Sent mine to john trickett and he sent it to mr box got a reply this week saying this quote,"can I start by saying that I share the concerns of your constituents and feel that it would be a loss to the city and the district if Wakefield wildcats leave belle vue and the district .to this end ,I have met with directors of the club and asked them to consider other in district options which I believe are available to them.in the meantime ,the council will continue to work with the club and other interested parties to try to secure the development of a community stadium in or around the city which would be suitable for super league games.whilst an agreement for the delivery of a stadium exists ,the funding for it is dependent upon development and occupation taking place at the Newmarket employment site.the speed at which this takes place is subject to market demand and the willingness of landowners and developers.the council assures you and your consituents that it wishes to see super league rugby continue in Wakefield and will do what it can to ensure that this happens,unquote"

I wouldn't necessarily focus on the Sports reporter - it's a wider, community issue; the more people make this an issue just about Wakefield Trinity, the fewer people are interested in it and the more it plays into the hands of Mr Box, who will continue to claim it's a matter for the club and the Trust.

This is, and always has been, about a genuine community sports facility that was prescribed by HM Inspector to offset YorkCourt's ginormous planning gain as a result of the inquiry. And latterly, it's become about WMDC's absolute failure to enforce that agreement - which is their statutory responsibility.

Do we on the whole think any of the other Daily papers would publish the Daily Star story or would they take a hands off approach and not want to publicise a Daily Star "scoop"?

Our cup visit to Leigh Sports Village showed me just what sports facilities the citizens of Wakefield could have.

The question then, is, how to make sure that they do enforce the agreement ?

It does sound like they are wanting Wakefield to play at Fev or Cas, which would of course get them off the hook completely AND strengthen any case that Cas may need in future (should their OWN development have some future difficulties).

Is there any point in contacting the SoS's office, after all it was they who passed the project.

I did just that yesterday along with private eye and a host of national daily's

SoS should take the land off them and either offer it to a company that would build a sports/leisure complex as agreed or return it to green belt.

BANG ON !!!

That's why I am all for Dewsbury instead of Fev. People are slowly realising the political implications in all this and learning how these snakes work.

They would love us to opt to play at the new Cas stadium . It gives them an 'insurance policy' in case funding falls short. By us playing there it would give them an excuse to top up any funding via the public purse.

Cooper as never done anything for anybody even in her own constituency, ( x miner ) total .

I would write back and inform him that he has lied to you. He has never met with the directors of the club. We are not the wildcats. And delivery is nothing to do with the club. It is a community facility promised to the citizens of Wakefield. End of.

Keep it going guys, the momentum is building

This is a copy of my letter to my local councillor
Dear Councillor Ahmed,

As you are the councillor for the area of Wakefield in which I reside, I would be grateful if you could give me your opinion and your stance regarding the article by Jeremy Cross concerning the above that appeared in the Daily Star yesterday.
The article gave an accurate description of the scandal brought about by the behaviour of our Council Leader, Peter Box and his flippant attitude to the proposed community stadium at Newmarket.

Box has shown is total disregard for his citizens and treated them with complete disrespect over the subject whilst the residents of his wards in Castleford seem to be benefitting considerably.

The whole stadium subject is now gathering momentum and the attitude of Councillor Box is under scrutiny from a growing section of Wakefield residents

The Press are now involved and will be kept up-to- date with further proeedings regarding the matter.

In anticipation of your early response.

