LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR

MANCHESTER United have vowed to be better neighbours after being accused of breaking promises in a bitter battle to expand their ground.

At a special planning committee on Thursday, which approved the club's £39m proposal to complete the north stand and add 7,900 seats, councillors and residents accused the club of reneging on pledges to tackle congestion and anti-social behaviour when it last expanded four years ago.
 

Resident Jed Finch told the committee, attended by club officials: "United like to say they are good neighbours. I'm sorry, but for the local people they are the neighbours from hell."

Another resident said the club's museum, shop, conference facilities, concerts and sport fixtures meant it was a 365-days-a-year money-making monster.

He scorned sweeteners worth £1m to be paid by the club.

United's chairman of stadium development, George Johnstone, insisted "it wasn't though a lack of effort" that the park and ride scheme failed and pointed out that a relay station had been mounted on the North Stand to improve TV reception. He "anticipates" meeting the council regularly to tackle problems.

A club spokesman said: "We are encouraging people to travel to the stadium through Trafford Park where there are fewer residential buildings."