LEADER Marc Bayliss admitted councillors had “certainly encouraged” Worcester City to explore Parsonage Way as a stadium site due to “serious transportation issues” at Perdiswell.

Bayliss was speaking after Worcester City Council called time on feasibility studies at Parsonage Way, the option the club shifted towards after planning permission for Perdiswell had been rejected.

That decision is still the subject of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate by City’s supporters’ trust, a move club bosses distanced themselves from in the hope of ending more than five years in exile.

In October 2017, City chairman Anthony Hampson said: “The council told the trust and the club that the land (at Perdiswell) will not be made available. The club was told in May but the trust was told some months before that.”

“I think he is fairly correct in saying there is not support on the council for a land transfer at Perdiswell at this point due to the issues raised,” said Bayliss.

“This is not an ideological issue, there are some serious transportation issues in and around the Perdiswell area that large-scale sporting use would only add to.

“Anyone who lives in the area or goes to the Bilford Road tip site on a fairly regular basis will know them really well and we have to be mindful of that.

“It has never been put to a vote but I would certainly encourage the club to look at other sites as well.”

The halt to up to £100,000 of public funds being spent on running the rule over Parsonage Way was rubber-stamped amid concerns over the cost of delivering a stadium, traffic and the presence of newts and bats.

“Parsonage Way looked like it could solve all of the problems,” said Bayliss.

“It is on the outskirts of the city, council-owned, big enough technically to fit the club’s aspirations and on a main arterial link (road).

“There were lots of things that ticked boxes. We certainly encouraged the club to look at that and invested some money to help.

“But if you do a feasibility study you have to be prepared for it to come back as unfeasible.

“I don’t think it is something we regret. It was something we did to try to sort out the problem for Worcester City because we are all committed to finding them a home back in the city.

“I am sorry this site hasn’t worked out for the reasons outlined but I will continue to work to try to help the club to come home.”

Bayliss acknowledged “there are some issues that (would) clearly make it difficult” should City find the funds to continue to pursue Parsonage Way, citing the potential for “pretty serious objections” on an ecological front.

He suggested an open mind about potential future sites including the consideration of Sixways, home to Worcester Warriors.

“I would encourage them to look all around the city and on our boundaries,” Bayliss added.

“Plenty of football clubs play technically outside their boundary and Worcester is a built-up city, there are not huge pockets of land available.

“You need to cast the net a little bit farther, Evesham United is right on the outskirts. That might be the sort of option Worcester City might want to look at.

“There are other sites around the city, I think the council generated a list of about 12 at one point that could physically accommodate a stand.

“A stadium may be putting it a bit strongly but a football facility that matches the club’s finances and league status.

“One I have always been quite keen on would be some sort of usage at Sixways which already has all of the infrastructure and parking facilities.

“The club has considered that from time to time, sometimes more favourably than at others. I hope they will have another think about that."

Asked whether that referred to playing from the current stadium or building on the 50-acre site, Bayliss said: “I think both are options.

“It has all of the facilities that the club would dream of in terms of a stadium, bars and eateries.

“That may be an option but it is not for me to dictate where Worcester City goes, it is for the directors and supporters to choose.

“We are here to help but we are not the providers. We did not sell St George’s Lane, the club made its decision about that and Nunnery Way and the club must lead its choices about future sites.

“There is genuine will from the council to see the club come home.”

*See tomorrow's Worcester News for Marc Bayliss' thoughts on City financing their new home and the trust's relationship with the club.