'Severe rowdy' behaviour fears over changes to York City's home ground

Proposals for the LNER Community Stadium include a self-service ‘Box Bar’ to cut queues, reducing its licensed hours, indoor sports matches broadcasts and outdoor events and performances.

An application from the stadium’s operator stated the Box Bar would improve customer service by increasing the points of sale for alcohol which would cut queues at peak times.

But two objectors who have bought homes in the nearby Castra Park development said they feared the changes would threaten the peace and quiet of the family neighbourhood.

York Council environmental health officer Michael Golightly said the application should be refused on public nuisance grounds as the potential effects of the changes could not be measured.

It comes as Greenwich Leisure Ltd’s (GLL) application is set to go before councillors for a decision on Monday, November 16.

Changes proposed for the stadium, at Huntington’s Monks Cross Shopping Park, include allowing outdoor events including boxing and wrestling matches, live music and other performances.

Plans to host six events a year including three boxing and wrestling matches within the stadium bowl in May and June have been drawn up.

Those plans, lodged by the York Stadium Management Company, are being dealt with under a separate application.

The stadium’s licensed hours would also be reduced from the current 2am to 11.30pm daily.

Sales would still be permitted from 8am across all of the 8,500-capacity stadium’s licensed areas.

Non-sporting events such as showing televised matches on screens would also be permitted.

The venue would also be licensed to hold indoor sporting events and other performances, stage live music and play recorded music.

The stadium would be operational from 6am to midnight every day.

Plans stated the self-service Box Bar will be supervised by at least two members of staff to intervene if issues arise and prevent service to under 18s.

They added the stadium’s licensed areas would be monitored by CCTV at all times and other measures would be in place to manage licensed activities.

The measures, including plans to manage events where 500 or more people are set to attend, have been agreed by operator GLL and North Yorkshire Police.

But a resident who is set to move into Castra Park, which is on land between the stadium complex and Huntington’s New Lane, said they were extremely concerned.

The objector said: “Introducing a fast-service Box Bar designed to increase the speed and volume of alcohol sales, combined with broadcasting non-sporting televised events, will generate a severe public nuisance.

“The resulting noise, shouting, and rowdy crowd dispersal at 11:30pm will cut directly into the peace and quiet of a brand-new residential family neighbourhood.”

Another future Castra Park resident said the roughly 300 new homes at the development would be exposed to late-night noise if the plans go ahead.

They said: “Increasing alcohol availability and extending operational hours will draw larger, less predictable crowds into an area that now borders new residential streets and pedestrian routes.

“This raises legitimate concerns about antisocial behaviour, crowd management, and the safety of residents who will be living within metres of the stadium perimeter.”