Quote ="Egg Banjo"I have just sent my slightly edited version of the above letter to all of the people on Vasty's list as well as a couple of others. I included a link to the Daily Star article too so that they can read why we feel they have failed; Good afternoon, As a resident of Wakefield, I would be interested to know your position on the failure of WMDC to carry out its statutory duty as the Planning Authority, to enforce the s106 agreement with Yorkcourt Properties, in respect of a Community Stadium at Newmarket Lane, Stanley. This agreement was made several years ago and since that time, Cllr Peter Box has publicly repeatedly denied that WMDC have any part to play in this and instead, that it is for the property developer and the Community Trust to resolve; I believe this to be untrue and am appalled that he is able to abrogate responsibility – particularly when the developer has benefited from 220 acres of Green Belt land. This situation has been made worse by the fact that WMDC have since allowed the developer to build the Newcold site there, without it contributing to the trigger point for the Community Stadium that the s106 agreement specified – a situation that was prescribed by HM Inspector, and supported by a 15,000 signature petition. At a time when Wakefield is reported to have some of the worst sports facilities in the country, and a dreadful record around childhood obesity, I am in disbelief that WMDC and Cllr Box appears to have conspired with a property developer to rob the people of Wakefield of much needed community sports facilities. I'm sure you've been able to read this recent report from the Daily Star but I have included a link which details the failings www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/footba ... tin-O-Neil You may also be aware that Cllr Box has instructed all of the Labour Party members to ignore the issue and to forward any emails received directly to him so that he can continue to cover up the huge failings of WMDC when supporting sport and leisure in the district. The failure of WMDC to support a community stadium is just the tip of the iceberg, the closure of golf courses, swimming pools, and tennis courts adds to this worrying trend. Do you agree that the council's own policy to run down and close sports and leisure facilities will add to the rising obesity crisis, and that the addition of a true community stadium would help engage residents of wakefield in a more active lifestyle which could reduce costs on health services? Regards,'" Would you mind if I copied and pasted your text above and forwarded it to "Rotten Boroughs " section of Private Eye magazine, Eggbanjo?

Quote ="Egg Banjo"I have just sent my slightly edited version of the above letter to all of the people on Vasty's list as well as a couple of others. I included a link to the Daily Star article too so that they can read why we feel they have failed; Good afternoon, As a resident of Wakefield, I would be interested to know your position on the failure of WMDC to carry out its statutory duty as the Planning Authority, to enforce the s106 agreement with Yorkcourt Properties, in respect of a Community Stadium at Newmarket Lane, Stanley. This agreement was made several years ago and since that time, Cllr Peter Box has publicly repeatedly denied that WMDC have any part to play in this and instead, that it is for the property developer and the Community Trust to resolve; I believe this to be untrue and am appalled that he is able to abrogate responsibility – particularly when the developer has benefited from 220 acres of Green Belt land. This situation has been made worse by the fact that WMDC have since allowed the developer to build the Newcold site there, without it contributing to the trigger point for the Community Stadium that the s106 agreement specified – a situation that was prescribed by HM Inspector, and supported by a 15,000 signature petition. At a time when Wakefield is reported to have some of the worst sports facilities in the country, and a dreadful record around childhood obesity, I am in disbelief that WMDC and Cllr Box appears to have conspired with a property developer to rob the people of Wakefield of much needed community sports facilities. I'm sure you've been able to read this recent report from the Daily Star but I have included a link which details the failings www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/footba ... tin-O-Neil You may also be aware that Cllr Box has instructed all of the Labour Party members to ignore the issue and to forward any emails received directly to him so that he can continue to cover up the huge failings of WMDC when supporting sport and leisure in the district. The failure of WMDC to support a community stadium is just the tip of the iceberg, the closure of golf courses, swimming pools, and tennis courts adds to this worrying trend. Do you agree that the council's own policy to run down and close sports and leisure facilities will add to the rising obesity crisis, and that the addition of a true community stadium would help engage residents of wakefield in a more active lifestyle which could reduce costs on health services? Regards,'" Would you mind if I copied and pasted your text above and forwarded it to "Rotten Boroughs " section of Private Eye magazine, Eggbanjo?

Or would you prefer to do it yourself at: strobes@private-eye.co.uk ?

Or would you prefer to do it yourself at: strobes@private-eye.co.uk ?

I'll do that daddycool ,see what mr trickett and mr box say to that.

It seems to be the pattern. There is a post earlier that states that all correspondence to Councillors have to be passed to Peter Box who will provide the agreed party line.

Councillor don't seem to be allowed their own opinions.

Letter to the editor of The Wakefield Express:


Dear Sir

I am writing to you with regard to Wakefield's only professional sports club, Wakefield Trinity and their plight to play Rugby League in a Community Stadium at Newmarket in Stanley.

5 year's ago, your paper reported on the new development at Newmarket Lane, which had been granted planning permission. Indeed, on the 21st of June 2012, your newspaper, reported that building "will begin next year".

Here we are, 5 years down the line and not a sod of earth has been turned.

