Copy of letter sent to John Prescott

Dear Sir,

I would first like to register my utter despair at your decision to "call in" the plans for the new stadium for the Warrington Wolves. Here was a heaven sent opportunity to get something right for Warrington and its people, a new stadium with financial backing in an ideal location built on a derelict brown field site.

To even consider calling it an out of town development is laughable. It is within one half mile of the dead centre of Warrington namely Market Gate. It is within 200 yards of another big development which has just been built at Pinners Brow which consists of a large furniture store and a big DIY superstore. No planning considerations held this project up. On the road out of Warrington the A49 on which the stadium is to be built are a huge Matalan superstore, a McDonalds fast food outlet, two or three big car dealerships and a retail park 'The Alban Retail Park". All these businesses are further away from the town centre than the proposed stadium and Tesco store.

The area where the Tesco store is to be built is one of the few areas in Warrington that doesn't have a food superstore in the immediate area.

The nearest Tesco to Warrington is in Irlam about nine miles away.

Transport is not a problem, the town's main bus station is but five minutes walk away from the stadium site and Central railway station is even nearer to the site.

The site is on one of the main bus routes into town, it is a short drive from the M62 which any away support for the rugby would come in on and with the new M62 junction being built nearby. t is well placed transport wise.

The site is perhaps the only place in Warrington where people could take a bus or a train or just walk to the ground. It is that well placed.

Your decision has left the people of Warrington in a state of shock after the joy at getting the project accepted at local level to be kicked in the teeth at national level. Feelings are running high about the call in especially as any delay or a rejection of planning consent could see the demise of Warrington Wolves as a main stream Super League club, and this Government would for all time be seen in Warrington as the Government that took away their Rugby League club, and the ramifications both nationally and locally for the Labour Party could be severe. Come election time, people vote for what affects them and the loss of the Wolves would be very hard for a lot of people to take.

PETER O'DEA

Ross Close, Old Hall