|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 16:49:00 GMT
Post by greenman on Jan 29, 2016 16:49:00 GMT
I too have written to Robin Walker and my local Conservative councillor complaining about their lack of will. I would urge everyone to do the same.
|
|
stamoo
First Teamer
Posts: 349
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 17:03:01 GMT
Post by stamoo on Jan 29, 2016 17:03:01 GMT
Forgive me I may sound rather thick or naive here BUT I wasn't aware that we lived in a dictatorship. Pediswell does not belong to Ms Ramsay the CEO or the Vice Chair of the Council. It belongs to the people of Worcester US and the Council look after on our behalf as it was bought with public (OUR) money. It is not for Ms Ramsay or anyone else to say whether or not Perdiswell is available as a new home for our Club. Surely such a proposal must be voted on by the whole Council as they are our elected representatives and they will make the decision in a democratic manner by a vote by the Council subject of course to Planning permission being granted.
And on the subject of planning permission after 3 years sterling work by the Trust and the Club and the thousands of pounds of valuable cash spent to get the application this far the very LEAST we can expect is that the application is put before the Planning Committee to consider.
I do appreciate that without 'political will' ( and who is to say what that is and whether it exists or not without a vote by the whole Council) it may be an uphill struggle and we may fail BUT there is such a thing as due democratic process and openness and transparency and I would want to see the issue debated in Council and see what reasons the Naysayers give for turning us down. The bottom line is we have a magnificent case to put forward one that will bring significant benefits to the Community - let's see the Council argue publicly against that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 17:14:37 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 17:14:37 GMT
Well said Stamoo
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 17:42:50 GMT
Post by Croc on Jan 29, 2016 17:42:50 GMT
A good thing to bring up when writing or speaking to Robin Walker - his father Sir Peter used to be President of the Football Club
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 17:49:59 GMT
Post by richwidd on Jan 29, 2016 17:49:59 GMT
As for Perdiswell, I think we may have missed a trick with our plans that might have swung things more in our favour with the locals. I did suggest something along these lines to Dave, Rob and a couple of others a couple of years ago having visited Sutton United. Sutton have a facility built onto their stadium which some friends took me to one evening for which they use, apart from the usual wedding reception and party facility, they also use this for what they call the 'Boom Boom' club where they have weekly bands (mainly tribute bands) playing on Friday evenings and sometimes other nights of the week. Now I am not suggesting we should do that and that alone and I appreciate their are licensing issues but it could be one of a plethora of ways we could use such a facility. I have seen other Clubs use their facilities for other uses such as Chalfont St. Peters who use theirs as a nursery, another whose name escapes me were hiring out part of theirs as an office space for a small start up company, while others make theirs available as just a general meeting hall. I believe if we had submitted a 'Phase 2' type facility built in the same style next to the Club house we could provide a facility where groups such as a lonely elderly peoples club for those living on their own when say their partners pass on have somewhere to go and meet similar people and socialise. A mothers and toddlers group, if there was a small stage somewhere where local amateur dramatic and musicians could hire to practice and maybe even stage a production or performance. What about making the room or part their of available for say a job club for those seeking work. There are endless other clubs that might appreciate having a venue such as for budding artists, photographers etc. Yes we would need a bar and kitchen facilities for the parties, wedding receptions and the evenings when a theatrical play or a band was performing but maybe that bar could be open during the day alongside the cafe facility to act as a local social club with a nominal annual membership. I think such a facility would create a lot of good will in the local community and generate a steady income stream for the club. Even if ultimately Perdiswell does turn out to be history and we have to think again I think the above should be factored into any future plans even if it cannot be built from the outset. We need the local community on side and we need a reliable income stream beyond that the Club can generate. We no longer have the luxury of just being a Football Club we have to be so much more if we are to have a future. The Black Pear Joggers who after a presentation from us over a year ago decided they would like to be our first Community Partner should it ever happen and they have several hundred members. We have also presented to several schools over the past couple of years, all of whom said they would like to use the proposed facilities on their doorstep. There are several rooms within the main building and part of the Trust business plan is set up to make it welcoming for local groups, clubs and businesses, in fact the whole of the business plan and ground plan is dependent on multi-activity which includes cycling (and a dedicated cycle centre), dance groups, other sports and any other groups which means involvement all year round. We