Roof plan prompts Fratton Park fears
FEARS have been raised over Pompey's plans to redevelop Fratton Park after the club revealed it was planning to put a roof over the Milton Lane End of the ground.
The news has sparked doubts about whether the club is serious about enlarging the ground, or moving to a new, more spacious site.
Homeowners living near to the 109-year-old ground have received letters from the club informing them of the club's intentions.
The club has invited people who live near the Milton Lane End to a meeting to show them exactly what the club wants to do with the stand.
During Saturday's match, supporters of league champions Chelsea were soaked after being caught in heavy rain on the stand, which is still open to the elements.
Pompey's chief executive, Peter Storrie, is keeping tight-lipped.
He said: 'We are holding a meeting for residents on March 15, and that's all I'm prepared to say. It's a private meeting, just for local residents and the club. You will have to wait until after to find out what happens.'
Pompey fan Keith Allman, 20, from Nettlestone Road, Southsea, fears the news means the long-delayed revamp of Fratton Park, turning the ground through 90 degrees and boosting capacity, may now never happen. In 2003 the club unveiled plans to transform Fratton Park, with capacity rising to 35,000, but despite gaining planning permission nothing has been done.
Mr Allman said: 'I am dismayed by the news and think it might just be the club trying to placate the fans.
'Things like a new roof, and big screen and talk of the new club shop all suggest we are going to be at Fratton Park for a long time yet.
'If we are about to build a new stadium or redevelop Fratton, why spend money on these things now?'
The club has instructed Nash and Partners to submit a planning application to the council for what they call a 'temporary roof structure'.
In 1996 they were given permission to build a completely new stand at that end of the ground, but it lapsed in 2001.
The news comes just days after the club submitted detailed plans to Fareham Borough Council for it's new training facility at Tithe Barn in Titchfield.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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