New proposal to relocate Terras (From Dorset Echo)
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New proposal to relocate Terras
12:46pm Monday 21st January 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers
LATEST PROPOSAL: The new stadium plan with covered terracing
DEVELOPER Wessex Delivery Partnership has submitted new plans for the relocation of Weymouth Football Club to Lodmoor.
The latest proposal, which includes covered terracing around the stadium, has yet to be reviewed by Terras’ officials but it is clear an agreement is still a long way off.
The football club, based at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Radipole Lane, dismissed the first set of plans and still has concerns about the proposed site.
Terras’ chairman Nigel Biddlecombe said: “I have just received a copy but I have not had a chance to fully review it.
“I am aware they show the ground is completely covered which was one of the huge stumbling blocks with the initial plans.
“It is also my understanding that the application also now states to be at a site to be agreed.
“As a club we are in the process of arranging a meeting to review the plans in detail but at this stage we are still a long way off any agreement.
“The fact they have come some way to meeting us by making the stadium all covered is a start but there is still a long way to go.”
Mr Biddlecombe added: “Personally, I do not see the benefit of moving Weymouth FC to Lodmoor, particularly in the long run, but there are others involved that know a lot more about it than me.
“As a club, we are certainly not 100 per cent behind a move to Lodmoor and that is why we wanted the plans to be changed to a site to be agreed. Nothing is set in stone and everything is up for discussion.”
Club director Shaun Hennessy is also far from convinced. He said: “So far we haven’t seen anything remotely beneficial to the football club. They know our views and we cannot understand why they want to continue down this line because without our agreement it would seem a wasted and expensive exercise.
“Personally I don’t think the Lodmoor site is that bad. However, I do think the site has been condensed and I also believe it would present maintenance problems, long term, in regards to the pitch.
“It is also council land and we have seen no indication that these plans can move forward.”
The club recently sent a letter to Morgan Sindall, which is in partnership with WDP, for answers regarding the ongoing proposals and a meeting with a director of the national firm is now in the pipeline.
But Mr Hennessy said: “We will not roll over, we are in a strong position and we have no intention of doing anything that is not of immense benefit to the football club.”
WDP has an option to acquire the Bob Lucas Stadium in exchange for providing a new stadium within five miles of the current ground; to be at a build cost of £7million plus grants; and to be built to Football League standard.
WDP can exercise that option up to 15 years from the date of the agreement in 2008.
Comments(18)
Douglas Mc
says...
1:44pm Mon 21 Jan 13
In any case would County Highways accept a Lodmoor solution because of traffic congestion and where would the appropriate number of car parking spaces to serve a potential League FC be?
PHonnor
says...
2:09pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Douglas Mc wrote:I guess the money would need to be found, its not the clubs problem, its WDP who want them out so they can build houses at a huge profit, if and a very big if planning permission is actually granted.
But if WDDC won’t allow housing at the Wessex Site as they claim to have preferable sites allocated to meet demand for the next 20 years where will the money come to buy the land at Lodmoor, treat it and pay for a quality stadium. In any case would County Highways accept a Lodmoor solution because of traffic congestion and where would the appropriate number of car parking spaces to serve a potential League FC be?
Weyexile
says...
4:46pm Mon 21 Jan 13
The attendance numbers don't warrant two stadiums.
Mango man
says...
4:58pm Mon 21 Jan 13
The attendance numbers don't warrant two stadiums.
Good suggestion, now go and troll somewhere else!
leo210856
says...
5:20pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Douglas Mc wrote:Although WDDC no doubt will point to the area plan and the provision within for a suitable number of future builds the bulk of the land allocated is green belt and government guidelines suggest brownfield sites should be used in preference and the BLS is designated brownfield also the governmnet inspector has stated that even if a local authourity has land designated within its plan any appeal is likely to be upheld if the district does not have a robust plan(to include funding etc) in place as oppossed to just a plan. In other words a firm committment to build x number of houses as oppossed to just saying we will build at some time on other sites.
But if WDDC won’t allow housing at the Wessex Site as they claim to have preferable sites allocated to meet demand for the next 20 years where will the money come to buy the land at Lodmoor, treat it and pay for a quality stadium.
In any case would County Highways accept a Lodmoor solution because of traffic congestion and where would the appropriate number of car parking spaces to serve a potential League FC be?
Morgan Sindell are a huge company with huge resources and although the application is from WDP a major shareholder in WDP is indeed Morgan Sindell
As for noise issues, parking issues, contamination issues etc all have been addressed and although many may not like the conclusions WDP have engaged experts to address objections that are bound to be made
bedpans
says...
5:47pm Mon 21 Jan 13
weypaul
says...
