Online petition launched over future of Halifax's Shay stadium
It comes after it was announced the owner of Huddersfield Giants wanted to buy the home of FC Halifax Town
A football club’s supporters worried about the future of their team’s stadium hope enough people will sign a petition to trigger a council debate about a potential sale.
The FC Halifax Town fans say they need 2,000 signatures for the petition which may give them chance to speak about the future of The Shay ground at Halifax.
Two professional teams, football’s FC Halifax Town and rugby league’s Halifax Panthers use the Shay, but a budget decision taken last year saw cash-strapped Calderdale Council announce it sought to divest itself of responsibility for running the stadium.
They began talks with both clubs but in January it was announced Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy wanted to buy The Shay and move his club to play there until they built a new stadium of their own.
An alternative proposal from a group of fans that it is run by an independent, not-for-profit trust is also on the table.
Senior councillors are due to choose which option they want to take at a key council Cabinet meeting at Halifax Town Hall on Monday, March 17.
Mr Davy has said he will fund improvements to the ground to bring it up to Super League standard, but a combination of grant funding and interest free loans from him to both clubs would be used to pay for a new pitch.
Drainage has been an issue, with FC Halifax Town forced to play some matches last season over the county border in Lancashire because of its condition.
Mr Davy has also said he will offer the ground back to both clubs for them to purchase once the Giants move out.
But the FC Halifax Town fans who have started the petition online on Jotform (https://form.jotform.com/250277534256358) are asking the council not to sell The Shay.
They say: “This petition is to show the strength of support within the community for the council to retain the freehold ownership of The Shay Stadium, rather than sell the freehold to a private company such as the Huddersfield Giants.”
The supporters say they want to council to retain the freehold and that, should Huddersfield Giants be allowed to use the Shay, to permit this on a licence-only basis.
They are arguing the award of such a licence should be conditional upon the new tenant undertaking an obligation to pay for improvements to the stadium, including those to the pitch, that meet the requirements of the current tenant clubs both now and in the future, should either of the clubs gain promotion.
If Huddersfield Giants are allowed to use the Shay, the council seek options from the community that will allow the stadium to remain a community asset when they leave, whilst also fulfilling council budgetary requirements, they argue.
In terms of petitions, different levels of signatures can trigger responses depending on the numbers.
Petitions with 2,000 or more signatures can trigger a full council debate on the issue.
Petitions with 500 or more – but less than 2,000 signatures – trigger the issue being considered by councillors on a council scrutiny panel.
Petitions of less than 500 signatures will see the matter being referred to the appropriate Head of Service – council department – for consideration.