The Secretary of State has asked the City Council to make some further comments on aspects of the planning application for the Arena 2000 complex which he is currently considering.

He wants the Council’s views in relation to car parking and public transport in the light of the Government’s White Paper, ‘A New Deal for Transport – Better for Everyone’, which was published in the summer.

Councillor Arthur Waugh, Deputy Leader of the Council, comments:

"High quality public transport via rail, bus and park and ride is already a major feature of the scheme and was a fundamental requirement of the City Council right from the start. We are working with the Football Club’s experts to satisfy the Secretary of State that the scheme will meet all the Government’s planning and transportation objectives."