HTSA last week notified the club of our intention to nominate the John Smith's Stadium as an Asset of Community Value (AoCV) with Kirklees Council.
According to the council, “community and voluntary bodies as well as parish and town councils can nominate assets that provide an important service in their community for inclusion on the register of community value.”
If the bid is successful, the stadium will not be able to be sold without community groups being informed and given the right to make a bid to purchase it. AoCV status can also be used as a reason to refuse planning permission for change of use or demolition. In addition, it means a building can be purchased by the local authority “if the asset is under threat of long-term loss to the community.”
Commenting on the decision, a HTSA spokesperson said:
“While the current stadium ownership situation presents little cause for concern, this may not be the case in 5 or 10 years. We therefore want to follow in the footsteps of Oxford Utd, Leeds Utd, and Man Utd fans by protecting our home and our place in it for the foreseeable future.”
HTSA hopes to discuss the potential nomination at the next ATT Meeting with a view to securing the backing of the club.
More information can be found here: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/community-assets/assets-of-community-value.aspx