Maidenhead United FC to take legal action against council
The club say they'll sue for breach of contract over the dispute around land for their new stadium
Maidenhead United is to launch legal action against the Royal Borough council amid an ongoing dispute over a site at Braywick Park.
The club had been set to relocate from their historic York Road ground to Braywick Park after a reported £460,000 deal to acquire the land back in 2022.
But the release of the land was blocked by the council’s cabinet this July over loss of open space concerns.
A club spokesperson said:
“We have clearly been let down by the new council administration, which chose to discard our proposals without meeting their obligation to the club or local residents to consider the benefits of a new community stadium with associated astroturfs, athletics, futsal, disabled sport and wellbeing facilities will deliver for the community.
“Furthermore, they failed to recognise or consider that the new stadium facilities would be held independently, in trust, for the benefit of the community and would be delivered and maintained in the long term at no cost to the council.”
Since the cabinet’s decision, a petition has been launched urging the council to reconsider the decision – which has already attracted more than 1,300 signatures.
The club spokesperson claimed councillors have been verbally informed about the decision to pursue legal action against the council for breach of contract.
Maidenhead United’s current ground at York Road has held the record for the oldest continuously-used football ground – having played there since the 1870s.
A council spokesperson said:
“Cabinet carefully considered the proposed disposal of open space at Braywick Park in July, taking into account the benefits, alongside any negative consequences of loss of public open space, having regard to the objections received.
“After giving full consideration to both sides of this important matter, and receiving a full and detailed report, Cabinet decided that the loss of public open space in this location outweighed the potential benefits of leasing to Maidenhead Utd FC. This was a difficult decision, based on significant considerations raised in the public objections.
“The debate and decision by Cabinet was recorded in the minutes and this is publicly available.”