Cheshiregas
Global Moderator
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,165 
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Post by Cheshiregas on Sept 12, 2017 9:20:27 GMT
www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steve-hamer-delivers-update-new-458698Steve Hamer delivers update on Bristol Rovers new training ground development
Bristol Rovers chairman Steve Hamer has explained exactly what stage the club are at in developing their new Colony training ground. Rovers acquired the land in February this year but have not yet submitted a planning application to South Gloucestershire Council. “The pre-planning consultation has been returned,” confirmed Hamer to the Post. “Which I’ve got to say is encouraging, I think it’s pretty favourable. The next stage now is for us to complete our planning and make that submission. Once that’s hopefully been agreed, and there is probably a bit of back forth to go with that, we can get on with it.” Many Rovers fans have been desperate for news as to when work could start at the new 30-acre site and when the club could begin training there. “I can understand people’s frustrations,” admitted Hamer. “But you always have to respect the local residents and you don’t want to be up there doing things when maybe you’ve jumped the gun or they’re not permissible. “It’s not that we’re dragging our heels or hiding behind bushes pretending we’ve done this or done that. You want to make sure everybody has a very clear understanding of what our intention is, and sometimes if you’re a fan of a football club you want it to happen and sometimes those within a football club, who have a responsibility of making sure all bases are covered properly, can’t be as presumptuous as you would wish.” While the new ground will obviously host both Rovers’ first team and development squads, Hamer is also keen to see the club expand when at its new home. “Tom Gorringe [commercial director] who has just joined us tells me that Brighton’s ground is only 10 acres and we’ve got 30 acres, which is absolutely outstanding,” enthused Hamer. “So if we can really develop that to the extent we want to, we can introduce everything there. “In fairness, a lot of those great ideas need decent facilities to support it. We’ve had many overtures and approaches from various people who want to start ladies’ teams and play in the Rovers blue and white quarters. It’s absolutely fantastic. “But right now, where are we going to put them? I think we have to give them the best. “Getting the training ground opens up all kinds of different horizons. It’s important that we as a club are all under one roof.”
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simonj
Archie Stevens
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 817
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Post by simonj on Sept 12, 2017 9:29:32 GMT
Seems fair enough to me and a sensible approach. Get it right from the outset, the process becomes quicker overall. Means a slow start for those impatient amongst us, but when all is in order the development goes along potentially unhindered.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 9:32:09 GMT
What a load of vacuous drivel.  Maybe it's just me, but are all of Hamer's statements written as if he's addressing 5 year olds? |
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Post by a more piratey game on Sept 12, 2017 9:45:53 GMT
has anyone heard any more about that unpaid bill/bills?
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,181
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Post by eppinggas on Sept 12, 2017 9:50:25 GMT
I think we are clearly in the "stalling for time" phase. 6 months to get a pre-planning consultation returned on the Training Facility? Can one of the planning experts on here give us some idea of when it would be reasonable to expect work TO ACTUALLY START. Meanwhile back at the Mem it's all systems go with the 'just starting Plan B'. ie. looking at options about what might be possible in the future. Excuse my cynicism. But right now it is inescapable.
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Post by DudeLebowski on Sept 12, 2017 10:24:48 GMT
DOOOOM & GLOOOOOOM!
Must be a laugh riot in some of your places of residence. I'll take this time to pray for your friends & families.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 10:32:27 GMT
DOOOOM & GLOOOOOOM! Must be a laugh riot in some of your places of residence. I'll take this time to pray for your friends & families. Could and should have been avoided by managing the way the failure to deliver UWE was presented. I was far from convinced by Hamer from day 1, the way he dealt with the first crisis confirmed my worst fears, Wael was also caught off guard and didn't handle it well. This is when you find out who you are dealing with, not when Lee Brown wins promotion in the last minute of the season and Wael gets carried shoulder high down Gloucester Rd, it's when things go wrong. UWE was the first big test, it didn't go so well, now we have this random assortment of thoughts thrown together by Hamer. It's beginning to unravel off the field. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 11:14:49 GMT
I'd like to think the plans are drawn up and ready to go, but I reckon they'd be on show if they were?
