Pirates consider short term stadium solution

CORNISH Pirates chairman Paul Durkin says there are alternative plans to build a smaller Stadium for Cornwall should the arena fail to get central government funding.

The project – which will house both the Pirates and Truro City Football Club – has applied for £14m to add to the £11m already raised to build a 10,000-capacity stadium in Truro.

Durkin says that should the extra funding not be granted, a 6,000-capacity venue could be built.

“There is funding there to put a smaller stadium up with temporary stands and things like that which would hold 6,000,” Durkin said. “That will not survive long term, but it’s something that we could build on providing we were able to get confirmation that further funding was available.”

Plans for the stadium were first approved in July 2015 but have been delayed over various funding issues.

Pirates bought Truro City in April 2019 but the football club is currently without a home after their Treyew Road ground was sold to developers in anticipation of a move to a new stadium – they are playing their home games in Plymouth, 55 miles away.

“We need to bring them back to Truro, to the stadium, as soon as possible,” Durkin added.

“We’re trying to consider whether or not we’re able to start off with something there that’s temporary where we’ve got the pitch and the floodlights and temporary accommodation and changing rooms, and then building it out.

“Our hope is that we will start building early next year, providing we get the funding.”

A 6,000-capacity ground would not meet criteria for promotion to the Premiership, but Durkin says it would still be a step forward. “If you’ve got a capacity of 6,000 that’s pretty good for the Championship,” he said.

“It wasn’t that long ago that the Pirates were playing at Kenwyn and we had 6,000 on a couple of occasions at those games.

“So if you’ve got more people attending the funding is still coming in, it attracts bigger sponsors.”