Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,293
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Post by Igitur on Feb 21, 2017 14:16:07 GMT
...not a lot, but at least something. From Bristol Post:
University of the West of England have confirmed they are still keen on doing a deal that would see Bristol Rovers housed in a new stadium next to their campus.
Rovers and UWE have been in negotiations over sale of a 24-acre site in Stoke Gifford that has been earmarked to host the proposed 21,700-capacity stadium as part of a project that was first conceived in 2011.
But supporters have been frustrated by a lack of public announcements since the Al-Qadi family took ownership of the club just over 12 months ago.
Chairman Steve Hamer responded last month by saying Rovers were "doing all we can" to conclude a deal "sooner rather than later" – but appealed for an end to the continued demand for "public commentary".
He added: "People keep asking us about a timeline and when there will be an announcement. All I can say is that there is a timeline and that is before August 2017 when the planning expires. We will work and do all we can to conclude the deal."
UWE have made no comment on the project since last June when, in a joint statement with Hamer, vice-chancellor and commercial director Bill Marshall made clear they were making "excellent progress" and were "working together closer than ever" to deliver the project.
Last week the Post contacted UWE for their current position by asking them the following questions:
· What are the reasons for the delay?
· Are you close to agreeing a deal that is favourable for all parties?
· Are you still committed to the stadium project?
· Is there a possibility that the land could be used for something else?
UWE responded within 24 hours with a short statement attributed to director of Corporate Relations Keith Hicks.
The statement read: "The University is still keen but we understand projects of this size and complexity take time."
Owner Wael Al-Qadi, meanwhile, continued to declare a commitment to the project when interviewed to mark the first anniversary of taking ownership at the Memorial Stadium.
"It is taking some time, but it is a big project," he said. "The talks continue to be ongoing and are moving in the right direction. We are very hopeful that we will eventually get the project going."
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 14:32:33 GMT
Or:
'Post journalist made a half arsed effort, from a sedentary position, to investigate the issue and got nowhere, so that'll have to do' (but expanded to fill some space).
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 15:07:41 GMT
Or: 'Post journalist made a half arsed effort, from a sedentary position, to investigate the issue and got nowhere, so that'll have to do' (but expanded to fill some space). I think those 3 questions got the reply they deserved
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 15:35:37 GMT
The way they've laid out the methodology reminds me of a school project.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 16:12:56 GMT
You've got to admire the chutzpah in making a story out of sending an e-mail, getting a reply, and being none the wiser.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 18:17:22 GMT
The way they've laid out the methodology reminds me of a school project. And they said the art of investigative journalism was dead.
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Post by a more piratey game on Feb 21, 2017 18:23:19 GMT
You've got to admire the chutzpah in making a story out of sending an e-mail, getting a reply, and being none the wiser. 'Bristol Post truth'
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,236
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Post by kingswood Polak on Feb 21, 2017 19:49:54 GMT
Just my Tuppence worth but with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol poxy auto correct
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 20:29:42 GMT
Just my Tupperware e worth nut with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol It's weird was chatting today to a chap at works HQ who lived in Bristol for ages (he supports Newport, but also being Welsh that is OK). He basically said well if things don't work out with UWE why not re-submit the plans for the Memorial again, the rooms which would have held students could be turned into affordable flats for the younger generation. Sounds stupid but in ways I like it.
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Post by Blue Mist on Feb 21, 2017 21:17:52 GMT
and Punxsutawney Phil Predicts seven more weeks of winter. Yawn!
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 8:10:38 GMT
Just my Tuppence worth but with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol poxy auto correct I think the AQ's are well aware that not completing on this deal would signal a lull in the big picture of moving forward Jules and are holding out to get the best deal possible as well as wrangling over the value of additional land purchase. Hard to disagree with lack of watering holes, not many people talk about the traffic though, if arriving by car at uwe, particularly a night game the MOD roundabout is chaotic now between 4pm and 7pm at its peak. Keep the faith mate it will happen soon enough IMO.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Feb 22, 2017 8:22:22 GMT
Just my Tuppence worth but with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol poxy auto correct Hi Jules ! In the distant past, did we not have a massive Bar planned for inside the ground and lots of eating places inside or close outside of the ground ?
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Post by richmace on Feb 22, 2017 9:32:58 GMT
Just my Tupperware e worth nut with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol It's weird was chatting today to a chap at works HQ who lived in Bristol for ages (he supports Newport, but also being Welsh that is OK). He basically said well if things don't work out with UWE why not re-submit the plans for the Memorial again, the rooms which would have held students could be turned into affordable flats for the younger generation. Sounds stupid but in ways I like it. Assuming the UWE does not happen (I still think it will)... If we are funding the stadium build without any enabling feature (ie the student accomodation) at the UWE, why not just simply build a new stadium on the Mem site, similar to the last plans but minus the student flats? We know a stadium (just about) fits on the site, it got planning permission before and without the students it would be a much simpler application. The local residents were crying out for the site to remain for sports use, so it's a win win :-)
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 9:58:15 GMT
It's weird was chatting today to a chap at works HQ who lived in Bristol for ages (he supports Newport, but also being Welsh that is OK). He basically said well if things don't work out with UWE why not re-submit the plans for the Memorial again, the rooms which would have held students could be turned into affordable flats for the younger generation. Sounds stupid but in ways I like it. Assuming the UWE does not happen (I still think it will)... If we are funding the stadium build without any enabling feature (ie the student accomodation) at the UWE, why not just simply build a new stadium on the Mem site, similar to the last plans but minus the student flats? We know a stadium (just about) fits on the site, it got planning permission before and without the students it would be a much simpler application. The local residents were crying out for the site to remain for sports use, so it's a win win :-) You are far too trusting. The nature of some of these people is to complain when you paint your house blue and insist it needs to be red, so to keep them happy you paint it red, then they complain that it's the wrong red. That's what they do, whinge and complain, because they can.
