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£5.2m spent on Shay...but more is needed
TAXPAYERS face an ever-increasing bill for maintaining the Shay stadium.
It can now be revealed Calderdale Council spent 5.239 million on ground improvements including the opening of the new East Stand this year.
And there was an additional overspend of 359,000 which falls on taxpapers, and a further six-figure sum has to be found to bring the ground up to scratch.
The North Stand is currently closed to fans on health and safety grounds because of concerns about its concrete structure.
Drainage needs improving to ease flooding on the pitch and general maintenance including guttering, safety fencing, and painting are among issues to be tackled. And not all the interior space in the East Stand is up to scratch.
"Playing for Success" which works with youngsters has to use a bar area as its planned space has never been fitted out.
Stadium manager Russell Moore said a whole raft of refurbishment could go-ahead if the money was available but there was nothing in the pipeline.
The scale of the problem was revealed to councillors recently on the newly formed capital working group which the new council administration set-up to share information across the board.
There are problems with concrete steps in the North Stand and a decision was taken in March to close that section of the ground off to fans. Because the stadium capacity is far bigger than the attendances generated by the football and rugby clubs, it was rarely used anyway.
Gutters on the West Stand need replacing and those on the North and South Stands are also showing their age.
Environment and economy spokesman Barry Collins said the extra costs fall on the council.
"This is the financial situation left by the previous administration," he said.
"The Shay project should have been monitored on a more regular basis."
With the council having other spending priorities, Coun Collins said it was not known when extra funds would be available for the Shay.
The issue is expected to be raised at tonight's council meeting.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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