Work to start improving the Walkers?

[City Lad]

Off foxestalk:

BY JENNY HARDCASTLE
CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER

10:30 - 31 March 2007
Pop concerts could be heading to the Walkers Stadium if councillors agree a new plan.

Leicester City Football Club wants permission to hold between six and 12 big events a year.

If the council's planning committee gives it the go-ahead next week, the club will be able to improve the stadium so it can hold such events.

The venue is safe for 32,000 football fans, but is currently unfit to host major pop concerts, as dancing in the stands could cause it to crumble.

The club wants to hold concerts for up to 25,000 people, but needs to spend about £200,000 on improvements before the events can happen.

It also wants to host international football matches and rugby matches, as well as markets on the stadium car park.

However, people who live near the stadium say they have suffered from car-parking problems for years and more events will make it worse.

A club spokesman said: "We are working closely with the city council to ensure Leicester is able to hold major concerts at the Walkers Stadium to the benefit of everyone in the city and county."

Rivals Coventry and Derby have held events featuring acts such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams. No major concerts have been performed at the Walkers Stadium, although Status Quo were lined up to play in front of 14,000 fans last year before the gig was cancelled.

Industry sources say clubs can make tens of thousands of pounds' profit from staging a major concert.

However, Kenneth Armson, who lives in nearby Sheffield Street, is among the concerned residents.

He said: "Parking is an ongoing problem. I don't want to be a killjoy, but I'd have to say we've got enough problems around here without adding to them."

The club was originally granted planning permission on the condition that it provided a minimum of 500 park-and-ride spaces.

However, it has not been able to do this permanently and has also applied to remove this condition.

The proposals will go before a planning committee on Tuesday.

Sounds good if it means we can have a few decent gigs down here.

 

[TornadoShaunUK]

Love to see Bon Jovi at the Walkers especially :thumbs_up

 

[Macky]

Love to see Bon Jovi at the Walkers especially :thumbs_up

I think you are Livin on a prayer there Shaun, but do Keep the Faith.

 

[Lako42]

so the stadium can manage 30,000 fans going wild when we score a last min winner to secure the final playoff spot on the last game of the season but it cant stand people having a little dance?

BOLLOX!!!!

 

[DesertFox]

so the stadium can manage 30,000 fans going wild when we score a last min winner to secure the final playoff spot on the last game of the season but it cant stand people having a little dance?

BOLLOX!!!!

It's true - they waived earlier safety concerns when they realized it was LCFC playing at the stadium, so little to no chance of 30,000 people all celebrating at once...

 

[DesertFox]

I think you are Livin on a prayer there Shaun, but do Keep the Faith.

I think the problem is that it's Slippery When Wet.












I'll get me coat.

 

[indierich06]

I'll get me coat.

I think that's for the best mate...

 

[fcukcov]

This has been recommended for approval as well.

check out this link http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/Published/C00000399/M00001672/AI00014250/$Committee3April20071.doc.pdf

Page 11 onwards.

However as it states that the highways consultations have not yet been returned I would expect it to be deferred until the next committe pending these reports. But you never know.