Latest news with #LeazesPark
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Newcastle United rumoured St James' Park stadium plans attract petition
A petition to prevent a new football stadium for Newcastle United being built on the city's oldest park has been presented to than 28,000 people have opposed rumoured plans that would see the club build on Leazes Park, next to St James', despite NUFC not announcing the Newcastle Wildlife campaigner Rachel Locke called on the council to hold a public referendum on the speculated proposals, and said it would be "scandalous" to sacrifice the city's oldest public park for a "Saudi super stadium".The Labour-led authority refused to agree to the request and said a referendum could not be held on plans which have not been submitted. The club has been asked for a comment. Reports have suggested the Magpies could move to a larger 65,000-seater stadium close to their existing grounds in Newcastle city James' Park has been the home of the club since 1892 and currently has a capacity of 52, has not formally announced any plans but in December the club's chief operations officer Brad Miller said a new stadium could more than double the revenue of their current alternative, expanding the club's current home at St James' Park, could prove problematic because the Leazes Terrace housing block located behind the East Stand is a listed building and protected against structural alterations. Grade II listed Leazes Park opened in 1873 after nearly 3,000 people signed a petition calling for working people to be granted "ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation".Speaking to the council as she presented the petition on Wednesday, Ms Locke said since then "millions of pounds of taxpayers' money" has been spent on the park to make it pleasant for people and wildlife."There are more than 1,000 trees in the park, as well as shrubs and hedgerows, which provide food and shelter for insects and other wildlife including bats, birds and hedgehogs," she said. Labour councillor Dan Greenhough said the council had not received a planning application from Newcastle United to build a new stadium or redevelop their existing grounds, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."The speculation around Leazes Park is exactly that - speculation," he said. "The coverage on the subject in the international media and wherever else is beyond our control."Greenhough said any application submitted by the club would be treated "no differently to anyone else". Colin Ferguson, who leads the city's Liberal Democrat opposition, said the sooner there was clarity on the club's plans the said there would need to be "crystal clear" public engagement and consultation on any future stadium development that comes forward. Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Newcastle ready to build ‘brand new ground BIGGER than Arsenal's Emirates Stadium' with feature unique to the city
NEWCASTLE are putting in the groundwork to build the third biggest football stadium in England, reports suggest. The Magpies' Saudi owners have made no secret about their desire to make the club a true powerhouse not only in England but also on the continent. 2 And one of the key ways they want to achieve that is through the controversial construction of a new home ground. Naturally, a new home fit for the European elite would see the club leaving their legendary St James' Park stadium. It sits in the heart of a true one-club city, but despite its rich history, electric atmosphere and iconic reputation, it has sat in place since the 1800s. With that comes problems, not just with its capacity, but also with the stadium's condition as a whole. The potential move would see the club's new home located at the neighbouring Leazes Park. According to the Daily Mail, a video of how a new stadium on the site might look was shown to owners, with club executives proposing a capacity of around 65,000. At that size, the stadium would be bigger than the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the London Stadium, Anfield and the Emirates Stadium, the respective homes of Spurs, West Ham, Liverpool and Arsenal. Indeed, only Old Trafford, which currently holds 74,000, would be larger in the Premier League - though this is not to mention the 100,000 capacity plans Manchester United have revealed for their own new ground. It would also have a stadium stack 35 metres higher than the one currently at St James' Park. But before making any official announcement, club bosses have been talking to various parties about the project. Considerations over a deal include the leasing of the park and maintaining and improving the atmosphere of their current ground. Inside Newcastle's £3BILLION new stadium plans with St James' Park project to rival Old Trafford Newcastle are said to have been in contact with a company monitoring stadium atmospheres this season to ensure they get the right acoustics behind any new stadium right. Construction company Laing O'Rourke, who worked on the new stadium of Everton, have been spoken to about the project. Staff also want to make sure the new ground can keep the nickname "Cathedral on the Hill", which St James' Park has become known as due to it standing above the city centre and being visibly on the approach from every direction. The new stadium could cost anywhere between £2billon and £3bn. Newcastle celebrated their first trophy for 56 years by winning the League Cup this season, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final. Eddie Howe 's side host Everton at home on the final day and can secure a spot in next season's Champions League. They currently sit fourth in the table on 66 points, level with Chelsea and Aston Villa but having a superior goal difference. Seventh-place Nottingham Forest are a point behind on 65 points, so anything but a Toon win could spell disaster for their spot in Europe's premier football competition.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- The Sun
Mystery deepens over girl, 19, who vanished on night out with pal a year ago – then was found dead in lake 2 days later
THE tragic death of a teenager is still being probed by cops a year after she disappeared. Reagan Brown disappeared on May 6 last year after meeting a friend at Leazes Park in Newcastle. 6 6 The 19-year-old and her pal had been sitting on a bench in the park when Reagan disappeared behind a bush to go to the toilet and never returned. At around 10:30pm on the night of her disappearance her parents received a call saying that she had gone missing. Searches involving police divers and mountain rescue teams were launched. Her body was sadly discovered two days later in the lake in Leazes Park. 6 6 An inquest into the teen's death was opened in December with a coroner stating the provisional cause of death was "drowning." The inquest into Reagan's death was adjourned. Northumbria police have now confirmed that they are still looking into the tragic death of the teen. Two suspects, who were arrested after Reagan's death, are still under investigation. Reagan's parents, Frank and Katrina Brown, live in Hexham, Northumbria. They have previously criticised police for their poor communication. They told of how they were left "begging" for updates on their daughters case. Reagan's father, Frank Brown, spoke to The Sun today on behalf of the family. He said: "There's a hole in our family with Reagan gone. We will never be the same again. "There is a headache that follows us from when we wake till when we sleep. "Reagan will always be missed but never forgotten." Reagan's parents were subjected to multiple raids on their home in the wake of their daughters disappearance. On May 7 and May 8 last year Frank and Katrina's home was turned over by cops. Katrina believes that the police were looking for a body or suicide note in her home. She claimed at the time that the police were using drones to follow the couple. According to Frank, police were in their home when they received the call stating a body had been found in the lake. Despite making two arrests Police said at the time they did not believe Reagan's death was suspicious. 6 6 A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts remain firmly with the family and friends of Reagan Brown following her tragic death in May last year. 'Almost a year on, our investigation into Reagan's death remains ongoing. 'As part of our enquiries, two people in their 20s were arrested – one was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and the second on suspicion of threats to kill. 'They were subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries. "Both people remain under investigation at this time.'
