A LEADING councillor and Reds’ shareholder has renewed calls for an Extraordinary General Meeting over plans to bulldoze Workington’s Borough Park to make way for a £25m stadium.

Joe Sandwith said club shareholders were not against the idea but were seeking reassurance that figures stack up and the Reds would not be left homeless if the borough council’s stadium plans were to fall through.

The Allerdale councillor, who represents Seaton, has previously called for any major decision on the project to be postponed until after May’s borough elections - with the ballot box serving as a litmus test of public opinion.

An earlier call for an extraordinary meeting was put on ice after board members asked for additional information from shareholders, but Mr Sandwith yesterday (May 5) re-submitted the paperwork.

He said: “We are not against the stadium as long as it is financially viable and we can afford to go there. Our fear is that the lease gets signed away, we get moved out and end up homeless.

“But so much time has elapsed since the last EGM which is why we must have another. There is talk about moving the bulldozers in, but we can’t afford to be made homeless on the promise of a shiny stadium.”

The council learned in January that they will host games for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, with the creation of the stadium a cornerstone of their bid.

But proposals for an 8,000-capacity community stadium for Workington Reds and Workington Town have divided opinion across Allerdale since the scale of the project was revealed.

Some have praised the district authority for its ambition amid claims an overhaul of the town’s rundown sports grounds is long overdue.

It has been claimed the project will raise the town’s profile, bring revenue into the area and encourage the next generation of sporting stars.

But opposition councillors have branded it “risky” and a “vanity project”, accusing council chiefs of “railroading” the plans through.

The council was initially approached by both Workington Reds football club and Workington Town Rugby League club to investigate the possibility of building a new stadium for both clubs.

An outline business case for the development was presented and agreed at January’s Executive meeting.

It is understood that the meeting would be triggered automatically in 48 hours if the shareholders do not receive a response.