Planet Swans ArchivesSwans Chairman Huw Jenkins says the club needs a further 10,000 seats at the Liberty
Reproduced from thisisswansea.co.uk
HUW Jenkins has revealed the club has had “preliminary talks” with Swansea Council about expanding three of the stands at the Liberty Stadium.
The Swans chairman has spoken publicly about proposals to create a 30,000-seater stadium which he reiterated could be jeopardised by a new McDonald’s drive- through restaurant.
The restaurant site is between the South Stand and Brunel Way.
“The club has already started preliminary talks with planning officers in order to submit a scheme for approval in the near future,” said Mr Jenkins. “The overall expansion plans include the East, South and North stands to increase capacity up to around 30,000.
“We should have even been considering including a hotel development into the South Stand expansion to complement not only football and rugby fixtures, but to help promote the Liberty Stadium as a top venue for concerts, conferences and other events that will bring business into the city. This could have included extra car parking and improved access surrounding the area the council has now recommended as a McDonald’s outlet,” he said.
“Unfortunately, if the fast food outlet goes ahead, we will have to look again to see if the expansion is financially viable.
“The stadium expansion, which is to be built with a phased approach, is an extremely expensive project which will be funded by Swansea City Football Club.”
The planning report put before councillors did not mention any stadium expansion proposal but outlined objections by the Liberty Stadium Management Company on other grounds.
Supporters of the McDonald’s outlet have welcomed the creation of 75 new jobs for the area.
Outline planning permission for two restaurants at the site had previously been granted.
Swansea City Supporters’ Trust chairman Phil Sumbler felt the McDonald’s approval was a mistake.
He said: “Demand to see the Swans play at the Liberty is clearly outstripping supply and we fully support the club’s desire to expand the stadium at the appropriate time.”
A council spokesman said the stadium discussions were at a very early stage and that the Swans were advised of the detailed steps they needed to take to progress their ideas.
He added that the club had not objected to the McDonald’s application.
