Hastings United’s new football pitch plan is a replay

I read in the Observer that Hastings United Football Club (HUFC) is again hopeful that Hastings Borough Council (HBC) will pay for a state-of-the-art new stadium for this privately-owned club. We have been here before several times! Does HUFC still really expect the taxpayers to build them a replacement football ground? The idea that money coming to Hastings Council from the sale of its Pilot Field for housing can then be given to a private business, along with another plot of land, is naive. We hear constantly how strapped for cash HBC is and we know how dramatically services have and are being cut. Therefore to consider for one moment, particularly in view of the present pandemic and its accompanying financial crisis, that HBC should build a vanity project for the owners of a football club from public funds is a non-starter. HBC after all has no money that did not originate, however long ago, from taxation and public gifting and I am sure electors would rather see a replacement for the Isabel Blackman Centres, rebuilt public WCs and fully restored social services for residents rather than a new private football stadium. HUFC’s plan that this new stadium should include other sport facilities ‘for community use’ is just an excuse to obtain public funds and should deceive no-one. If the owners of Hastings United want a new stadium then they need to raise the funds to buy or lease land and put facilities on it themselves, like any other private business, and not expect taxpayers to stump up the dosh. A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Stay safe, and best wishes.