Decision details

To consider proposals for Temple Waterfront site.

The Cabinet agreed that the request to fund a feasibility study into the football club's proposals for Temple Marsh be declined.
The Cabinet agreed that in view of the uncertainty over the support of the landowners, and over the feasibility and viability of the proposals, Gillingham Football Club be given until 30 June 2004 to demonstrate to the Council's satisfaction that the problems in paragraph 3.9 and 3.10 of the report can be resolved. If Gillingham Football Club fails to do this, the Council would then be justified in proceeding with the regeneration of Temple Marsh in conjunction with the other landowners.

The prospect of delivering a new stadium on Temple Marsh and the ancillary and enabling facilities that would be required appears very slim, particularly without the support of all landowners. Establishing whether a scheme is deliverable would cause delay with no guarantee that a positive outcome would result and hold back the development of one of Medway's strategic development sites.The Council recognises the inadequacy of Gillingham Football Club's current location at Priestfield and will work with the club to identify a suitable site where a new stadium/arena could be developed.