Backing for stadium plans as York City parade FA Trophy before supporters

POLITICAL leaders have put their weight behind controversial plans for a new 6,000-seat home for York City Football Club alongside a multi-million pound expansion of a retail park.

The backing for the controversial Monks Cross development by York Central Labour MP Hugh Bayley and the leader of York Council, James Alexander, came as the football club was given a civic reception and paraded the FA trophy clinched over the weekend before another appearance at Wembley on Sunday against Luton Town for a chance to get back into the Football League.

The application is set to go before planners tomorrow, with the stadium intended to provide a new home to both York City and York City Knights rugby league team.

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A report by planning bosses warns the new 6,000-seat ground at Monks Cross is the only way to secure York City’s survival as a full-time club.

However it also says that giving the go-ahead for new Marks & Spencer and John Lewis stores would harm York city centre’s diverting between £38m to £95m of business from traders.

Mr Bayley said: “We are in a double dip recession, and it would not make sense to turn down an £80m investment which will create hundreds of new jobs in York.”