Instead, planning permission was granted for a huge "cold store" on adjacent land and despite the clause in the newmarket plans that nothing should be done which would adversely affect the Newmarket scheme, this build was granted planning permission and now stands as a blot on the local landscape.

The Community Stadium, in the strictest sense of the word (unlike another planned build within the district) is further away than ever and the local authority, who were obliged to ensure delivery of this project have washed their hands of the whole thing.

Although your paper has reported various "updates" but you seem unwilling to really dig down into this issue and uncover the true facts and we are now in a situation where Wakefield Trinity may have to move away from the district to continue their 144 year history.

It's common knowledge that the club have had their struggles since the glory days of the 1960's. However, when all that is lacking to help the club is some political will, it is an absolute disgrace that the very people who are put in office to serve the community are allowed, for whatever reason, to stand by and watch this famous club move away from the city.

Please, please can your paper give some more attention to the plight of the City's most famous "brand".

I realise that there are plenty of other issues at the moment but, if/when Wakefield Trinity moves from the city, it will be too late for Newspapers like yours to help.

The time to act is upon us now.

Yours

Here's a copy of my email to all three Councillors

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of Wakefield who has lived and worked in the City for almost 60 years.

The root of my concern is the complete intransigence of Wakefield's Labour Council and what seems to be an almost criminal neglect towards the sporting provision, culture and heritage shown by Wakefield Council Leader Peter Box.

I refer of course to the non delivery of Community Sports facilities and Community Sports Stadium at Newmarket Lane on the site of the old colliery.

As the presiding Planning Authority surely it is the statutory duty of the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council to ensure that the S106 agreement set in place by an Officer of the Secretary of State and entered into by Yorkcourt Properties is duly enforced.

What seems to be a complete lack of any political will to ensure these desperately needed sports facilities are delivered to the City is both puzzling and alarming.
Even more baffling, these facilities were to be developed and paid for by Yourkcourt Properties and therefore at zero cost to WMDC and zero cost to the long suffering ratepayers of the Wakefield District.

With childhood obesity and it's related illnesses at epidemic levels I cannot begin to fathom the logic behind the WMDCs Planning Department decision to allow Yourkcourt Properties to develop the Newcold site outside of the S106 agreement which was imposed to ensure the building of the Community sports facilities. In doing so they have directly contravened the express wishes of the Officer of the Secretary of State.

When questioned about this Wakefield Council Leader Peter Box has rather bizarrely taken the stance that the issue has nothing to do with the Council. I cannot help but wonder, had the developer promised to build a school or hospital in return for 220 acres of Green Belt land being made available for his company to develop, would Wakefield's Councillors been quite so passive and toothless.

To add further insult, the City’s only professional sports club is set to leave as a direct result of the non delivery or indeed any progress toward it, of the Community Stadium. Wakefield Trinity have been a part of the culture of Wakefield, sporting or otherwise, for 150 years. They are intrinsic to the City, travel anywhere in the world and mention Wakefield and the word Trinity will follow with Rugby League sure to be discussed as a result.

After the demise of all other professional sports in the city we surely cannot allow Wakefield Trinity to leave Wakefield and no doubt be consigned to history. Where will the youngsters get their inspiration, who will replace the Community work done in schools across the District by the clubs award winning community trust?

I ask you directly as the Councillor who represents my area,
What is your stance and your opinion on this?
What can you do to ensure that these sports facilities are delivered by the developer?

There are 2 other Councillors that represent your ward. It may be worth sending it to them as well.

Email sent to Mary Creagh. See what she comes back with.

email to Mary Creogh also sent today no reply as yet

Job done Sandal!!

I wonder if Box attends his ward's surgeries. If so, it might be worth attending one of those and trying to get an answer in person. It'll annoy him at the very least. I'm tempted to go to the surgeries in my ward and ask my councillors face to face so they can't just fob me off with a load of nonsense.

Yes he has surgeries the times and locations are on his council web page. Lee Brigg in altofts, Cas RUFC,Cas Panthers and half acres.

Be nice if some of our Normy contingent would turn up at his altofts surgery in Lee Brigg.

Further to above, if any gets to see him face to face would be worth asking how much his Cas shares will have increased in value now the company is about about to gain a £10M plus asset for £1