28,000 Oppose Rumoured Newcastle United Leazes Park Stadium

Plans for a potential new 65,000-seater Newcastle United stadium on Leazes Park have sparked significant public opposition, with over 28,000 people signing a petition demanding a public referendum on the matter. Environmental groups and campaigners, led by Save Newcastle Wildlife's Rachel Locke, have criticized the idea as a threat to the city's oldest public park, a Grade II listed green space with significant community and wildlife value. Despite the backlash, Newcastle City Council has refused to hold a referendum, citing the absence of any formal planning applications from the club. Council officials emphasized that any development proposals, including those by Newcastle United, would undergo strict planning scrutiny and public consultation through the statutory process. Newcastle United’s Chief Operating Officer Brad Miller described the situation as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to either expand St James' Park or move to a new stadium, aiming to boost revenue and compete at higher levels. The debate echoes similar controversies from the 1990s and highlights tensions between preserving historic green spaces and the club's ambitions for growth under its Saudi ownership.