A Birmingham Member of Parliament is backing the bid to list St. Andrew’s Stadium as an Asset of Community Value.
Roger Godsiff MP, Member of Parliament for Hall Green, has outlined his support for listing the ground under Localism Act 2011.
A nomination to list St. Andrew’s as an Asset of Community Value was submitted to Birmingham City Council by Blues Trust in June. A decision on the application had been expected by mid-August, in line with legislation that states a decision must be made within eight weeks of receiving the nomination.
In response to a letter sent by Trust Board members, Godsiff said: “I wholeheartedly support your application and it is vitally important that Birmingham City, and indeed all football clubs, ask their local Councils to designate their grounds as ‘Asset of Community Value’ because it does put an impediment in the way of any owner who wants to try and separate the ownership of a club from its traditional ground.”
Godsiff is one of a number of local MP’s taking a keen interest in the St. Andrew’s ACV nomination. Shabana Mahmood, Member of Parliament for Ladywood, recently contacted senior Council officials seeking an update on the status of the application.
Blues Trust Chairman Steve McCarthy said: “Gaining the political backing of local MP’s is crucial, as it enables us to progress and lobby the Council to give our Asset of Community Value application the priority it deserves. We still need all supporters to unite behind this in order to push for a positive outcome, and we wish to extend our thanks to Roger Godsiff for his continued support.”
A decision on whether to list St. Andrew’s as an Asset of Community is expected this month.
