U-turn over councillors' ban

A ban which had been slapped on four senior councillors preventing them from going to Shrewsbury Town's new £15 million stadium was lifted today.It came after a meeting this morning between representatives of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and the football club, including chairman Roland Wycherley.

Council leader Peter Nutting, his deputy David Roberts, portfolio holder for sport Charles Armstrong and Councillor Tudor Bebb were all issued with the ban in September following a bitter feud over community facilities at the stadium.

It prevented them from attending matches and certain functions at the Oteley Road site.

But a joint statement released by the club and the council today said they had agreed a way forward.

The statement says: "Both the club and the local authority will continue to hold their views but will now seek to move forward constructively.

"As part of this, the council will look at ways - not involving the public purse and alongside the town's other assets - in which it might help to maximise the stadium's potential for Shrewsbury, and the club has agreed that its facilities will be available for use on normal terms by the council and all councillors, as well as by the wider community."

During the meeting, which was attended by Councillors Nutting and Bebb, there was a "full and frank" exchange of views.

The statement added: "Both parties remain committed to the views held, but acknowledged each other's points of view. In particular, both agreed that the forthcoming England International game is a great example of the value of having a League football club and state-of-the-art stadium in the town."