Cowdenbeath’s vision of moving to a new Community based Stadium remains in limbo after Fife Council decided to defer the decision on a rival project for consultation with SportScotland. The Blue Brazil are looking to relocate to a purpose-built community stadium in the Broad Street area of the Fife town with their home for the last 94 years, Central Park transformed into a housing development and retail site.
A separate planning application from Vico Ltd to construct a supermarket in the North End Park area was in front of local councillors last Thursday and it should it have been approved, the Cowden project would no longer be viable.
Business advisor to the First Division’s club Board, Neil Ferguson advised, “The Vico decision was deferred as there is a legally bound process to consult with Sportscotland regarding proposed sport facilities at Lumphanan and they have 14 days to respond.”
“The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for May 18 and we would wish another deferral to be taken at that point to allow for both the Vico project and the Cowdenbeath FC one to be considered at the same time as our one will not been in front of the Council until the summer. We strongly feel that it is important that both projects are considered together on their merits to ensure that any decision taken is in the best interests of the people of Cowdenbeath and the surrounding areas."
The townspeople are getting behind the club with Ferguson adding, “We believe that Fife Council are in favour of recommending the Vico development, however we have collected more than 500 signatures on a petition in support of the one that will give the football club a new home and the town a community based sports facility.”
As well as the economic and environmental benefits that the Central Park redevelopment would bring, the club anticipate that the new stadium would act as a hub for a range of community activities and would assist with meeting many social goals including increasing participation in sport, increasing learning opportunities and reducing crime.
Ferguson added, "The new stadium would incorporate a community sports academy and it is projected that over 1,500 people would use the sporting and learning facilities every week. The new facility would increase the social and economic opportunities for the people of Cowdenbeath.”
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