Ron quote:

[simply_blues]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Oct. 04 2006,08:43)]

Quote[/b] (Angell Delight @ Oct. 03 2006,21:13)]"We would want the stadium to be operating 24/7 and because of this the turnout - even in year one - could potentially double, which would put many millions at the managers disposal."

How good does that sound chaps?  

It sounds fantastic. But I'm not going to get carried away until the proposal is formally accepted by the Council in early 2007 and the first foundations are laid at the Fossetts Farm, even probably not until the stadium starts taking shape. Why? Well, we've been down the particular avenue of tantilising hope far too many times in the past and we're still at Roots Hall. That's not to say I don't have any faith in Ron Martin - I probably have more than I've ever had since he first appeared at the club 7-8 years ago - but I'm not getting excited until this particularly tense period is over ...

totall agree with all you've said, Mike - another thing which concerns me is the timeframe for the new stadium. While the club obviously want to relocate as soon as possible, i believe that 2008/9 may be unrealistic. The councils decision will not be until the new year and once this has been revealed, building work would be unlikely to commence immediately.

Looking at the plans, there is a hell of a lot of construction needed, and i doubt that a safety certificate will be issued until all work is completed to the stadium and surrounding retail units.

I am sure that start of season 2009/10 will be a more realistic target, and in the current light, i'm sure Ron Martin will be more than happy if this proves to be the case.

Al

 

[Angell Delight]

Quote[/b] (simply_blues @ Oct. 04 2006,09:01)]I am sure that start of season 2009/10 will be a more realistic target

I agree.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (simply_blues @ Oct. 04 2006,10:01)]another thing which concerns me is the timeframe for the new stadium. While the club obviously want to relocate as soon as possible, i believe that 2008/9 may be unrealistic.

Yep, I'm also a little sceptical of the timeframe BUT Ron Martin might only be referring to the completion of the stadium itself rather than the whole complex. When I spoke to him about five or six years ago, he said that the timeframe for the original stadium (without, if I remember correctly, any retail development) was 18-24 months, including the often long and drawn out tender process. He may have already put out invitations for tender (which, at the time, he estimated would take about 6 months) in anticipation of a positive response from Southend Council to reduce delays; we simply don't know. So, yeah, I don't think the BEGINNING of the 2008/90 season is realistic (but I'm not a stadium construction engineer) although the official site does actually did say "EARLY in the 2008/09 season" ...

 

[fredheim_holm]

CANT WAIITT!!

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

I too am really excited by the plans which look fantastic.

What concerns me most at the moment is the liklihood of actually getting planning permission. I know from interviews with Ron on the radio that he has had loads of meetings with the planners, however I am surprised that they may have encouraged residential development on this site (127 units according to the plans). My knowledge of the planning on this site is historical, so things may have changed, but at no time previously has residential development ever been allocated on the Fossetts Farm site and I am wondering if Ron is just trying it on a little here. This may therefore prolong the process. I imagine that this is a fairly hefty chunk on the enabling funding for the stadium. In (very) rough figures, about 1/3 of the value of a property is in the land, therefore if we take an average sale price of £100,000 (allowing for the affordable housing that will need to be provided) then that's £33,333 per unit. Multiplied by 127 that's over £4million if he can get planning permission. My sums may well be out and I am happy to be corrected by someone more familiar with this process than I, but my guess is that I'm not that far out and therefore the securing of 127 residential units on this site is a significant part of the equation, and one that I would be surprised if even Ron can pull off.

I hope I am proved wrong!

 

[MilkeySUFC]

If my house insurance is anything to go by, the price of land comprises 2/3rd's the cost (i.e. the rebuild cost, according to the valuer, is 1/3rd the value of the purchase price). But these 127 units will surely be flats, what does that do to the equation?

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (simply_blues @ Oct. 04 2006,09:16)]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ Oct. 04 2006,08:13)]

Quote[/b] (fredheim_holm @ Oct. 03 2006,22:13)]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Oct. 03 2006,20:43)]

Quote[/b] (fredheim_holm @ Oct. 03 2006,20:42)]Can't wait till we can drive past and see how the development is going!

Your not old enough to drive are you  

 

sorry, i was thinking that when i typed it, i meant when im in a car going past, and yes, i am to young  

Don't worry, by the time the place is being built, you will be a middle-aged Volvo driver.

so what are you driving, now that the Volva would have been retired ??

Al

I'm walking!

 

[Angell Delight]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Oct. 04 2006,09:12)]BEGINNING of the 2008/90 season

Crikey Mike that's a long season - Mourinho/Benitez complained about the effects of the World Cup on players and that was only another few weeks!!

 

[Tilly hates yellow boots]

Quote[/b] (Angell Delight @ Oct. 04 2006,17:36)]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Oct. 04 2006,09:12)]BEGINNING of the 2008/90 season

Crikey Mike that's a long season - Mourinho/Benitez complained about the effects of the World Cup on players and that was only another few weeks!!  

wow great spot, i love posts like that. I hope ricketts can stay fit for that season.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (jcrcr @ Oct. 04 2006,17:57)]

Quote[/b] (Angell Delight @ Oct. 04 2006,17:36)]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Oct. 04 2006,09:12)]BEGINNING of the 2008/90 season

Crikey Mike that's a long season - Mourinho/Benitez complained about the effects of the World Cup on players and that was only another few weeks!!  

wow great spot, i love posts like that. I hope ricketts can stay fit for that season.

