Canterbury City are playing home games at Herne Bay

The process of building a new home for Canterbury City reaches an important stage this Thursday when the council considers whether to begin applying for planning permission.

Canterbury City Council (CCC)’s Executive will discuss a report which recommends starting pre-application work at Ridlands Farm, which is the only site now being considered for the project.

If it is approved at the meeting on Thursday evening the site would be tested in a range of areas including environmental impact, transport, access, noise and floodlighting.

The club, which reformed in 2007 and groundshare at Herne Bay, warmly welcomed the latest development.

Tim Clark, City’s chairman, said: “The club has achieved a great deal over the last few years since reforming but not having a ground of our own back in the city does restrict us financially and that has a direct effect on what we can achieve in the local community and in keeping the momentum going.”

The project, which is expected to cost about £2 million, has not been universally welcomed, with reservations in particular expressed by the South Canterbury Residents’ Assocation (SCRA).

If CCC approve the initial plans this week they would have to go through two different rounds of consultation before planning permission was finally agreed. A statement from the SCRA made it clear they were intending to contribute where possible to put across the residents’ point of view.

It said: “If the site is nonetheless to be developed at taxpayers expense for the football club, SCRA will do all it can to represent the views of the community, press for some public benefit to the people who live in the area, and ensure that CCC makes best use of public funds.”

The meeting begins at 6.30pm.

Photo by DAVID MULLANEY