League Express this week runs a piece saying Salford Council believe stadium is still on course. However, the Councils Planning Department have said that the Government may pull in the stadium project for consideration as a result of the massive spending cuts that were announced in the budget.
The usual rhetoric about the stadium being on track for the start of the 2012 season (although in reality it is way behind where St Helens are so has to catch up in my opinion to make that start date). Remedial work is currently underway at the Barton site (Has been for 18 months I think so iI hope they build it a little faster). A detailed planning application will be submitted to the Council in August (so sill some level of beaurocracy to get though, I dont know if they have put the tender out to choose the building contractor yet!).
I also wonder if the Governments scrapping of the North West Development Agency will have any impact as my understanding was that they were also putting in funding to develop the stadium.
This is far from a done deal in my opinion.
I think the money from the NWDA has already been allocated to the Stadium? I had sight of an email yesterday which mentioned a list of Projects to be affected by the latest cuts. It wasn't on that list so suggests that it if that money hasn't been allocated yet it won't be affected.
I think your right though it is far from a done deal. I've read on the Salford forum a post that the Final Design "is being finalised" and another had heard that a Contractor had been appointed. They still think the contract will be awarded by October and they will be on site! I think they are being overly optimistic tbh.
Trust in Widnes
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