Hillsborough disaster: Sheffield MP Clive Betts calls for demolition of West Stand 36 years after tragedy
A Sheffield MP has called for the demolition of the West Stand at Hillsborough 36 years after 97 people died there.
Clive Betts said one of the priorities of the new owners should be redeveloping the stadium - or moving to a new ground.
It was a “disgrace” the West Stand was almost untouched so long after the disaster.
He spoke out days after a new report into the tragedy by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found 12 officers - 10 from South Yorkshire - would have faced charges of gross misconduct if legislation at the time required police to have a duty of candour.
In July, the North Stand was closed because of concerns around its structural integrity.
Mr Betts told BBC Radio Sheffield: “I go to Hillsborough every home game. I go on the Kop and look across at the West Stand, the Leppings Lane end, where 97 people died 36 years ago.
“And it’s still there, almost untouched, some changes around the capacity and things like that. But essentially the stand is untouched.
“One of the things I would ask the new owner of Sheffield Wednesday, when they are identified in the next few days, is one of their priorities should be whether the club moves grounds or redevelops Hillsborough.
“Let’s get that stand down. It is a memorial to that terrible tragedy and in some ways it is quite awful it is still there 36 years later.
“Talking to some of my colleagues, who are Liverpool MPs, that’s something they would like as well.
“I think in some ways it’s a disgrace, not merely to Wednesday but to the football world that that is still there, basically untouched, a building where 97 people died.”
Sheffield Wednesday said it was not in a position to respond to his comments due to the club being in administration.