were expecting to have made all of this public several months ago before a handful of Tories decided they don't want it. There are a lot of locals who will never back this, as it is a very convenient Dog Toilet & it is a very quiet place with no sporting activities other than Golf. Myself and Dave Wood went to a meeting at Perdiswell Sports Centre two years ago for "locals" to set up a "Friends of Perdiswell Group". It was the second attempt at forming one as they couldn't agree what they would have to do but most importantly, who they hated the most. The Dog Walkers hate the golfers and vice versa, none of then like kids making a noise, infact the dog walkers hate everyone especially the fishermen & funnily enough the Footballers were blamed for all the litter, despite none played there. This meeting was 95% made up of protesters and we were not very welcome when we told them who we were. We were even less welcome when we provided factual evidence to counteract arguments they were throwing at us (along with the abuse). EG - There would be marauding Football Fans at every game - this was met with the fact that there had only been 1 arrest at a game in the last five years of us at SGL - that apparently meant nothing.(I made a Freedom of Information Request to West Mercia Police and The City Council soon after we left SGL with a lot of questions about noise, parking, disorder etc. There were hardly ANY complaints.) They liked it even less when they were told that Dave lived over the road and I grew up on the Blanquettes Estate and went to Perdiswell Primary (which meant we were able to counteract their flawed arguments with local knowledge). They were almost spitting at us when we said there was room for everyone! I stood behind Dave so I was alright. Some of the stories from those opposed to it are staggering and it is no wonder people are against it. It goes from a 20,000 seater stadium to parents not being able to park when they take their kids to school at 9am on a Monday morning. We are also apparently fencing the whole of Perdiswell off (even though it was fenced off up until the Sports Centre was opened in 1980 as it was full of sheep - there was no dog s*** on it in those days). IT was quite clear they were not interested in making anything happen at Perdiswell. The City Council, who provided the Chairman for the meeting told them to go elsewhere if they wanted to form a protest group. To cut a long story short, we actually spoke to user groups and clubs of Perdiswell and at the very next meeting were able to form a Friends Group of which I am a member along with someone from The Black Pear Joggers and a few other groups. The leader of the PPP Group is the Chairman of the Group along with two others and to be fair to them do get stuck in to actually doing something, although I haven't seen anything of the so called 80% of locals opposed to our proposal. One of the rules of the Friends Group is that it cannot come out either For or Against the application. Since forming the FOP The BPJ's staged the first litter pick last year with about 25 people and we did one last summer with well over 100 people. You will be surprised to hear that neither the Protest Group, Dog Walkers, Kite Fliers, Picnic Society, Golfers, Whippet Club and anyone else opposed to it have taken their turn or even indicated they are going to do anything. There are plans in the future to run a Sports Themed Event across the whole of Perdiswell (which is a massive area if you don't know it) which I will be organising which comes from my running the Sports Zone at the Worcester Show in Gheluvelt Park (which attracted around 10,000 local people last year). The Protesters have had over three years to at least attempt to put on any kind of event to back up their claims that it is a well used site. It isn't, it is a dump. All they have been able to do is stage one protest to gain signatures against us - namely just under 100 in 8 hours on a Sunny Saturday in the summer and to jump on the back of someone elses event, claiming that particular group would be barred from using the site by us if we "built on the whole of Perdiswell" (even though that group wants to be a Community Partner after we had actually spoken to them rather than assuming what they thought). PPP could even get it listed as an Asset of Community Value if they wanted to and stake their own claim & I have even suggested they do so, but to do that they would have to prove it is used or they can improve it ,which means they would need people to do something. Another interesting fact is that the only Sport to invest in the area we are talking about is Football (even though no football takes place there anymore, and hasn't for over 4 years). I don't see the Kennel Club or PGA putting anything in! Maybe I have missed that one? One more interesting Fact is soon after the Protesters claimed Perdiswell was a hive of activity with a story in the Worcester Standard, I challenged Tim Clarke of The Standard to name the date and time and I would meet him slap bang in the middle of Perdiswell and I told him there would be no one there. He did so and when myself and Rob Crean met him at 2PM on FA Cup Final Day in 2013, there was .....No one there. We waited for about half an hour, there were no kite fliers, picnics etc until eventually a group of kids walked across and a family turned up to go on the park but turned straight back round due to the glass. Whatever comes out in the next few months, this isn't dead by a long way. We have done things properly from Day 1 back in 2012 and it has been fairly low key to not stick it in people faces. All it needs is a change in Council or maybe better still a Local Referendum!
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 18:28:40 GMT
Post by thatloudbloke on Jan 29, 2016 18:28:40 GMT
|
|
steves
Squad Member
Posts: 180
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 18:42:58 GMT
Post by steves on Jan 29, 2016 18:42:58 GMT
Email sent to Ms Ramsey
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 19:14:53 GMT
via mobile
Post by auldreekie on Jan 29, 2016 19:14:53 GMT
It is not for Ms Ramsay or anyone else to say whether or not Perdiswell is available as a new home for our Club. Surely such a proposal must be voted on by the whole Council as they are our elected representatives and they will make the decision in a democratic manner by a vote by the Council subject of course to Planning permission being granted. And on the subject of planning permission after 3 years sterling work by the Trust and the Club and the thousands of pounds of valuable cash spent to get the application this far the very LEAST we can expect is that the application is put before the Planning Committee to consider. As I understand from the Worcester City Council scheme of delegation that is on website decisions on sale of land are not delegated to the Managing Director and therefore those decisions are reserved to the elected representatives. I would think that the grounds (if there any at all) for the Council stepping in and preventing an application being heard by the Planning Committee would be so rare and exceptional that it would not affect our case.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 19:54:29 GMT
Post by thatloudbloke on Jan 29, 2016 19:54:29 GMT
|
|
althom
Squad Member
Posts: 185
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 20:00:57 GMT
Post by althom on Jan 29, 2016 20:00:57 GMT
email sent to Ms Ramsey too!
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 20:28:13 GMT
Post by thatloudbloke on Jan 29, 2016 20:28:13 GMT
this says it all Knowsley Council's CEO Sheena Ramsay loses her job as Council bid to save money. so she comes down here to screw up other peoples lives
wonder if she would part with some of this to help after all the council have cost WCFC
Knowsley Council’s former CEO got a bumper pay package of more than £330,000 last year
|
|
althom
Squad Member
Posts: 185
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 20:45:06 GMT
steves likes this
Post by althom on Jan 29, 2016 20:45:06 GMT
There's no point in trying to rile Ms Ramsey, we want to persuade her to support our cause! A measured and sensible dialogue is what is required to get the result we want!
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 20:56:10 GMT
Post by kentenigmawcfc on Jan 29, 2016 20:56:10 GMT
Thanks Rich for the update on who the Trust has been talking to about using the facilities. Not being in the loop I was not aware of the sterling work you were all doing and hats off to you one and all. I'm glad that is part of Trust proposals and now knowing that I just wonder if some of these interested parties might be persuaded to consider contacting the Council to show there support for our plans and how they could/would make use of the facilities but I expect you have already thought of that judging by how far the plans have been progressed. My only question then would be that when I saw the plans at Perdiswell a couple of years ago, I only recall seeing a sort of bar on the first floor which I was told would be the main room people could hire and which didn't seemed that big to me. Is that the room that would be used or are you thinking along the lines of a ground floor facility which is what I was thinking of, suggested and prefer, which would facilitate easy access for the disabled and mothers with buggies/prams to be able to enter via a ramp up for wheelchairs and prams to the door, as I would hate to think they couldn't reach upstairs if the lift in the main block was out if that was the venue and of course? Also if there was no lift at all to save costs, stairs may be less convenient for our less agile senior citizens? I appreciate this all boils down to cost and in the current circumstances the Perdiswell plan having a chance of succeeding so know my query about this is not top of the agenda but it is a facility I am keen to see succeed alongside the stadium and will help secure our Clubs future. Sorry to harp on about this but it is something I am passionate about seeing come to fruition so if you or Rob could clarify the plans you have in respect of this when you have a spare moment of which I realise you don't have many, I would appreciate it.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 29, 2016 21:17:35 GMT
Post by jimbo on Jan 29, 2016 21:17:35 GMT
This may be a poor comment/question & although you 'may read into it' that you know my political views & you may or may not be wrong. Do we really think this Tory bashing is helping our cause ? Would it not be the same as our National Government in that it is the Civil Servants that set policies & the politicians put their own spin on it ? That being the case, should we be trying to gat them on our side rather than wait for an election ? It appears that we have the community at heart rather than the football club. May that also be an issue, should we be looking towards 'just football' than community facilities. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ?
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 0:36:22 GMT
Post by alwaysnextyear on Jan 30, 2016 0:36:22 GMT
Suv said
" The last year at SGL (May 2013) had a loss of £ 40,000+ this estimate for this season (May 2016) is in excess of £120,000. ".
Where did you get the May 2013 loss of 40k + from ? Some plus !
The abbreviated balance sheets at Companies House appear to tell a different story. Any profit or loss for a year alters the Profit and Loss figure in the " Capital and Reserves " part of the abbreviated accounts. The movements since year ended 31.05.06 are
Year ended 31.05.06 - profit of £ 11,160 ( the season of Huddersfield at home in the FA Cup ) 31.05.07 - a loss of £ 85,895 31.05.08 - a loss of £ 64,314 31.05.09 - a loss of £ 93,687 31.05.10 - a loss of £ 19,022 31.05.11 - a profit of £ 2,443,925 ( presumably after the sale of the ground, leaving the club with a net assets value of £ 1,584,085 ) 31.05.12 - a loss of £ 67,747 31.05.13 - a loss of £ 188,942 31.05.14 - a loss of £ 705,651 ( presumably most of which was spent paying off St Modwen, leaving the club with a net assets value of £ 624,634)
The Club was losing money hand over fist in the last few years at SGL, presided over by various Boards of Directors running up the bank overdraft against the value of the ground, against a backdrop of little financial control and accountability.
Without the actual Income and Expenditure details which have caused these P and L movements, it is impossible to make comparisons, or to analyse in great depth, which would be most interesting. Has anyone got these accounts ? However based on the above, I'm not surprised at all that no AGM's were held since the 2010 accounts.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 11:09:10 GMT
Post by creaner on Jan 30, 2016 11:09:10 GMT
"But it has denied that Ms Ramsey said Perdiswell was not the preferred option".Hmm. I need to go and get my hearing checked,
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 11:16:34 GMT
Post by thesecondjack on Jan 30, 2016 11:16:34 GMT
I know it was a confidential meeting and all, but I'd suggest recording meetings like this. Just keep your phone upside down on the table, recording everything said. I bet local news outlets would love to have a clip of her saying it, after they deny these claims.
|
|
|
Post by creaner on Jan 30, 2016 11:26:13 GMT
I know it was a confidential meeting and all, but I'd suggest recording meetings like this. Just keep your phone upside down on the table, recording everything said. I bet local news outlets would love to have a clip of her saying it, after they deny these claims. Some video here
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 11:42:59 GMT
Post by kentenigmawcfc on Jan 30, 2016 11:42:59 GMT
Thanks a.n.y. for taking the time to type those figures in as I couldn't be bothered myself.
Those figures are why I am most eager to include the Community facilities in the plans for the new stadium and it appears the Trust are on the same wavelength. Being able to offer facilities for other clubs and organisations will build up a closer network of allies/friends/partners to help expand our importance within the immediate community and the wider City community beyond. Most importantly it will provide that missing revenue stream the Club needs to plug and if run intelligently and professionally, provide a profit for the Club to use and keep the Club in profit too! The reality is that despite all the heroic efforts to sell mugs and scarfs and Carl and Matt's efforts to realise revenue from the release of players and cup runs, the club is not generating enough money to stay in the black. Not enough people are coming through the turnstiles to cover average match day expenses so we need to find reliable income all year round. Yes there are people now volunteering to help Mike Davis try to find sponsors but that will take time and will need constant work to keep them on board and/or find replacements when a sponsor withdraws.
The bottom line as I see it is the Club needs income to survive and grow if we are to be able to keep the Club alive. Yes I want that stadium to be built a.s.a.p. but there is no point if the Club continues to run at a loss as it will surely fold which would be a catastrophe for all of us. In an ideal world some rich fan or benefactor would come our way with a cheque book but we all realise that is highly unlikely to happen and if it did it might not be our Club any more as we would have little say in it's running. Beside which we were offered investment and a stadium some time ago but the Board at that time rejected the overture and the gentleman went away and built the Rugby stadium instead!
