VALE MP Peter Luff met officials from the Football Foundation and the Highways Agency to thrash out a deal to bring Evesham United’s unused football stadium into play.

The 3,000 capacity stadium was built at a cost of £2m but has lain empty since its completion in March much to the disappointment of local people and the team, which is playing league games from Worcester City’s St George’s Lane ground, where they have been for the last five seasons.

The ground has been unusable due to funding and planning issues that has meant an access route from Cheltenham road has not been built.

Mr Luff said this week that about £200,000 needed to be found in order for the work to be completed.

On Friday Mr Luff met the chief executive of the Highways Agency Graham Dalton, representatives from the Football Foundation and Evesham United’s chairman Jim Cockerton to find a solution.

He said: “We were given a very cordial hearing and a range of practical suggestions were made by Mr Dalton which would have the effect of reducing the total cost of the works significantly.

“However, there would still be challenges for the club and the Foundation in meeting the upfront cash requirements that would still be needed, even if the encouragement offered by Mr Dalton proved well founded.

“It was agreed all parties would reflect carefully on what they had heard and how they should proceed.

In the meantime, I will write to the roads minister Mike Penning strongly supporting the suggestion the Highways Agency will now put to him.”

Mr Luff added: “We have not solved the problem yet, but we have opened a constructive and good natured dialogue which may lead to a solution and I am grateful to everyone who attended this important meeting.”

Club chairman Jim Cockerton remained tight-lipped this week but said he was “quite pleased with the meeting”.

Wychavon District Council has also proposed to help the club by contributing £59,147.

At the last full council meeting on September 27, council leader Paul Middlebrough said: “We will underwrite or loan the money to get them over the final hurdle.

"It’s a sad state of affairs. Let’s hope the project is finished before too long.”