New football stadium accused of "eating up" Maidenhead park
Maidenhead United wants to build a stadium seating 5,200 people
A local football club that wants to build a new stadium has been accused of "eating up" Maidenhead's 'unique park'. Maidenhead United wants to build a 5,200 capacity stadium, complete with a multi-purpose pitch, office and bar space, and another small football pitch for amateur games.
But the Chair of Maidenhead Rugby Club has told councillors sitting on the town forum that the 48 acre Braywick Park is "slowly being eaten up" by the development.
Stephen Bough says, "The park is slowly being built on. We've lost so much of the park - and this is another 9 acres - a massive part of the park that's going to be built on."
As a result of the stadium, Mr Bough says the rugby club would lose almost half of its playing pitches at a time that its growing in size
Despite being offered the chance to play at the new stadium, the chairman says it wasn't realistic for them to take up this offer, because they would have to pay to use it, and even if it was free it wouldn't meet their needs
Maidenhead United, which has been playing at its York Road football ground since 1870, said it needs a state-of-the-art facility in order to meet current demand and its future growth.