By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 12:41, Thursday, 01 October 2009

Whitehaven have no plans to take up an offer to discuss a move to a proposed new £23 million super stadium in the town

The proposed design for the stadium

Plans were unveiled today for a 14,000 capacity stadium at the Cumbria Sports Academy, at Hensingham, with the hope of attracting top-class rugby league and international athletics.

But Haven are fully-committed to a rival multi-million-pound scheme, at Pow Beck, incorporating the Recreation Ground, which would meet Super League standards.

They say they have not been approached about the proposed alternative development.

Haven director Cath Giel, who is also a deputy leader of Copeland Council, said there was no room for two new stadiums in the town.

She said: “I can’t comment on the Hensingham scheme because I am not aware of what they are proposing. However, I can say that there is insufficient funding available, both public and private sector, to finance two potentially competing facilities.

“It has always been the intention that the Pow Beck Sports Village will be a community-wide facility with close engagement and involvement of local schools. In addition, the edge-of-town location of Pow Beck Valley brings the added benefits of economic and social regeneration.

“The Pow Beck Valley scheme is part of the Energy Coast Masterplan and therefore has strategic priority over similar-type projects elsewhere.”

Jackie Reid, chairman of the trust that runs the Sports Academy, said of the new development plan at Hensingham: “If everything comes to fruition, and it could be in the next three years, Whitehaven will be able to boast one of the finest community sports stadiums in the north of England.

“We hope Whitehaven Rugby League Club, the council and others will see the merits of our scheme and join in with us.”

The Sports Academy proposal incorporates a competition-standard swimming pool, a four-court badminton hall, gym, internal and external climbing walls, two dance studios and a shop with a 264-seater cafeteria overlooking the pool. Plus full business, conference, exhibition and media facilities.

But Geil, Copeland’s executive member for strategic development, said she was “very surprised and extremely disappointed” to first learn of the new plan through the press.

“The Pow Beck Valley scheme has been on the cards for a number of years and we are now proactively pursuing funding to enable delivery,” she said.

Fellow Haven director Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for the environment and transport, had also been unaware of the new proposal.

“The major funding organisations are looking at Pow Beck,” he said.

The trustees of the Sports Academy at Hensingham, formerly known as Copeland Athletics Stadium, engaged a leading firm of Manchester architects to draw up the plans.

Trustees were gifted the land for £1 by BNFL in 1999 and one of them, former Haven, Workington Town and Barrow RL star Tommy Thompson, said: “The ultimate aim is to have a Super League stadium fit for purpose for any team in Cumbria.

“I think this is what most fans want. We are offering a great opportunity and the stadium we have designed, with 14,000 capacity with at least 8,000 seats, certainly meets all the Super League criteria for playing matches and spectators.

“We are not in the business of mergers between clubs.

“It would have to be a new team playing here, a Cumbrian one rather than, say, Whitehaven, Workington or Barrow.”

First published at 11:34, Thursday, 01 October 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk