TALKS over a £500,000 land deal, which could have led to Bromsgrove Rovers relocating to a new ground, have fallen through.

The deal involved Bromsgrove District Council buying six acres of land at Ashborough's Fruit Farm in Old Burcot Lane, off the A38-by pass.

The deal collapsed, it is believed, over the price.

No one from the district council wished to comment for the reason.

On Monday deputy council leader Margaret Taylor (Linthurst) would only say: "Negotiations over the land at Ashborough's Fruit Farm have ceased."

Last week we carried a story in which Labour group leader Councillor Peter McDonald (Waseley) claimed that the deal had foundered.

The purchase was originally intended to increase the stock of land held by the council.

It later emerged that it would be an ideal site to relocate Bromgrove Rovers Football Club.

This would free up a large chunk of prime land bordered by Birmingham and Stourbridge roads, with the Victoria Ground at its heart.

In August the council signed a controversial 12-month exclusivity deal with Aberdeen Harbour Investments with the intention of developing the Victoria Ground and land nearby.

Part of the deal involved the firm building a new stadium for Rovers.

It is now believed the council, having committed itself this far, will begin to cast an for another suitable plot. One such site may be Perryfield Road. That site was identified as a possible site for a football pitch when the Local Plan was being drawn up.

Another possibility is the open area behind Parkside Middle School and Meadows First School.

Cllr Taylor would not be drawn over where this left the deal with the developers.

She did however, say that the next step forward involved the much publicised Town Centre Survey.

This will take a broad overall look, including land to the north of the town centre as the basis for future development.

She assured townsfolk that they will be fully involved.