6:56pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Hopefully the club will continue to stand its ground and refuse to play ball unless real gaurantees are given by WDP - which I very much doubt; and, if necesary, take this to court.
leo210856
says...
7:42pm Mon 21 Jan 13
weypaul wrote:I havent missed the point Paul but am not in a position to even make comment about what has or what hasnt been offered I was purely offering comment as to an earlier posting about WDDC and the possible position re any planning application for house build on BLS
Leo makes some interesting points but misses the main isue, which is that WFC is being sold down the river. The club is being asked to sit quietly and accept what it is given, having had its value bled out of it by the unlawful land sale of 2008. A pretty set of plans is one thing, legally enforceable guarantees are something else.
Hopefully the club will continue to stand its ground and refuse to play ball unless real gaurantees are given by WDP - which I very much doubt; and, if necesary, take this to court.
As for overturning the land deal thats something that has often been talked about and would be an ideal solution in part because irrespective something needs to be done to upgrade or change WFC facilities
weypaul
says...
7:48pm Mon 21 Jan 13
leo210856
says...
7:55pm Mon 21 Jan 13
bigfatlad
says...
4:45am Tue 22 Jan 13
Weyexile
says...
12:30pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Mango man wrote:Dear Mango Man.
QUOTE; Merge with DTFC and move there. Don't need two football stadiums in the area.
The attendance numbers don't warrant two stadiums.
Good suggestion, now go and troll somewhere else!
Hardly trolling is it? Not insulted you, your family, I wish you no harm or discredited any of your comments.
I have an opinion, shared it with the group by expressing it on a forum board. But hey let's not the facts get in the way shall we!!
You haven't actually commented on the article, only told me to go elsewhere. Bordering on trolling really.
For what it is worth both clubs have about 10 years left in them if current attendances are to go by.
Think big picture and future generations!!
Cheerio Mango Man, thanks for your input xx
localclimber
says...
12:41pm Tue 22 Jan 13
WFC needs supporters. A return to gates of 1000+ is what's needed to help back any push back towards the leagues.
Move WFC to the Marsh.
Remove the YAC, 'running track', indoor carpet walking centre, route a new road in from the dangerous mini-roundabout, right under the embankment and round the back of the site, taking traffic off Knightsdale Road.
While we're there, flatten the hideously inadequate swimming pool.
The site can then have a stadium up against the embankment, indoor sports centre and gym built onto it, small 5-a-side floodlit pitches and several training pitches.
Small multi-storey car park jammed up against the embankment if necessary.
All with eco-friendly banking, cladding and foliage to 'hide' it away.
Double-yellow the stretch of Newstead Road from Asda too.
Local Sat/Sun leagues can still use the pitches, as can kids clubs, all of which will help drive new club supporters and use of the facilities driving extra revenue for the club.
The main benefit of the location would be exactly what is missing at the Wessex - central access for fans. All bus routes converge on the town, fans can be encouraged to use town centre parking etc (top floor of Asda even). It would drag in many more people who would 'pop down' to watch the match than at the Wessex.
Then put a new 50m swimming/sports complex at the Wessex.
Simples, get promoted and hammer the Maggots on the way back to the leagues.
Now, anyone got £25million spare?
bedpans
says...
9:51pm Tue 22 Jan 13
bigfatlad wrote:If you dont merge, you may end up travelling to Bridport or Portland if you wish to watch non league football. Both clubs can not compete anymore. Simple as that.
Merge the teams? No! I for one won't be turning up to watch Weychester FC...
Douglas Mc
says...
12:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Douglas Mc wrote:
But if WDDC won’t allow housing at the Wessex Site as they claim to have preferable sites allocated to meet demand for the next 20 years where will the money come to buy the land at Lodmoor, treat it and pay for a quality stadium.
In any case would County Highways accept a Lodmoor solution because of traffic congestion and where would the appropriate number of car parking spaces to serve a potential League FC be?Although WDDC no doubt will point to the area plan and the provision within for a suitable number of future builds the bulk of the land allocated is green belt and government guidelines suggest brownfield sites should be used in preference and the BLS is designated brownfield also the governmnet inspector has stated that even if a local authourity has land designated within its plan any appeal is likely to be upheld if the district does not have a robust plan(to include funding etc) in place as oppossed to just a plan. In other words a firm committment to build x number of houses as oppossed to just saying we will build at some time on other sites.
