REGARDING the potential move by AFC Bournemouth from King’s Park (Dec 10).

Realistically, the chances of the club getting planning consent to build a new stadium anywhere in the Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch conurbation are at best, very slim.

The best site for a stadium by a mile is where it is now in King’s Park. Easy access to the main Spur Road out of town, close to the rail station and with a large car park.

The council say they are not keen on significant expansion of the stadium. But for at least 40 years of their history AFCB’s stadium had a capacity of over 20,000.

If the club cannot strike a deal to buy back the freehold, would it not be possible to build where the athletic stadium is currently? AFCB could easily, at relatively modest cost, build a new athletic stadium nearby for the community.

There are potential solutions for the increased traffic problems that would result from a new 20,000 stadium. Gloucester Road could be opened for a while before and after matches, perhaps with some traffic lights onto Christchurch Road in Boscombe.

AFCB could try to improve the road into King’s Park from Ashley Road at the cricket pitches. This could be turned into a tidal flow route in and out of the park on match days.

Suggestions of places such as Canford Arena or Chapel Gate would be a traffic disaster, plus no rail link at all. I would suggest people sample Yeovil Town or Wycombe Wanderers on match days to see what a disaster greenfield/retail park sites can be.

For me, the perfect solution is to develop our current stadium as quickly as possible up to the logical maximum, which I guess by two-tiering the main stand would eventually be around 18,000. If not, a Swansea/Hull City style 20,000 stadium in the park. You will not find a better site anywhere.

To the council I would say work with the club and realise what an asset a major football team can be to a town.

Recently, beamed worldwide via Sky, was an interview with Jack Wilshere on our beach and it looked like St Tropez.

What price can you put on publicity like that?

JOHN PESTER

Avon Road, Bournemouth

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