| Local MP Ian Austin stands up for the Robins after
£20 million sports village suffers setback.
Dudley North MP, Ian Austin, has today slammed Dudley Council's decision to shelve plans for a permanent home for Dudley Town Football
Club.
Austin has been campaigning for a stadium to provide a permanent home for the town's team ever since he became an MP in
2005.
The Robins have been searching for a new stadium since they were forced to leave their former home at Castle Gate in 1995. The
council had announced plans for a new sports village with a new swimming pool, athletics tracks, gym and all-weather pitches as well as a stadium for the town’s local team.
But the council announced last week that the plans would be shelved.
Austin is calling on the council to think again and will be holding talks with representatives of the club to discuss the next stages
of the campaign.
Ian Austin said:
“This is a terrible decision by the council. Dudley is the biggest Borough in the country without top-flight football and this new stadium would have
been the first step on the way to restoring the Robins to their former glory.
“Dudley Town will be 120 years old next year and it is only right that they are found a permanent home here in our town and soon. I remember Dudley playing host to York City in the
FA Cup at the old ground in Castle Gate and I really want to see the team provided with a base on which they can build for the future.
“Not a week goes by when I do not speak to young people in our town who say that they do not have anywhere to go or anything to do, this development will
give youngsters here in Dudley somewhere to go and do something active and more importantly positive in their spare time.”
“I want to see more investment into sport here in Dudley as I believe it is a great way for children to learn important life lessons such
as teamwork, self discipline, determination and respect.”
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