Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond has made an 11th-hour plea for the club's new all-seater stand to be approved.

He has written to every member of Bradford Council, urging them to back the Bantams' controversial plans to redevelop the Kop.

The scheme for a 7,300-capacity new stand is due to be considered by Bradford area planning sub-committee tomorrow.

Residents living in nearby Rock Terrace claim the 125ft structure will block out daylight and planning chiefs have recommended the proposal be rejected.

Now Mr Richmond has written individually to all 90 councillors in the hope of persuading the sub-committee to back the plan.

In his letter, he says: "The enormous support given to us by the people of Bradford and the local business community in recent years has lifted the club to a level previously not dreamt of.

"We are now one of the strongest teams in the First Division and Premiership football is a realistic possibility next season.

"The benefits to the city of achieving this sporting success in terms of both local pride and raising our national profile as a major Yorkshire city, equal in all respects to our neighbours, is immeasurable.

"I urge you to weigh very carefully the opportunity which is within our reach of the people and businesses of Bradford against the consequences of failure."

Efforts to appease residents over the planned stand appear to have failed after they turned down an offer by the club to underwrite the value of their houses for 12 years, pay for improvements including better street lighting and make a one-off payment to each household involved.

At a meeting on Monday night, residents put forward their own figure for compensation, significantly higher than the money being offered by Bradford City, which rejected the proposal.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley), her party's spokesman for planning on Bradford Council, also backed the club.

"All efforts must be taken to enable the proposed new stand to be built," she said.

"Bradford City football results are good news stories for Bradford. We have very few and cannot afford any threat to the club's viability.''

Fans told: Go to the meeting

The chairman of the Bradford City disabled supporters club is urging fans to attend tomorrow's planning meeting to back the scheme.

Lack of facilities for the disabled in the stand has been cited by Bradford Council's planners as one reason for turning the scheme down.

But disabled supporters' club chairman Mick Stainthorpe said: "As someone who used a wheelchair, these plans would put City in the forefront of disabled facilities.

"The most important point is that our disabled fans will have the choice of sitting at pitch side, up in the stand or even behind glass - just as any other fan can. A disabled lift will also be installed which will be a big help."

The editor of the Bantams' fanzine City Gent, Dave Pendleton, said: "I feel sympathy for the residents because the club have made enormous strides in the last few years. For the good of the city, this has to be approved."

Letters special

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