REFUSAL to put a timescale on building a community stadium in York is only adding to the uncertainty surrounding the project, said the city’s Labour leader.

Coun James Alexander said he felt a key City of York Council executive meeting in July would give “a strong indication as to which way this authority wants to go – for or against building a community stadium for York”. But he added his party remained behind the project.

The Press reported yesterday how Tim Atkins, the council’s stadium project manager, revealed that, despite the authority’s commitment to a new community facility, it was “not helpful to anyone to estimate a date for delivery”.

That alarmed York City chairman Jason McGill, who said the the club “very much fear” the council’s inability to confirm a timetable.

Coun Alexander said: “Those who are familiar with the planning system will know the risks that are involved when it comes to a timetable for delivery, but those risks should be factored into the process.

“What needs to happen is the finance and potential sites be identified, so that a formal process can get underway. But my instinct is the July executive meeting will give a strong indication as to which way this authority wants to go – for or against building a community stadium for York.

“What I would say to other parties is the council has already gone part way down the road on this project. If it wasn’t serious about it, it should never have committed so much money to feasibility work and a senior officer to deliver the vision.

“But Labour remains behind that vision and believes in it for the community element of the facility, as well as for it being a decent home for two of our professional sports teams to compete in.”

Meanwhile, Coun Alexander said Blackpool’s ascent to the Premier League should act as an example to the Minstermen.

“Blackpool’s achievements are incredible for a town of only 140,000 people, and it just shows what is possible with the right vision and support,” he said. “The club averaged around 7,500 attendances in the early to middle part of last season, and it is not impossible that York could attract gates of that number.

“Labour in York believes that the ambition of the club should not simply be about getting into the Football League, but aiming even higher and seeking to emulate teams like Blackpool in their current level of success. “The club was near the bottom of the Football League only a matter of a few years ago, yet has managed to make it into one of the world’s elite football leagues.”