HUFC and the Revised ESG Masterplan

Last Tuesday ESG Herefordshire unveiled its revised Masterplan for the regeneration of Hereford at a public meeting at The Courtyard.

Jonathan Bretherton, chief executive of ESG, said: "The adoption of the Masterplan is a key step as it establishes the template for the overall Hereford regeneration project for the next 15 years, and signals the start of the detailed design and planning stages in readiness for work to start."

One of the key changes to the revised Masterplan involves Hereford United's Edgar Street football ground.

Support and advice is also available to newly promoted Division 1 club, Hereford United, and their aspirations to develop the Edgar Street stadium. Ideas being floated include making land available at the Merton Meadow end to allow the re-alignment of the pitch to make extra space available for commercial development at the Blackfriars end.

The 59 page revised masterplan document speaks of a possible start to work on the Meadow End of the ground in three to six years as part of phase two of the plan.

Included in phase three is 'redevelop the remainder of HUFC'. This phase is set to commence in five years.

Meanwhile York Council is considering helping their local football club according to reports on the Altrincham Website.

"Ruling councillors are set to agree to lend York City Football Club £2.1 million to help ease the club’s financial burden. Financial experts Deloitte have scrutinised the club’s accounts, and City of York Council’s executive will next week be asked to approve a loan. The money will allow the club to clear its debt to the Football Foundation, which was at a higher interest rate than the council loan might be.

Labour leader Coun David Scott said 'When you are spending £2.1 million, the council has to be sure that money is secure and that it’s legal to make the money available'. He said the council could invest up to £7 million in a community stadium.

---