Don’t leave Accies in the lurch
Appeal to board intent on quitting stadium
Councillors are urging a rethink of Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board’s (LVJB) decision to move out of Hamilton Accies’stadium.
Last month, the board decided to move to David Dale House in Blantyre from May next year in a move which would cost the Premiership club £300,000 a year and potentially impact on their work in the community.
Knowing the benefits of the preventative spend from Accies’ charitable work, two Hamilton councillors are now calling for LVJB to rethink the decision.
Labour’s Cllr Davie Mclachlan (Hamilton North and East) warned of the “severe consequences” the move could have in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “This is a critical time for businesses and organisations across Lanarkshire and every decision councils take has to be seen within the context of Covid and the uncertain times we live in.
“Withdrawing the valuation board offices from Accies, especially at this time, could have severe consequences for the club and all those organisations in our community that they work with.
“That is why Labour councillors are calling on the board to reconsider their decision and to do so as a priority. Instead of rushing to leave New Douglas Park, let’s get the board around the table with Accies to find an alternative, which works for Hamilton and the whole community.”
Hamilton West and Earnock’s Cllr Mark Mcgeever, deputy leader of the
Lib Dem group, added: “For a club its size, Accies make a huge contribution to the area.
“If the valuation board doesn’t renew its lease then the council must find ways to help Accies ensure their community work can continue.
“It’s particularly important for councils to work with local clubs now, because there’s a real risk that the pandemic’s financial impact causes a long-term loss of local activities.
“Without fans in stadiums, football clubs are suffering a massive drop in income. It’s easy to see how their community works could end up being cut back or disappear altogether.
“There’s a moral duty on all levels of government to find ways to help clubs like Accies continue their community work, despite the short-term loss of income caused by fans not being allowed into games.”
Accies’ CEO Colin Mcgowan said: “I would like to make it abundantly clear that since the current Hamilton stadium board’s arrival 18 years ago, it was always our clear understanding that the South Lanarkshire Council decision to rent the West Stand was to assist the only professional football club in Hamilton have a home for life.
“The stadium company went on to sell a piece of land to Morrisons that helped Morrisons gain planning consent and now they are big ratepayers and massive employers in the area.
“In addition to this, the stadium company invested to open a 90-place nursery as well as a gymnasium that is now a physio business. The two small business centres we have opened in the
South Stand are also both full.
“The South Stand now sees over 200 people in full-time employment and Hamilton Accies is now very much the centre of a lot that happens.
“Our charity arms work tirelessly to serve the community and what we do is too extensive to list but if the council read the documents I have sent them about the preventative spend, it tells them exactly why they should remain tenants.
“It was always our understanding they would renew the lease but if their decision is leave, so be it.
“There is cross-party support for them staying but that said, if it’s their choice to abandon the support their tenancy gives the people and the community, I personally believe it’s a betrayal of the people they claim to serve.
“As always, l H Hamilton ilt will illfi fight ht on. It’ It’s what we do best.”
The decision to move from Accies’ FOY Stadium to David Dale House was made by LVJB, which is made up of councillors from both North and South Lanarkshire.
A spokesperson for LVJB said: “At the meeting on September 7, the Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board (LVJB) approved the relocation of its offices from the North Stand, Cadzow Avenue, Hamilton to David Dale House, John Street, Blantyre.
“The current lease for the office space at the Hamilton Academical Football Club Stadium Ltd runs until May 26, 2021 so with the end of the lease approaching, LVJB’S management team worked with the council’s Property Services team and decided the most suitable accommodation was at David Dale House in Blantyre.”