Edit: he actually confirms they're not.
Still, at least we've had the pre-planning report returned. I'd be interested to know what was in it, but instead I'll sit comfortably knowing Brighton have ten acres.
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Post by CountyGroundHotel on Sept 12, 2017 11:26:18 GMT
One of his more I sightful statements except for the untruth about Rovers acquiring the site. But could you really put a 20 or 30k stadium on site a third the size of the mem. We certainly won't giving surrounding houses but it does seem amazing if Brighton have managed that
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,181
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Post by eppinggas on Sept 12, 2017 11:29:45 GMT
DOOOOM & GLOOOOOOM! Must be a laugh riot in some of your places of residence. I'll take this time to pray for your friends & families. I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking if you think £20mil+ is going to be spent by Dwane Sports into the Mem re-build. In the meantime I'll pray that your hangover isn't too bad. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 11:32:23 GMT
Careful Dude..you'll get accused of being a board lackey, for not decrying everything that happens off the pitch at Rovers.
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Post by PessimistGas on Sept 12, 2017 11:46:47 GMT
I think we are clearly in the "stalling for time" phase. 6 months to get a pre-planning consultation returned on the Training Facility? Can one of the planning experts on here give us some idea of when it would be reasonable to expect work TO ACTUALLY START. Meanwhile back at the Mem it's all systems go with the 'just starting Plan B'. ie. looking at options about what might be possible in the future. Excuse my cynicism. But right now it is inescapable. Another statement of no real substance that smacks of stalling for time. Being in for next pre season has been quietly dropped. If a planning application went in tomorrow then 8-13 weeks before a decision, depending on whether it is considered a major application or not. So January at the earliest - however there is nothing stopping them getting on with prepretory works now. It is taking much longer than you would expect for what is a relatively straightforward and uncontroversial project. Perhaps there is a good reason for this, though I am struggling to think what this might be. I would rather be critical than stick my fingers in my ears and go ' la la la' and pretend everything is fine. |
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Post by nortongas on Sept 12, 2017 11:52:13 GMT
Talk is cheap. The money tree not bearing fruit atm. Not a fan of Steve Hamer's dinosaur PR. I'm grateful for any improvements made to the club, but cant help but think this is anything but stalling tactics.
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Post by PessimistGas on Sept 12, 2017 11:53:15 GMT
Careful Dude..you'll get accused of being a board lackey, for not decrying everything that happens off the pitch at Rovers. Not sure anyone has accused anyone of being a board lackey, nor decried everything that is happening off the pitch. There are some very legitimate concerns that have been raised and not properly answered. At the end of the day, we all love the club and we all want the same thing. |
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simonj
Archie Stevens
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 817
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Post by simonj on Sept 12, 2017 12:05:54 GMT
DOOOOM & GLOOOOOOM! Must be a laugh riot in some of your places of residence. I'll take this time to pray for your friends & families. Could and should have been avoided by managing the way the failure to deliver UWE was presented. I was far from convinced by Hamer from day 1, the way he dealt with the first crisis confirmed my worst fears, Wael was also caught off guard and didn't handle it well. This is when you find out who you are dealing with, not when Lee Brown wins promotion in the last minute of the season and Wael gets carried shoulder high down Gloucester Rd, it's when things go wrong. UWE was the first big test, it didn't go so well, now we have this random assortment of thoughts thrown together by Hamer. It's beginning to unravel off the field. Do me a favour and tell me who does impress you, its clearly nobody at Rovers, so I'd like to hear, and not just a bloke with a big wallet. From the availability who should it be doing this job? Suppose DC's 5 yr contract, the backroom team additions and the latest one Tom Gorrindge are not up to much either?
For me the first big test was when Lee Brown got the winner and we returned to the Football League and Wael was carried shoulder high.