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Post by richmace on Feb 22, 2017 10:18:10 GMT
Assuming the UWE does not happen (I still think it will)... If we are funding the stadium build without any enabling feature (ie the student accomodation) at the UWE, why not just simply build a new stadium on the Mem site, similar to the last plans but minus the student flats? We know a stadium (just about) fits on the site, it got planning permission before and without the students it would be a much simpler application. The local residents were crying out for the site to remain for sports use, so it's a win win :-) You are far too trusting. The nature of some of these people is to complain when you paint your house blue and insist it needs to be red, so to keep them happy you paint it red, then they complain that it's the wrong red. That's what they do, whinge and complain, because they can. There was a bucketful of sarcasm with my comment :-) From what I can tell, the locals really want a local park on the site, with no noisy football to bother them. The problem with even something as simple as a park is that kids will gather there and no situation is ever perfect...
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Post by Henbury Gas on Feb 22, 2017 10:37:54 GMT
It's weird was chatting today to a chap at works HQ who lived in Bristol for ages (he supports Newport, but also being Welsh that is OK). He basically said well if things don't work out with UWE why not re-submit the plans for the Memorial again, the rooms which would have held students could be turned into affordable flats for the younger generation. Sounds stupid but in ways I like it. Assuming the UWE does not happen (I still think it will)... If we are funding the stadium build without any enabling feature (ie the student accomodation) at the UWE, why not just simply build a new stadium on the Mem site, similar to the last plans but minus the student flats? We know a stadium (just about) fits on the site, it got planning permission before and without the students it would be a much simpler application. The local residents were crying out for the site to remain for sports use, so it's a win win :-) We would have to buy 12 houses on Filton Ave as well
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 11:01:30 GMT
You are far too trusting. The nature of some of these people is to complain when you paint your house blue and insist it needs to be red, so to keep them happy you paint it red, then they complain that it's the wrong red. That's what they do, whinge and complain, because they can. There was a bucketful of sarcasm with my comment :-) From what I can tell, the locals really want a local park on the site, with no noisy football to bother them. The problem with even something as simple as a park is that kids will gather there and no situation is ever perfect... Don't be taken in by what a couple of loud activists say. Most people have moved into the area since Rovers arrived, are generally supportive of the club and aren't too bothered by 25 or so events a year. Park is never going to happen, the site will be residential with a token memorial garden and one depressing cul-de-sac called Memorial Heights or something equally gut-wrenching.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 13:17:13 GMT
Just my Tuppence worth but with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol poxy auto correct Hi Jules ! In the distant past, did we not have a massive Bar planned for inside the ground and lots of eating places inside or close outside of the ground ? The original plan was for the supporters bar and room to run the entire length of the pitch, and to be partitioned half way on match days, ale n pasty on side and prawns and proseco the other. Then on non match days the room opens up to hold 3k people for live music, hopefully its still in the plan as live music would be great.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,236
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Post by kingswood Polak on Feb 22, 2017 19:24:14 GMT
Just my Tuppence worth but with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol poxy auto correct Hi Jules ! In the distant past, did we not have a massive Bar planned for inside the ground and lots of eating places inside or close outside of the ground ? Hi fella, I believe so but it's still nice to have some choice and maybe the negotiations are taking a pub into account ?
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Post by badbloodash on Feb 22, 2017 19:57:43 GMT
Just my Tuppence worth but with Steve Hamer saying, at the AGM. there is a plan B and the lack of any real statement from UWE make me believe its dead. On a personal level & with Kevlar head protection firmly in place, I really am not keen on it. The lack of pubs and isolated nature of this place really don't endear me. I understand that the club needs better but I'd much prefer either Refurb of our current ground or something more people friendly in choice of pre match entertainment and lubrication. I shudder to think of seeing a half filled bowl type stadium. I trust Mr Al Qadi to bring us what will be right for the club. I just hope I am still kicking if/when it happens. I believe planning is up Jan 2018 so I'd hazard a guess we would really need to hear and see more urgency if the UWE project were happening but I am often wrong lol poxy auto correct I think the AQ's are well aware that not completing on this deal would signal a lull in the big picture of moving forward Jules and are holding out to get the best deal possible as well as wrangling over the value of additional land purchase. Hard to disagree with lack of watering holes, not many people talk about the traffic though, if arriving by car at uwe, particularly a night game the MOD roundabout is chaotic now between 4pm and 7pm at its peak. Keep the faith mate it will happen soon enough IMO. Can it not be accessed from Filton avenue and the back fro lockleaze by foot was hoping the bulldog and golden bottle could be the new gas watering holes prior to a home game
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