A political row over the future of the council-owned Shay stadium in Halifax continues to rage on.
Last week the Examiner reported how Calderdale Council Tory leader Stephen Baines claimed talks had been going on in secret for 18 months.
However, Elland Liberal Democrat councillor David Hardy has hit back, saying there was no discussion about The Shay at a meeting Clr Baines referred to.
The Shay, home to FC Halifax Town and Halifax RFLC, has been subject of a £1.9m bid from Elland businessman Tony Abbott, who is also chief executive of the rugby league club.
Clr Baines said he had been told of a meeting 18 months ago involving Clr Hardy, Clr Janet Battye, Mr Ian Gray, the council’s director of economy and environment, and Mr Abbott.
Clr Hardy agreed the meeting took place, but insisted it was about a possible expansion of Mr Abbott’s Elland firm Reactiv Media Ltd.
Clr Baines said he had been led to believe by another council officer that The Shay was discussed at that meeting and was awaiting clarification from the officer, who was on leave.
“I may be wrong,” he said. “But discussions about The Shay have been going on a long time, if not 18 months, and both Labour and the Lib Dems kept quiet about it.”
