Wakefield MP Visits Leigh Stadium with Wildcats

On Friday 24th July Wakefield MP Mary Creagh went to Leigh Sports Village to learn how the local community came together to build a stadium.  The visit was organised by Ms Creagh with Andy Burnham MP who is Leigh’s local MP as well as Secretary of State for Health.  Plans for the Wildcats’ new stadium will be submitted over the summer and should go to planning committee in the autumn.  

The delegation included Cllr Denise Jeffery, Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council, Sir Rodney Walker, Chair of Wakefield and district community stadium trust, Ted Richardson, Diane Maskill and Francis Stephenson from Wakefield Wildcats, former Wakefield MP David Hinchliffe, developer Colin Mackie from Yorkcourt properties and planning consultant Andrew Piatt.  

Mary Creagh said: “It was really interesting to see how Leigh’s sports clubs came together to work towards a new sports partnership for the town.  Leigh sports village places a real emphasis on sharing which respects the history of different clubs while showing they are much stronger together than they are apart.  I hope the Wildcats’ new stadium plans will be a catalyst for a similar sporting partnership here in Wakefield.”  

Cllr Denise Jeffery, Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council said: “We are working with all three Rugby League clubs in the district and have been looking at innovative ways to support them. We are now using council land assets to help them realise their aspirations and to have facilities fit for Super League status. Rugby league is part of the district’s rich culture and heritage and we, as a Council, are doing all we can to make sure our clubs have the facilities they need to be successful.”