WARNDON Parish Council has released a statement criticising plans to 'bring City home' at a location in the ward.

Last month the Worcester News reported that the Worcester City Council's policy and resources committee had unanimously agreed to endorse the principal of securing Worcester City FC a long-term home at the Parsonage Way site.

Councillors also agreed that £100,000 would be set aside to enable the development of Parsonage Way.

But ahead of a parish council's meeting last night a statement was released expressing "surprise and concern" that the authority was backing the plan.

The statement said: "The directors and supporters trust of the football club continue to be miles apart and are openly hostile towards each other in the public arena.

"It therefore seems incredible that in this atmosphere the city council should choose to invest in a new stadium.

"The site off Parsonage Way was considered for development under the South Worcestershire Development Plan but was dropped due to insurmountable problems.

"If a robust planning process taking seven years and costing millions of pounds did not adopt this site, then we are confused why the city council would propose to do so soon afterwards.

"We understand that the proposed site would be capable of hosting 500 fans on match day, but is not sustainable should Worcester City Football Club achieve promotion.

"We have to ask why would you proceed with a plan which could very well be out of date shortly after the club returns to the Faithful City?

"It feels that the city council is determined to bring the club back to within its boundaries regardless of whether this is the right solution.

"Politics rather than the best location appear to be the priority."

Worcester City Football Club and the council were both approached, but declined to comment.

Worcester City Football Club has previously issued a statement saying they are backing the Parsonage Way scheme as "the way forward" to fulfilling the ambition to bring the club back in time for the start of the 2019/20 season.