EXCLUSIVE by Adam Williams

Canterbury City Council has announced new plans to build the future home of Canterbury City FC.

Land at Ridlands Farm, off South Canterbury Road, has been earmarked as the preferred location, with £2 million expected to be invested in the project.

The development, which will go before the council’s executive next Thursday, is set to be dramatically scaled-down from the original £5.4 million “football hub” proposal drawn up in 2008.

A new home ground for the club, who currently play at Herne Bay FC’s Winch’s Field, would include changing rooms and a clubhouse.

Cllr Darren Ellis, executive member for sport and culture, met local residents on Monday to confirm the next stage of the process.

He said: “Having consulted with our working group and looked at the potential sites, Ridlands Farm remains the best possible location.

“We own the land and it’s been designated for recreational use in the local plan.

“What happens next, provided the executive approves the recommendations, is a pre-planning stage. That includes environmental impact and transport studies and, all being well, in four to six months time we could be in a position to put forward a planning application.”

Monday’s meeting at The Phoenix pub in Old Dover Road with members of the South Canterbury Residents Association (SCRA) was also attended by the council’s chief executive, Colin Carmichael, and deputy head of culture and enterprise, Dawn Hudd.

SCRA secretary Dick Vane-Wright, of Cromwell Road, stressed their disappointment at not being consulted on the selection of the preferred location.

He said: “We’ve been told various reasons why that’s happened, but it’s water under the bridge now and, moving forward, we’re looking for better consultation in the future.

“We wish to collaborate with the club and the city council during the pre-planning phase as much as possible. We want to ensure any project on that site makes the best possible use of the land and provides a valued asset for both the club and the community.”

SCRA, which has 240 registered members, is expected to form a sub-committee to work alongside the council and club should the council’s executive approve the pre-planning phase next week.

Cllr Ellis hopes construction on the new ground could begin by this time next year.

He added: “Obviously there’s a lot of stages to go through between now and then, but March 2013 has always been the initial plan.”