LOL

 

[The General]

I saw early about the residential area and wondered, where has that come from?! This, as well, as the hotel, is fairly cheeky and not something that im sure will be allowed. But if we can make a few million quid of it, who can grumble!

The plans looks fantastic, and i'd say the chances of us playing in it for the 2008/09 season are pretty damn slim. I'd be delighted if we were in there before 2010, let alone 12+ months before that.

This can only help the club move forward and explaining to some people at work today was pretty painful. They were asking whats the point of having a half-full stadium, at best, so i had to go on and explain that the club needs income coming into the club 24/7, and not once every 14 days. Bloody numbnuts!

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Quote from Ron today in the Echo:-

"So far I have heard no adverse comments from officers or members, so I am hopeful planning permission will be granted quickly so we could be on site early next year".

"There could be a major delay if the plans are called in by the Government for a public enquiry, but I can't see no reason why this should be necessary."

He can't see a reason, BUT I'm sure there are people out there getting ready their battle plans against the new stadium as we speak.

 

[fredheim_holm]

Quote[/b] (Up the Shrimps @ Oct. 04 2006,20:26)]but I can't see no reason why this should be necessary."

He can't see a reason, BUT I'm sure there are people out there getting ready their battle plans against the new stadium as we speak.

oh no! he can not see no reason, implying he can see a reason!

 

[prittlewellshrimper]

Dont forget that there is already a very large ,busy Waitrose , a BUPA hospital and there will soon be a huge B & Q store on the Fossets Farm site and that the service road from Sutton Road is also under construction as we speak so if these have all had the planners blessing then why would they not welcome the stadium development , more to the point on what grounds could people object and be listened to ?  Also 3 of the few hotels/function suites ie The Cumberland ,The Elsemere and The Roslin are all being sold at present with at least 1  ( probably all 3 )  will become flats .The point being that hotel rooms will be welcome by the Council , as for conference facilities , the Council have been frothing at the gash for ages to have some in the town . All in all it appears Ron knows excactly what the Council wants , what the football public want and of course what his Bank manager wants and seems to come up with plans that will make all of them happy .

 

[Draft Shrimper]

The element of residential development may come from what is stipulated in the Local Plan, although i can't be sure. One thing's for sure though the resi element will off-set costs somewhat (even excluding the hotels and commercial elements).  I reckon your be talking some 200k each for one of those properties (that’s assuming they are all private but some will probably need to be affordable housing).  

Just because Ron says the Council is supportive does by no means guarantee anything of course. External consultees must issue there compliance and local councillors will must be convinced by the proposals.

I believe about 3 weeks before the planning committee date the planners will write there reports recommending it for approval or refusal.  Even if it’s for approval it still doesn't guarantee success. Fingers crossed though.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

I think if the officers recommend for approval, then we'll be fine - there seems to be no mood to be anti-SUFC in the borough as there was in certain political parties during the Jobson era

 

[Smiffy]

Well, we need to do our bit by showing our support to the local officials..

Does anyone have an e-mail or postal address we can all flood showing our support for the plans?..

I think the mods should think about a joint SZ show of unison regarding this matter...

Over to you guys.......

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (prittlewellshrimper @ Oct. 04 2006,21:43)]Dont forget that there is already a very large ,busy Waitrose , a BUPA hospital and there will soon be a huge B & Q store on the Fossets Farm site and that the service road from Sutton Road is also under construction as we speak so if these have all had the planners blessing then why would they not welcome the stadium development , more to the point on what grounds could people object and be listened to ? Also 3 of the few hotels/function suites ie The Cumberland ,The Elsemere and The Roslin are all being sold at present with at least 1 ( probably all 3 ) will become flats .The point being that hotel rooms will be welcome by the Council , as for conference facilities , the Council have been frothing at the gash for ages to have some in the town . All in all it appears Ron knows excactly what the Council wants , what the football public want and of course what his Bank manager wants and seems to come up with plans that will make all of them happy .

I did enjoy this post although I'm not sure whether it's because it actually raises fresh issues all supportive of our cause or because it uses the term "frothing at the gash".

 

[Beefy]

With regard to the timescale, Ron Martin may have known little about running a football club when he came to Southend, but one thing he does know about is building things. If he thinks it will be ready for the early part of the 08/09 season then as long as its not called in by the Government then I don't see who anyone on here is to question that.

 

[simply_blues]

Quote[/b] (Beefy @ Oct. 04 2006,23:46)]With regard to the timescale, Ron Martin may have known little about running a football club when he came to Southend, but one thing he does know about is building things. If he thinks it will be ready for the early part of the 08/09 season then as long as its not called in by the Government then I don't see who anyone on here is to question that.

due respect to those concerned, but i'm sure the owners and current builders of Wembley Stadium have an equal, if not better knowledge of construction - and where has it got them ? A stadium which is year behind completion

all things relative, Wembley is a much larger project, and subsequently, more time was allowed for its completion

If myself and others are wrong, in your eyes, for questioning the proposed completion date, then we shall stand corrected once the stadium is opened in early 2008/2009

Al