08/04/2008 9:02 AM - Chesterfield FC could be finally on the move. The team has been given permission to build a new stadium, which is going to be located at the Dema Glass site at Whittington Moor.
Chesterfield Borough Council had been handed plans months ago regarding works which include a supermarket on the 22 acre site with the 10,000-plus all seater stadium.
The new stadium will replace
Recreation Grounds in Saltergate, which opened in 1871 and has been the team's home field ever since. The stadium has just 8,500 seats.
After looking through plans, the Government has decided it did not need to ''call in'' the planning application for consideration regarding the new facility.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears has said all the proposals presented to Chesterfield Borough Council for the new stadium are in line with national and regional policy, therefore there is no need to intervene.
Getting approval is merely the first step. Now comes the hard part: paying for the place. Mike Warner, managing director of the Spireites, seems confident. "It's been a long, long road and now we're at the start of a new road," he said.
"We now have to find out how to pay for it, we need to get the community behind us because, after all, it's for everyone's benefit, not just the football club's. It's been a great night for Chesterfield."
Regarding the funding gap and the possibility of new investors coming on board, Warner added: "I'm confident that we'll soon be able to reveal somebody who will be able to put in a significant amount that will enable everything to happen but in any event I hope the people of Chesterfield will rally round and help."
There is one other issue: The plans now have to be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment who has 28 days to formally approve or throw out the scheme. Without doubt the main concerns expressed by local residents concerned traffic issues on match days.
Chesterfield, a city of roughly 100,000 people, is located in Derbyshire, 150 miles north of London.
