Leeds pledges to press ahead with new Arena

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Leeds City Council will confirm at a meeting today of its executive board, that the Leeds Arena project will progress as planned to the existing time-table. This is despite the Government asking for further work on the business case before it allows Yorkshire Forward to invest in this important regional facility.

The announcement follows the release on Friday last week of a press release issued by a Government department* stating that the business case for the project requires further work before support could be given to Yorkshire Forward to invest in the project.

The council is concerned that the Government's delay in approving the current proposal could cast doubts as to whether the Leeds Arena will actually go ahead. However, the arena is Leeds' priority development project and the city council is determined that the project will proceed, with or without the Government's approval.

Councillor Andrew Carter, Leeds City Council executive member responsible for the Leeds Arena, said:

"The development of an arena in Leeds is our number one priority and we are fully committed to bringing this ambition to life within the already published timetable. Whilst the Government may wish to delay its own funding approval, we are confident that we have the ability to proceed, irrespective of the Government's position on this matter.

"The reality is that the Leeds Arena project matches pound for pound investment by other regional development agencies in other arena schemes, for example, the Liverpool Arena, and represents good value for money in terms of the tax payers of Leeds."

The council has indicated that it is committed to maintaining further dialogue with both Yorkshire Forward and the Government to resolve this issue, but it will in any event agree a reserve funding mechanism at its executive board meeting today, Wednesday, 14 October.

While the detail of the alternative funding mechanism will remain confidential until the government has come to a final decision on Yorkshire Forward's proposed funding mechanism, it will provide the citizens of Leeds with an assurance that the Leeds Arena can be developed irrespective of whether the government approves Yorkshire Forward's proposed funding package. The council is confident of Yorkshire Forward's continuing support and will be discussing its reserve plan to ensure that the current timetable is maintained.

Commenting on the opposition to the Leeds Arena from Sheffield MPs, Councillor Carter said:

"It is widely known that Sheffield has received over £90million more than Leeds in the last ten years from Yorkshire Forward - Leeds has never questioned how Sheffield has spent the money allocated to them and it is interesting to note that they have chosen not to prioritise any of this money to further develop the Sheffield Arena.

"We are not concerned how Sheffield wishes to prioritise Yorkshire Forward funding in their area and what we do ask is that they stop interfering with priority projects in Leeds.

"The Leeds Arena is this city's number one development scheme. It will provide huge regeneration benefits for the whole of the city and help Leeds become the world class city we all aspire it to be - and Leeds City Council is fully committed to delivering it. The fact is that Leeds will have a world class arena in operation as planned by 2012."

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