Musings: Maidenhead at its best when both these clubs are thriving

Shortly after the Lib Dems took charge of the council three months ago,I warned it would only be a matter of timebefore a decision was made that brought the honeymoon period to a screeching halt.

All of those in a position of power must, eventually, make a divisive choice – one which will be debated for months and years to come and even entrench some voters’ opinions all the way through to the next election.

That time has come.

The cabinet meeting on Thursday, July 27 was a big moment for the new administration.

Finally, and inevitably, a decision was made to tear downBroadway car park, while there was a (welcome) honest discussion on thefinancial realities facing the council.

These issues are not exactly good news for the borough, but few could have any complaints that they are being addressed and the necessary action is being taken.

Then there is theMaidenhead United decision. In my decade plus at the Advertiser, I have rarely encountered an issue that splits public opinion as much as the Magpies’ proposed move to Braywick Park.

Whatever cabinet decided, there would have been an outcry.

Many of the club’s fans who were initially sceptical about leaving the historic York Road ground are now fully on board with the project.

But elsewhere there have been dissenting voices who fear a loss of open space and say Braywick is not the right place for a new stadium –most notably Maidenhead Rugby Club.

At the Advertiser, we have a positive relationship with both the football and rugby club going back decades.

It is no secret we have commercial partnerships with both of them and, editorially, we aim to give comprehensive coverage to their efforts on the pitch.

In our latest edition, we have a long-planned supplement on Maidenhead United’s latest National League campaign, and we have plenty planned for our coverage of the rugby club throughout the season.

It has always been our stance that sporting success – and I am not just talking about victories on the pitch – is crucial to a thriving town.

I am well aware of the strength of feeling surrounding the Braywick move, so our aim has always been to take a step back and present the full range of perspectives on the issue.

It is a stance that has not always made us popular with supporters on either side, but it is the right one to take.

Perhaps inevitably, the strength of feeling on both sides has boiled over in recent weeks, with fans taking to Facebook and Twitter to engage in lengthy and often heated debates over the pros and cons of the proposals.

Whatever the eventual outcome for Maidenhead United – and this is a matter that is far from over – the divisions this has formed between passionate supporters on both sides look unlikely to heal anytime soon.

The sad reality is that it will be a miracle if a solution can ever be found that truly satisfies all parties.

But what remains clear is that Maidenhead is at its best when both these historic clubs are thriving.

Hopefully we will one day reach a point where moments of high drama, joy and despair are only seen on the pitch, rather than off it.