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Post by PessimistGas on Sept 12, 2017 12:43:34 GMT
Seems fair enough to me and a sensible approach. Get it right from the outset, the process becomes quicker overall. Means a slow start for those impatient amongst us, but when all is in order the development goes along potentially unhindered. It's a lot waffle that leaves everything wide open to speculation. How about..? - pre-planning has taken longer than expected due to the need be spot on with our process. (This means absolutely nothing as that's what pre planning is for) For example, there was X, which took a long time because X. There were a number of similar issues which have now resolved. - because of our diligent work in pre-planning (7 fookin months) we expect the full planning to go smoothly. - we hope to be in a position to submit a full planning application within X with the aim of commencing building work x - reaffirm commitment to facility capable of obtaining cat 2 acadeny status. - aim to move in by X (subject to change). Sorry, it's just the usual guff. |
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Smithy Gas
Craig Hinton
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 271
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Post by Smithy Gas on Sept 12, 2017 12:43:48 GMT
South Glos are currently taking about 3 weeks to validate planning applications for residential extensions, let alone struggling to issue decisions in the allocated 8 weeks so I can easily see how this could have taken 6 months.
They would have prepared plans for the pre application and these will now be tweaked to suit the outcome of that consultation - whoever suggested nothing has been started is being disingenuous I think.
Still, with a months work time on finalising plans and 2-3 months in planning, the estimate of January is a decent one.
It must be remembered that the approved plans are for a very basic building and some pitches, where you must assume (until plans are submitted and we can see proof) that the new proposals are going to be more advanced and therefore that is why time is being taken to get this right. The land is in the greenbelt so it needs to be designed and finished correctly to be passed first time.
Just my thoughts based on first hand knowledge of the planning system in the area...
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 15:57:20 GMT
Could and should have been avoided by managing the way the failure to deliver UWE was presented. I was far from convinced by Hamer from day 1, the way he dealt with the first crisis confirmed my worst fears, Wael was also caught off guard and didn't handle it well. This is when you find out who you are dealing with, not when Lee Brown wins promotion in the last minute of the season and Wael gets carried shoulder high down Gloucester Rd, it's when things go wrong. UWE was the first big test, it didn't go so well, now we have this random assortment of thoughts thrown together by Hamer. It's beginning to unravel off the field. Do me a favour and tell me who does impress you, its clearly nobody at Rovers, so I'd like to hear, and not just a bloke with a big wallet. From the availability who should it be doing this job? Suppose DC's 5 yr contract, the backroom team additions and the latest one Tom Gorrindge are not up to much either?
For me the first big test was when Lee Brown got the winner and we returned to the Football League and Wael was carried shoulder high.
Scroll back through my posts, I speak as I find, I was Wael's biggest cheer leader until the farcical way that the news about UWE broke, the way the club handled it and the very worrying information that Swiss has posted. Not being funny, but we were promoted back to the League at Wembley 9 months before Higgs sold up, Lee's goal took us from L2 to L1. Edit. Just to add, for confirmation, I posted that I was very impressed with the first interview by our new commercial Director, it's right there in the thread, take a look. I understand that he's been busy contacting clients and arranging to meet people to put faces to names. I like the bloke. |
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danrory
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 171
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Post by danrory on Sept 12, 2017 17:20:04 GMT
30 acres...!! Suggest a couple of pitches, clubhouse, gym, bar, few plots of potatoes, perhaps a small orchard, early sown wheat has done well lately and maybe a plot for some llamas as they seem everywhere these days- must be money in it. Jobs a good un!
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Post by droitwichgas on Sept 13, 2017 17:54:57 GMT
South Glos are currently taking about 3 weeks to validate planning applications for residential extensions, let alone struggling to issue decisions in the allocated 8 weeks so I can easily see how this could have taken 6 months. They would have prepared plans for the pre application and these will now be tweaked to suit the outcome of that consultation - whoever suggested nothing has been started is being disingenuous I think. Still, with a months work time on finalising plans and 2-3 months in planning, the estimate of January is a decent one. It must be remembered that the approved plans are for a very basic building and some pitches, where you must assume (until plans are submitted and we can see proof) that the new proposals are going to be more advanced and therefore that is why time is being taken to get this right. The land is in the greenbelt so it needs to be designed and finished correctly to be passed first time. Just my thoughts based on first hand knowledge of the planning system in the area... Assuming this is the case then hopefully the plans will be submitted in the next month or so, which will then show progress is actually being made. Although getting pp to build the training ground complex costing £Xm and actually getting on building it are two different things! |
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