Morgan Sindell are a huge company with huge resources and although the application is from WDP a major shareholder in WDP is indeed Morgan Sindell
As for noise issues, parking issues, contamination issues etc all have been addressed and although many may not like the conclusions WDP have engaged experts to address objections that are bound to be madeleo210856 wrote:
Although WDDC no doubt will point to the area plan ................ government guidelines suggest brownfield sites
Interesting but presumably the developers who have the allocated land are also large companies and won’t wish to have their plans overturned by a sub –standard solution. Eric Pickles may have views on loss of community facilities given his localism agenda.
Even if W&PBC’s disinterest in making the land available was overcome (permission without the land?) inadequate parking at Lodmoor not meeting the League standards WFC agreed to may be an obstacle.
chesilboy
says...
1:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13
localclimber wrote:So, in summary, you want to flatten most of our current sports facilities and replace them with a football club?
Lodmoor is a poor site for many reasons that have already been raised.
WFC needs supporters. A return to gates of 1000+ is what's needed to help back any push back towards the leagues.
Move WFC to the Marsh.
Remove the YAC, 'running track', indoor carpet walking centre, route a new road in from the dangerous mini-roundabout, right under the embankment and round the back of the site, taking traffic off Knightsdale Road.
While we're there, flatten the hideously inadequate swimming pool.
The site can then have a stadium up against the embankment, indoor sports centre and gym built onto it, small 5-a-side floodlit pitches and several training pitches.
Small multi-storey car park jammed up against the embankment if necessary.
All with eco-friendly banking, cladding and foliage to 'hide' it away.
Double-yellow the stretch of Newstead Road from Asda too.
Local Sat/Sun leagues can still use the pitches, as can kids clubs, all of which will help drive new club supporters and use of the facilities driving extra revenue for the club.
The main benefit of the location would be exactly what is missing at the Wessex - central access for fans. All bus routes converge on the town, fans can be encouraged to use town centre parking etc (top floor of Asda even). It would drag in many more people who would 'pop down' to watch the match than at the Wessex.
Then put a new 50m swimming/sports complex at the Wessex.
Simples, get promoted and hammer the Maggots on the way back to the leagues.
Now, anyone got £25million spare?
No thanks.
leo210856
says...
1:22pm Fri 25 Jan 13
leo210856 wrote:
Douglas Mc wrote:
But if WDDC won’t allow housing at the Wessex Site as they claim to have preferable sites allocated to meet demand for the next 20 years where will the money come to buy the land at Lodmoor, treat it and pay for a quality stadium.
In any case would County Highways accept a Lodmoor solution because of traffic congestion and where would the appropriate number of car parking spaces to serve a potential League FC be?Although WDDC no doubt will point to the area plan and the provision within for a suitable number of future builds the bulk of the land allocated is green belt and government guidelines suggest brownfield sites should be used in preference and the BLS is designated brownfield also the governmnet inspector has stated that even if a local authourity has land designated within its plan any appeal is likely to be upheld if the district does not have a robust plan(to include funding etc) in place as oppossed to just a plan. In other words a firm committment to build x number of houses as oppossed to just saying we will build at some time on other sites.
Morgan Sindell are a huge company with huge resources and although the application is from WDP a major shareholder in WDP is indeed Morgan Sindell
As for noise issues, parking issues, contamination issues etc all have been addressed and although many may not like the conclusions WDP have engaged experts to address objections that are bound to be madeleo210856 wrote:
Although WDDC no doubt will point to the area plan ................ government guidelines suggest brownfield sites
Interesting but presumably the developers who have the allocated land are also large companies and won’t wish to have their plans overturned by a sub –standard solution. Eric Pickles may have views on loss of community facilities given his localism agenda.
Even if W&PBC’s disinterest in making the land available was overcome (permission without the land?) inadequate parking at Lodmoor not meeting the League standards WFC agreed to may be an obstacle.Within the proposed WDDC &WPBC local plan there is a statement that it is acceptable to loose recreational/ leisure facilities if those facilities are replaced with equal or better ones . Have a look at the plans its dfficult to argue that wouldnt be the case
Parking is covered quite cleverly in the submisson the suggestion is that there will be more than enough(football is played, in the main over the autum and winter when there isnt much need for holiday/ daytripper parking at Lodmoor. I am unaware that parking for much more than the team coach and a couple of dozen spaces would be an issue indeed I am preety sure it does not feature in any ground grading requirements. I have been to several new stadia over the last few years and other than a few spaces there arent many spaces provided within the stadium complex for supporters and I include in that Sawnsea, Wembley, Cardiff, Bolton, Reading & Sundeland yes there are more at Southampton but not that many.I agree it is preferable but I dont think it would be a major stumbling block.
Having said all that I am not sold on the site and yes not owning the land is an issue but if someone were to offer mony to a cash strapped council for a bit of what is in effect wasteland well who knows.
PHonnor says...
1:06pm Mon 21 Jan 13