Lancashire want Albert Gubay¿s latest legal challenge to their development plans heard quickly so they can deliver the scheme on time.
County express frustration at latest legal challenge by developer
Lancashire want Albert Gubay's latest legal challenge to their development plans heard quickly so they can deliver the scheme on time.
The billionaire developer has been granted leave to appeal at the Court of Appeal after Lancashire were given approval for a £70million overhaul of the ground, including two new grandstands and a refurbished Pavilion.
Gubay's objection is based on the inclusion of a Tesco supermarket, a rival to his own plans for a store in nearby White City.
Previous appeals to Trafford Council and the High Court have already been rejected, and Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes believes the latest legal move is a pointless exercise.
"Mr Gubay's own plans for a rival food store at White City have been rejected by the planning authorities," Cumbes said.
"His latest challenge seems a pointless exercise, but it is creating huge uncertainty for us due to its financial implications.
Strongly opposed
"Any appeal would be strongly opposed and we have instructed a leading planning silk, Mr Robert Griffiths QC, to represent us.
"We remain supremely confident that the ultimate outcome will be in our favour."
The club have demonstrated that confidence by beginning work on the project in line with the planning consent they have received.
But they admit the development - designed to get the ground ready for the 2013 Ashes - could still suffer delays as a result of Gubay's challenge as no date for a hearing has been set.
"It's frustrating," Cumbes added. "We want any further legal challenge heard quickly so we can fight it off and get on with the full development after years of painstaking work.
"We firmly believe we will ultimately get the go-ahead for our plans. We consider Mr Gubay's strategy is to hold us up indefinitely until we run out of time and we ultimately fail.
"But, inspired by massive support from the north-west public, we are determined this will not happen."
Flintoff unhappy
Former Lancashire and England favourite Andrew Flintoff wants Gubay to drop his opposition.
"Albert Gubay said on TV that he was worth £1bn," he said. "I'd like to ask him if he is intent on squeezing the life out of Lancashire County Cricket Club?
"Is he trying to break the hearts of countless cricket fans in the Northwest and sport lovers all over the world?
"And what does he seek to gain by pursuing what seems to be a pointless case through every court in the land?"
