Petition calls for council to reconsider decision over Maidenhead United stadium move

A petition calling for the council to reconsider its decision to block Maidenhead United’s stadium move to Braywick Park has been signed by more than 500 people.

The National League club, currently situated in York Road has had long-term ambitions of a move to Braywick Park and in April 2022 reached an agreement with the council to buy a nine-acre site at the park for £460,000.

However, plans were later stopped in their tracks when cabinet members agreed at a meeting on July 27 to block the release of open space, effectively ending the club’s ground-switch hopes.

Magpies supporter Shay Bottomley has now launched an e-petition titled ‘Move Us or Lose Us’, calling for cabinet to review the decision it took in July.

He told the Advertiser: “Cabinet’s decision on July 27, in my opinion, was the wrong one.

“The Liberal Democrat/Independent coalition only considered the drawbacks, effectively ignoring the huge benefits that Maidenhead United’s proposals brought with them: a new, much-needed community sports hub at no cost to the council, allowing the club to continue its fantastic work both on and off the pitch while providing residents with new sporting facilities.

“With all other avenues exhausted, I decided to launch my petition in the hope cabinet would reconsider its decision.”

Shay, a former reporter at the Advertiser, added: “It’s going very well. We amassed more than 200 signatures in the first five hours, but it’s important to keep the signatures coming so we can highlight just how popular the club’s proposals are.”

Councillor Joshua Reynolds, cabinet member for communities and leisure, said: “I think the decision that cabinet came to was a balanced decision.

“我们是开放的,我们真的想Maidenhea一起工作d United in a positive and constructive way to work out the next steps and the way forwards.

“But obviously if there is a petition that does come to us, then we will have to consider it as we normally would, taking everything into account.”

A council spokesperson said: “Cabinet carefully considered the proposed disposal of open space at Braywick Park in July, taking into account the benefits, alongside any negative consequences of loss of public open space, having regard to the objections received. After giving full consideration to both sides and receiving a full and detailed report, cabinet decided that the loss of open space in this location outweighed the potential benefits of leasing to Maidenhead Utd FC.

“This was a difficult decision, based on significant considerations raised in the public objections.”

Maidenhead United chairman Peter Griffin said the club is ‘very supportive’ of the petition and added that ‘it seems to be getting a lot of traction.

“I think overall it’s a good thing, whether it will lead to anything I’m not sure, but the point is at least it keeps the debate going there that’s about what can we do with the football club in the long-term.”

Visit:https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=2185&RPID=10540556&HPID=10540556to view the petition.