Have your say on plan for Sharks’ new home
PEOPLE can now have their say on Sale Sharks’ plans for a new stadium in their home town.
The first phase of public consultation for a potential community sports village at Crossford Bridge playing fields has now launched.
The company behind the proposals, Crossford Futures, is encouraging the local community and the surrounding area to have their say in an online questionnaire over the next few weeks, until July 13. The plans for a new stadium, which the Sharks hope to move into, would allow the rugby union side to return home for the first time in almost 20 years. They currently play in Salford at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Crossford Futures said the aim is to protect, champion and support the local grassroots clubs that are already using Crossford Bridge for their training and matches.
Sale United Football Club, Sale Harriers Athletics Club and Old Altrinchamians Football Club currently use the site and they, along with Crossford Futures, issued a joint statement last week indicating all parties are now in talks about the plans. The hope is for all parties to get an input going forward, so solutions that everyone is happy with can be found. But the proposals are already causing concern in Sale, with those living nearby worried about the loss of much loved green space in the area.
Other concerns include the potential increase in pollution, traffic issues and the environmental impact of the plans – one family who only moved to Sale last year even said they wouldn’t have gone ahead with the move if they’d known these plans were in the pipeline.
More than 3,000 people have signed petition against the plans set up last week.
Crossford Futures said the early vision is for a multi-purpose sports village that provides improved facilities for future generations and enhances the current offering for local residents, sports and wellbeing clubs.
The community stadium that could become the Sharks’ new home would also be made available for local clubs, schools, businesses and the wider community. Now, people can express their views, thoughts and concerns about the plans directly with the company behind them and there will be a second phase of consultation in the autumn ahead of a possible planning application later this year.
● You can access the online questionnaire at www.crossfordbridge. co.uk.