Land contamination fears halt work on new AFC Bournemouth training pitches (From Thisisdorset)

Land contamination fears halt work on new AFC Bournemouth training pitches

10:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Latest By Harriet Marsh

WORK on AFC Bournemouth’s new £600,000 development at King’s Park has been halted after the council took the club and chairman Eddie Mitchell’s building firm to court after land contamination fears.

The building of AFCB’s four new pitches is on hold for two months in the interests of public safety until a report on the former landfill site is approved by the Environment Agency.

Moving diggers in so soon showed “arrogance”, Recorder Ivor Weintroub told Bournemouth Crown Court in yesterday’s hearing.

But Mr Mitchell afterwards denied arrogance, saying he just liked to get things done.

Eddie Mitchell’s Seven Developments quickly made a start after gaining conditional planning permission for two grass pitches, two five-a-side pitches and a training area last month – before important studies into potential gas emission had been signed off.

This was an urgent and serious matter as contaminated land poses a threat to the general public, the court heard.

Recorder Weintroub said: “A risk of gas emission is a significant and important matter.

“The other is whether the soakaways are sufficient and what other drainage is required. Comments by the chairman of AFCB and owner of Seven Developments display a certain arrogance and disdain for the law which is unfortunate and should be thought about very carefully.”

If AFC Bournemouth and Seven Developments breach the agreement to wait until April 17, they will be in contempt of court and face fines, he added.

Mike Holmes, Service Director for Planning and Transport, said officers would be monitoring the site to check no work is done until the land contamination appraisal is approved in writing.

He said: “The purpose of the condition is to ensure public safety during the development works, and in the longer term.

“Only once the appraisal has been considered by the council and the Environment Agency, and approved in writing, can work begin on site.

“AFC Bournemouth and Seven Developments Ltd are in breach of the planning condition having already started work on site.”

AFC Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell said: “Anybody would think we’re building a skyscraper,” said Eddie Mitchell, hitting out at the “ludicrous amount of bureaucracy” delaying the new pitches at King’s Park.

On Recorder Weintroub’s comments, he said: “If I am treated like a fool I have got to reply.

“I’ve got no arrogance at all, I just believe in getting things done. We’re trying to build an environment for the football club and the people of King’s Park.”

AFCB chief executive Neil Blake said they were “more or less there” with getting final approval and work would be up and running again by Wednesday.