Council Say No To Maidstone's Ground Plans

The Stones have significantly improved their stadium over the years since it was opened in 2012 at the cost of £2.8m, with a 3G pitch installed.

Over £5m has been put into the club following three promotions in four years which has helped put the club at the heart of the community in Kent's county town.

But plans to increase the stadium's capacity to 5,000 - required by the Football League - have been scuppered with the local council refusing to sell a two metre wide area that is landlocked between the stadium and a path.

Gutted co-owner Terry Casey said: “This is a big disappointment as we have been in discussion and negotiation with the council for almost a year. It means we will have to produce yet more drawings and calculations and it may jeopardise our application to be allowed to compete in the play-offs and ultimately to be eligible to join the Football League.

“The football club went to great lengths to offer a fair market price but Maidstone Borough Council, despite agreeing the land is surplus to requirements, insisted that they would only offer a lease agreement, as they deemed the strip to be ‘strategic’ and wanted to retain control.

“We explained at length and in detail that the Gallagher Stadium site is already saddled with numerous legal charges, covenants, easements, wayleaves and clawbacks. Each time we want to secure a grant or modify the use the legal and administrative costs are prohibitive.

“If we were to agree to a lease we would always be at the mercy of the council and it would make it impossible to raise financing for the future. We don’t feel that this is a fair and reasonable position for the club to be put into. It is deeply disappointing in terms of trust and support that the officers said they disagreed with our arguments.

“Regrettably it appears, yet again, that Maidstone Borough Council does not understand or appreciate what Maidstone United Football Club means to the town. We urge them to reconsider and are lobbying for the freehold sale option to be given due consideration.”

Cllr David Pickett, Chairman of the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee, said: “We are supportive of Maidstone United’s expansion plans however there is nothing in the Council’s proposed course of action that prevents the club from pursuing further development.

"The only issue is that the land the football club plans to use has been identified as strategic due to its location near the river and towpath. The Council has a Disposal of Land Policy to protect its assets and the security of land and we are following this policy.

"A report was brought to committee on the 31 October and a majority vote was made by councillors to uphold the recommendation to offer the land under a 99 year lease agreement.”

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