SUPPORTERS of Basingstoke Football Club have expressed their anger at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision to throw out plans to build a new £10 million stadium in the town. 

As previously reported in The Gazette, cabinet members voted against the proposed plans to build a 5,000-capacity stadium on the Old Common, in Eastrop after a huge public response opposing the plans. 

The ruling meant that nearly 10 years of negotiations between the borough council and the football club to help relocate the team to a new home at no cost to taxpayers appear to have come to an end. 

The club, which currently plays its home games at the Camrose in Western Way, said they felt very let down by the council’s decision after jumping through hoops to meet their conditions. 

Supporters took to social media to air their grievances with the council saying the decision had not considered what benefits the stadium would have for the future of the town. 

Robert Paul took to Facebook saying that the council got it wrong. He said: “The club’s future is looking bleak with no alternative site available and a redevelopment of the Camrose is highly unlikely. 

“I find it hypocritical that we keep being told how important it is a preserve our green space, yet the council are quite happy to flatten Manydown, Old Down and the golf course to build thousands of houses.”

Another supporter, Ross Brown, posted on Twitter: “Wouldn’t it (the stadium) raise the town’s profile as well as the club's?”

Kevin Barker added: “I worry about the future of Basingstoke FC after the council’s decision on the new ground. Their backing of all local sport is terrible.” 

At the cabinet meeting more than 120 residents piled into the civic offices to hear the verdict, with only four testimonials in favour of the club's proposal. 

David Knight, CEO at Basingstoke FC, said the club feels let down and that the council had wasted their time. 

He said: “It is disappointing, not just the decision on this site but the fact the council has been unable to agree on any other site as an alternative.

“We said from the outset that we wanted the stadium to be fit for purpose, not just for the football club but so the community could benefit from it as well.”