section 106 agreement has not been completed some two years after the Development Control Committee last considered the matter.
“We also have to consider that the latest proposals announced by the Club for a new stadium at Fossetts Farm are apparently no longer dependent on the redevelopment of Roots Hall, at least for phase one. Most importantly there is the potential for owners of properties affected by the CPO resolution to allege their properties are being blighted, and we must therefore take a reasonable approach to the matter.
“In light of all of these factors, there no longer seems to be a compelling case to justify the compulsory acquisition of the remaining properties in Victoria Avenue and the Prospects site in Fairfax Drive.
“However, if circumstances change, then of course, a report can be brought back for Cabinet to consider.”
The CPO resolution was agreed on 1st March 2012 but the order has never been made because Roots Hall Limited and Sainsbury’s have not entered into the required indemnity agreement or wanted the council to proceed.
Cllr Ron Woodley, Leader of the Council, says: “The council wholeheartedly backs the Football Club’s ambitions to move to a new stadium and this does not represent any change in that approach. However three and half years have passed and circumstances have changed, so it is only right that we re-consider the Roots Hall CPO status.
“Unfortunately, little progress has been made on the original proposal for a new stadium scheme at Fossetts Farm, the original permission has expired and the section 106 agreement has not been completed some two years after the Development Control Committee last considered the matter.
“We also have to consider that the latest proposals announced by the Club for a new stadium at Fossetts Farm are apparently no longer dependent on the redevelopment of Roots Hall, at least for phase one. Most importantly there is the potential for owners of properties affected by the CPO resolution to allege their properties are being blighted, and we must therefore take a reasonable approach to the matter.
“In light of all of these factors, there no longer seems to be a compelling case to justify the compulsory acquisition of the remaining properties in Victoria Avenue and the Prospects site in Fairfax Drive.
“However, if circumstances change, then of course, a report can be brought back for Cabinet to consider.”
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