Last updated 20:01, Thursday, 06 November 2008

CONTROVERSIAL plans for Workington’s sports stadium will not be discussed until January, Allerdale council confirmed on Wednesday.

Despite the authority’s Derwent Valley Task Group recommending in September that an independent valuation for Lonsdale Park was carried out, consideration was given to a project manager being appointed and plans were further developed.

However, its recommendations have not been before full council and Labour group leader Alan Smith, also a member of the task group, asked leader Joe Milburn why.

Coun Smith said: “There are potential partners, the general public and supporters of football, rugby league and speedway who want to know what is going on.

“Is there some clandestine reason why it would take over four months? It is a recommendation to go to the next step, not a big green light.”

But Coun Milburn said the contract with Tesco had not been fully agreed due to hold ups over a planning document. He agreed that it should be discussed at full council and a recorded vote should be held.