'Would have been done by now' what Portsmouth CEO Andy Cullen said about Fratton footbridge after Oxford United comparison
The future of the proposed Fratton train station footbridge won’t become clear until later this year - following the publication of a feasibility study report
Andy Cullen has admitted the ongoing issue with the proposed Fratton train station footbridge would have been dealt by now if it had cost the club in the region of £1m.
Instead, the Blues and fellow stakeholders are being told it will take an ‘astronomical sum of money’ for it to be constructed as the wait for the findings of a feasibility study continues.
The feasibility study was set up to help find a solution to the issue that is key to unlocking Pompey’s North Stand development vision.
The Fratton Park outfit want to improve the capacity and facilities of the current structure in line with Portsmouth City Council’s pre-submission Local Plan from July 2024, which details development plans for the entire Pompey Centre area.
The Blues’ proposals also include the creation of 710 new homes, some ‘small-scale’ commercial outlets and the building of a brand new hotel, with the overall aim to help regenerate that part of the city.
However. a new footbridge leading from Fratton train station is central to those plans.
A report on the back of the feasibility study is due later this year, with Pompey, Portsmouth City Council, Pompey Centre owners M7 Real Estate, Network Rail and South Western Railway among those to have commissioned it.
Local Labour MP Stephen Morgan also continues to play a crucial role in finding a suitable pathway to a conclusion.
But as the issue continues to drag on, Blues chief executive Cullen provided an update at the latest meeting of the Tony Goodall Fans’ Conference.
There, he dismissed the notion that the footbridge could be constructed relatively cheaply or with a relatively insignificant contribution from the club after being told Oxford United were reportedly forking out £1.05m for improvements made to Oxford Parkway station as part of their new stadium plans.
Fratton station footbridge - appeal made to central government
In response to that specific point made at the conference, Cullen said: ‘If we’d only had to pay £1.05m it would have been done by now.
‘This is not just a Portsmouth Football Club problem – it will regenerate the whole area. But currently, it would take an astronomical sum of money.
‘We are appealing to central government to take a lead on this. The regeneration of the area delivered by this bridge will create jobs, help with housing, and much more. We’re in continued communication with our local MP on the matter who is supportive.’
When asked for an update on the feasibility study, Cullen replied: ‘I reported at the last meeting that Lawrence Bowman, managing director of the newly-nationalised South Western Railway, had met with the feasibility board stakeholders (and) with Stephen Morgan MP at Fratton Park.
‘Since then, the feasibility board has met again. Network Rail gave us different options on cost, which are extraordinarily high.
‘The stakeholders have asked Network Rail to explore how the costs might be engineered and we will see those results at our next stakeholder board meeting.’
For your next Pompey read: Portsmouth set for crucial ‘£1m-plus’ Fratton Park pitch investment following Ipswich Town postponements