Relocation - LLSC speaks out

In an article published on the LLSC website the fans group sets out its view on the location of the much-needed new stadium:

'We can and should never forget our roots and the fact that LTFC has been an integral part of the community since 1885. However, at the same time we are fully cognisant that if we want to continue playing at a high level then the situation surrounding Kenilworth Road means we have to move and develop a new fully-serviced stadium to take advantage of our income potential. We view the owners of LTFC as custodians of the FC for the fans and as such they have a responsibility to act in the best interests of both the FC and the fans. Therefore when looking to move LTFC away from Kenilworth Road the Board should be regularly seeking and undertaking independent professional advice when entering fields they have insufficient expertise or experience while also frequently consulting the fans to understand their needs and demands.

As part of this process we have for long felt that a fully independent feasibility study would cover many of the concerns of the fans and address many of the issues regarding certain sites and also publicly highlight advantages and barriers to all potential sites within the town and surrounding area thereby ensuring complete transparency which would then lead to everyone (the Board, the fans, local Councillors, MPs etc.) importantly getting fully behind and supporting the same project.

We also have to consider the adverse sociological impact as well as the more obvious economical effect on local businesses of the FC moving out of the town. As an example there are already huge concerns across the nation of obesity amongst the young population and by detaching the single most powerful attraction of youth into sporting activity in Luton there is a dangerous trigger which would work against current Central and Local Government policy.

Since the summer of 2005 Loyal Luton has been having regular meetings with Board members and shareholders of the Football Club expressing many concerns etc. that its members have linked to the plans to move the Club out of the town. Aside from this LLSC has also been initiating and subsequently maintaining regular contact with leading Councillors and Council officials of both Luton Borough Council and South Beds District Council, local MPs, key land owners around the town, several influential and prominent local + national property professionals (developers, constructors and investors), leading national academic experts on matters directly impacted by such an out-of-town development, supporters groups from other football clubs as well as numerous experienced and successful businessmen.

This has enabled LLSC to form a well-founded opinion and also provide the greatest amount of transparency possible to the entire fan-base to ensure that all can see and decide whether the current Board is making the decision that will ultimately provide LTFC with the brightest and most sustainable future for fans of all generations to come.

On the back of the information received to-date and with all things being equal it remains the strong preference of LLSC for LTFC to stay within the boundaries of the town.'

In a letter to this week's Luton News the Group has also criticised Luton Borough Council Leader David Franks for the Council's lack of support regarding stadium relocation and, in particular, for disregarding the possibility of a new stadium being relocated as part of government plans for a major extension of the town to the north-west - see link below:

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Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.