ska invita
back on the other side
From the thread here http://forums.footballwebpages.co.uk/forum.jsp?id=264&article=2357
this post is worth repeating i think, in case anyone missed it:
"I've held my tongue for months but enough is enough.
Can we get one thing ABSOLUTELY clear: There is no way we'll be building a new ground on Greendales. This is a pipe dream pedalled by developers to attempt to win fans over about the loss of the current ground and many are falling for it.
Once we lose the principle of staying exactly where we are, our whole position has been weakened. Everyone wants to negotiate but when push comes to shove, the new owners have no desire to do anything other than build houses on their newly acquired land and make the transition from club-to-houses as smooth as possible for everyone...especially themselves.
By promising an alternative ground, they can go about their plans to build houses, starting almost certainly, with the car park as that's a quick win everyone can support. We as fans will then be merrily invited to attend consultations with models, drawings and CGIs of 3G pitches, covered stands, bars etc . Those with influence (vocal fans, DHST, the 12th man etc) will be made to feel all gooey and loved by having special meetings with the landowners to talk about how the plans are going.
But then when Southwark reject planning for the sites, the landowner is absolved from responsibility, the battleground moves on and then becomes the fans vs the council. The developer then claims "we're so advanced with our plans, we can't actually back-track from the buildingwork on the ground but as Southwark have scuppered the plans we'll help find you an alternative ground instead". They will then gradually step back.
This is not the views of a cynic, this is the view of someone who works as for a developer and for my sins, I'm paid to do this elsewhere in London so have a pretty good idea how this will turn out over the next few months.
Unless you fancy travelling to Penge to watch the games, I'd hold strong. We play our games at Champion Hill, we have to find a way to keep doing that."
Some valid points there, but i think your views would carry more weight if you had the bollocks to log in and put a name to your post.
It is possible than an alternative site may have to be found, but who thought that Streatham Redskins would return to Streatham, after a temporary rink was built in Brixton? If Greendales is allowed to be built on then that IS our best option. To be honest, years ago I would have been against any new ground in Penge, I assume you mean the derelict Orchards playing fields in Anerley, or are there other potential sites in Penge. But now i'd go with that if it meant a protected ,supporter-led club. After all, it's done Wealdstone no harm, to be relocated away from their Harrow heartland in Wealdstone.
You fibnish by stating: "Unless you fancy travelling to Penge to watch the games, I'd hold strong. We play our games at Champion Hill, we have to find a way to keep doing that."
Well come on, you got any suggestions on that? You sound as if you are someone 'in the know' after all? Perhaps 'contacts at the Town Hall'...Maybe even with Council experience yourself, who knows?
The Club is fucked as it is...why not work with the new owners of the ground and see how it goes? If we are shafted we'll certainly be no worse than we are...and right at THIS VERY MINUTE things can't get any worse. Anyway my lunchbreak is almost over, I've 'gassed on' enough, if you get my drift..."
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BTW, If the worst comes to worst and DH have to leave Champion Hill, I would suggest Peckham Town's ground would make the most sense as somewhere to move, and its in Dulwich. No idea what the legalities of that are, and lets hope it doesnt come to that.
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/peckhamtownfootballclub/a/location-11493.html
this post is worth repeating i think, in case anyone missed it:
"I've held my tongue for months but enough is enough.
Can we get one thing ABSOLUTELY clear: There is no way we'll be building a new ground on Greendales. This is a pipe dream pedalled by developers to attempt to win fans over about the loss of the current ground and many are falling for it.
Once we lose the principle of staying exactly where we are, our whole position has been weakened. Everyone wants to negotiate but when push comes to shove, the new owners have no desire to do anything other than build houses on their newly acquired land and make the transition from club-to-houses as smooth as possible for everyone...especially themselves.
By promising an alternative ground, they can go about their plans to build houses, starting almost certainly, with the car park as that's a quick win everyone can support. We as fans will then be merrily invited to attend consultations with models, drawings and CGIs of 3G pitches, covered stands, bars etc . Those with influence (vocal fans, DHST, the 12th man etc) will be made to feel all gooey and loved by having special meetings with the landowners to talk about how the plans are going.
But then when Southwark reject planning for the sites, the landowner is absolved from responsibility, the battleground moves on and then becomes the fans vs the council. The developer then claims "we're so advanced with our plans, we can't actually back-track from the buildingwork on the ground but as Southwark have scuppered the plans we'll help find you an alternative ground instead". They will then gradually step back.
This is not the views of a cynic, this is the view of someone who works as for a developer and for my sins, I'm paid to do this elsewhere in London so have a pretty good idea how this will turn out over the next few months.
Unless you fancy travelling to Penge to watch the games, I'd hold strong. We play our games at Champion Hill, we have to find a way to keep doing that."
Some valid points there, but i think your views would carry more weight if you had the bollocks to log in and put a name to your post.
It is possible than an alternative site may have to be found, but who thought that Streatham Redskins would return to Streatham, after a temporary rink was built in Brixton? If Greendales is allowed to be built on then that IS our best option. To be honest, years ago I would have been against any new ground in Penge, I assume you mean the derelict Orchards playing fields in Anerley, or are there other potential sites in Penge. But now i'd go with that if it meant a protected ,supporter-led club. After all, it's done Wealdstone no harm, to be relocated away from their Harrow heartland in Wealdstone.
You fibnish by stating: "Unless you fancy travelling to Penge to watch the games, I'd hold strong. We play our games at Champion Hill, we have to find a way to keep doing that."
Well come on, you got any suggestions on that? You sound as if you are someone 'in the know' after all? Perhaps 'contacts at the Town Hall'...Maybe even with Council experience yourself, who knows?
The Club is fucked as it is...why not work with the new owners of the ground and see how it goes? If we are shafted we'll certainly be no worse than we are...and right at THIS VERY MINUTE things can't get any worse. Anyway my lunchbreak is almost over, I've 'gassed on' enough, if you get my drift..."
----
BTW, If the worst comes to worst and DH have to leave Champion Hill, I would suggest Peckham Town's ground would make the most sense as somewhere to move, and its in Dulwich. No idea what the legalities of that are, and lets hope it doesnt come to that.
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/peckhamtownfootballclub/a/location-11493.html
