There was no architect involved in that, just someone adept with photoshop to take the old West Stand, tart it up, combine it with Rotherham’s ground and make it look all shiny.
The SCG (or supporters forum as it now is) has continued and meets about once a quarter. All the supporters groups have a representative and we will have at the next one in Pete.
One of the things we touched on in February and will continue to speak about is how that 2-way communication can improve for mutual benefit.
Every project has to start somewhere. The promise of a partnership with UoW means that they can supply the land and so on. It’s also outside CCC jurisdiction so potentially a local authority who can help the club crack on with the project.
If in 12 months time no progress has been made, we need to kick up a fuss. So I agree that this announcement is meaningless in isolation.
Thing is, we've had stadium consultancy groups and the like before, there's always been the opportunity for constructive dialogue and accountability.
I'd like to, at the very least, credit our owners with some intelligence. If they don't work out that some actual tangible progress keeps fans onside, whereas random statements lose credibility, then I'd have to reassess that.
Every project has to start somewhere. The promise of a partnership with UoW means that they can supply the land and so on. It’s also outside CCC jurisdiction so potentially a local authority who can help the club crack on with the project.
If in 12 months time no progress has been made, we need to kick up a fuss. So I agree that this announcement is meaningless in isolation.
A statement of intent is at least something.
Agreed.
The difficulty in delivering a new stadium has almost certainly been the toxic relationship between the club and CCC.
The Council didn’t even call SISU’s bluff when they said ‘we’ll drop the legals if you help us find a site for a new stadium’.
As far as I’m concerned, I recognise the difficulty the club has trying to build a stadium inside the city boundaries, but outside CCC jurisdiction.
Ah, if only we could get all confidentiality agreements revoked.
You keep saying this, but Brighton's ground progressed to planning permission, then appeal, and then second appeal in the time we've taken to make a statement. And Lewes were not happy, not in the slightest, and did all they could to stop it.
Ultimately, the council can't block it. They can delay, they can frustrate... they can't stop if there's no reason to. Brighton pressed on, they did. We say we'd quite fancy some land.
Ah, if only we could get all confidentiality agreements revoked.
You keep saying this, but Brighton's ground progressed to planning permission, then appeal, and then second appeal in the time we've taken to make a statement. And Lewes were not happy, not in the slightest, and did all they could to stop it.
Ultimately, the council can't block it. They can delay, they can frustrate... they can't stop if there's no reason to. Brighton pressed on, they did. We say we'd quite fancy some land.
You missed out that the planning permission was submitted to Brighton & Hove City council NOT Lewes Council.
If Brighton & Hove CC were opposed to the stadium as Lewes Council were, do you think that stadium would be built? Probably not.
Only a part of some of the land which was being built on was under the jurisdiction of Lewes Council. Yet, to think that still caused a massive delay?
The Brighton example, if anything, demonstrates the importance of the support for a stadium project by a local council. Likewise, another example you cited to me: Rotherham.
The relationship between CCFC and CCC is that toxic and broken, it is inconceivable they would work together to build a new stadium.
In fairness to CCC, it is a tremendous waste of land to build another multi-purpose sports stadium when there is the RICOH. My sympathy ends here as they closed off any realistic chance of part ownership.
Assuming that SISU were 100% committed to building a new stadium... Do you believe that CCC would work with CCFC in good faith in building a stadium in their jurisdiction?
And it was Lewes who objected, and it didn't go through because of that. It went to the Deputy PM to decide, and Lewes appealed that, successfully, and it was Hazel Blears who passed it, against the advice of planning officers.
So... what does that tell us?
A site at Warwick can still have interest from CCC.
A council objecting doesn't mean if planning permission is not passed, it doesn't go through.
SISU love the litigation, so an appeal or two would be no matter.
I deal in evidence for a living. Show me some evidence of something happening, anything, and it'll be a start.
And it was Lewes who objected, and it didn't go through because of that. It went to the Deputy PM to decide, and Lewes appealed that, successfully, and it was Hazel Blears who passed it, against the advice of planning officers.
So... what does that tell us?
A site at Warwick can still have interest from CCC.
A council objecting doesn't mean if planning permission is not passed, it doesn't go through.
SISU love the litigation, so an appeal or two would be no matter.
I deal in evidence for a living. Show me some evidence of something happening, anything, and it'll be a start.
Hang on, the reason Lewes objected to the planned work was because some of the land being developed fell under their jurisdiction. That’s a big difference to what you’re claiming.
Hypothetical situation where we decide a plot of land: a part of it falls under CCC jurisdiction is a completely different proposition if the plot of land was completely outside of CCC jurisdiction. That’s a fair comment to make.
The announcement was last week, lets see if any progress is made this year. If not, I’m in the same boat as you, my friend.
The new announcement has bought the ownership more time. Perhaps that’s what they intended, perhaps not. Time will tell.
Like I’ve insisted before, it’s up to us to constantly badger the owners for answer.
Perhaps @mark82 and @Sky Blue Pete could put together a thread, and collate all of our questions to put toward Boddy, Joy and so on.
Hang on, the reason Lewes objected to the planned work was because some of the land being developed fell under their jurisdiction. That’s a big difference to what you’re claiming.
Not really. You said that Coventry City Council can stop it. If there are no grounds for refusing planning permission, it could not be refused. If process was not followed and it was refused, it could be appealed. Of course you want them onside as it makes it a hell of a lot easier and, to begin with, you can have sympathy about obstructiveness. For all we know... they might have suggested a site or two as well. When you're seven years down the line and doing the same circles however, it's a madman who thinks that's acceptable, and turns to others to blame them. Now it's in SISU's hands.
You're seriously telling me a bunch of crack land consultants can't find land that's suitable, in seven years? That a bunch of land consultants aren't versed in planning law, to make a judgement as to its success or otherwise? Maybe they should have hired the Brighton lot then.
In fact, maybe they should have hired somebody, *anybody* really, who isn't a crack statement writer. Wish they'd hired me for that as they must have spent a *fortune* on them.
But someone could just as easily claim keeping the sale of the Ricoh to Wasps quiet and stringing CCFC/SISU along was a 'masterstroke'? Or are they lying, deceiving cunts?