Maidenhead United to take legal action over council's stadium decision

Maidenhead United has announced it is preparing to take legal action against the council over the decision to block the club’s proposed new stadium at Braywick Park.

The National League club has been hoping to move from its historic York Road home to a new purpose-built ground on nine acres of open space at Braywick.

The Magpies struck a deal to buy the land from the council for £460,000 in April 2022.

But the new Lib Dem administration decided to block the release of the open space at a cabinet meeting in July, citing concerns over the protection of green space in addition to public objections over 'destructing MUFC's heritage' by allowing the club to leave York Road.

A petition, signed by more than 1,000 people, has since been set up calling for the council to reconsider its decision.

Maidenhead United released a statement on Friday confirming it is now preparing to launch legal action against the council.

The statement, titled Time for Action, said: “We have clearly been let down by the new council administration, which chose to discard our proposals without meeting their obligation to the club or local residents to consider the benefits of a new community stadium with associated astroturfs, athletics, futsal, disabled sport and wellbeing facilities will deliver for the community.

“Furthermore, they failed to recognise or consider that the new stadium facilities would be held independently, in trust, for the benefit of the community and would be delivered and maintained in the long term at no cost to the Council.

The statement added: “In terms of the club's next steps, we have taken legal advice regarding the council’s contractual obligations to the club, which they have not met.

“Given this failure and the continued lack of formal communication with us, at this stage, we have no alternative but to take legal action against the council for breach of contract.

“Accordingly, we have asked our legal advisors to commence preparing the case.

“Our hope is that the matter can be resolved without the requirement for legal action and we remain committed to working with RBWM to achieve a positive outcome.”

The club said it still requires new and improved stadium and club facilities in Maidenhead and is facing waiting lists for its junior football teams due to a lack of available all-weather pitches.

It added that its women and futsal teams are having to play fixtures outside of the borough due to a lack of suitable facilities in Maidenhead.

The club also described the current athletics facilities at Braywick Park as 'inadequate' which is limiting Maidenhead Athletic Club's potential to grow and improve.

In a statement provided to the Advertiser on Tuesday (October 17), 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 of this important matter, and receiving a full and detailed report, Cabinet decided that the loss of public 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.

“The debate and decision by Cabinet was recorded in the minutes and this is publicly available.”