So if you want this Club to survive, thrive and grow in the years ahead, a sustainable income has to be a top priority and the starting point is the Community facility attached to the ground. If anyone has any better or other ideas I am sure the Club and Trust would like to hear them but they must help to provide an income for the Club anything short of that is not worth entertaining at this time.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 11:53:08 GMT
Post by suv on Jan 30, 2016 11:53:08 GMT
Suv said " The last year at SGL (May 2013) had a loss of £ 40,000+ this estimate for this season (May 2016) is in excess of £120,000. ". Where did you get the May 2013 loss of 40k + from ? Some plus ! The abbreviated balance sheets at Companies House appear to tell a different story. Any profit or loss for a year alters the Profit and Loss figure in the " Capital and Reserves " part of the abbreviated accounts. The movements since year ended 31.05.06 are Year ended 31.05.06 - profit of £ 11,160 ( the season of Huddersfield at home in the FA Cup ) 31.05.07 - a loss of £ 85,895 31.05.08 - a loss of £ 64,314 31.05.09 - a loss of £ 93,687 31.05.10 - a loss of £ 19,022 31.05.11 - a profit of £ 2,443,925 ( presumably after the sale of the ground, leaving the club with a net assets value of £ 1,584,085 ) 31.05.12 - a loss of £ 67,747 31.05.13 - a loss of £ 188,942 31.05.14 - a loss of £ 705,651 ( presumably most of which was spent paying off St Modwen, leaving the club with a net assets value of £ 624,634) The Club was losing money hand over fist in the last few years at SGL, presided over by various Boards of Directors running up the bank overdraft against the value of the ground, against a backdrop of little financial control and accountability. Without the actual Income and Expenditure details which have caused these P and L movements, it is impossible to make comparisons, or to analyse in great depth, which would be most interesting. Has anyone got these accounts ? However based on the above, I'm not surprised at all that no AGM's were held since the 2010 accounts. My figures were from "Worcester City FC - Funds Tracking summary 2010 to 2015" provided to Shareholders at Thursday's AGM and relate to "Trading Profit/ (Loss) - 31.05.13 = (£ 43.175)
|
|
stamoo
First Teamer
Posts: 349
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 19:11:55 GMT
Post by stamoo on Jan 30, 2016 19:11:55 GMT
I know it was a confidential meeting and all, but I'd suggest recording meetings like this. Just keep your phone upside down on the table, recording everything said. I bet local news outlets would love to have a clip of her saying it, after they deny these claims. Some video hereOh Creaner. Deep Joy! That is so funny and bang on the button.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
AGM
Jan 30, 2016 20:15:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 20:15:26 GMT
I agree with Jimbo's sentiments above, As I've mentioned before, this isn't a party political thing. We need to convince, educate and charm the population to gain support - and that includes Ms Ramsey. If we lock horns it could be counter productive. I'm not saying we roll over here - just don't try the angry route.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 2:40:23 GMT
Post by alwaysnextyear on Jan 31, 2016 2:40:23 GMT
I couldn't disagree more. I think it is very much a political thing. Worcester has been mainly a Tory run Council through my lifetime, and has never shown any interest at all in promoting and supporting the football club in any way. However it has been a different matter in throwing cash at the Racecourse and in particular the Arts, especially the historical white elephant that was The Swan Theatre, which has had £ 000's and £ 000's chucked at it, as has Lady Huntingdon's Chapel. When Nunnery Way was first mooted, B & Q were more than happy to fund the move, and also build on the site. The Council, through their planner Mr McNidder were dead against it from the start. B & Q ? Can't have competition to the 3 Homebases in Worcester could we ? The Planning Inspector then said building on the field could only take place as a football ground, with enabling development. No football ground, equals no building on the site ! Unless now it appears, you are St Modwen !
Worcester's chiefs and planners have always been in the pocket of Worcester's moneymen and the great and the good eg Kays with that awful Elgar House at Shrub Hill and that grey with red guttering monstrosity of a warehouse off Bransford Road, any photo opportunity with any housebuilder anywhere such as the disgraced Neil Grinnell, any Housing Association, and now it's anything that St Modwen and the University fancies. As for their recently found love of green spaces, I don't remember too much fondness when the Merriman's Hill allotments and playing fields were built on, the land off the Cemetery on Green Lane sold off, and now the grass play area off Langdale Drive has been sold off to to be built on.
Other examples ? The Arboretum has been asking for a Residents Only Parking Scheme for years. Who gets one ? The residents of Brittania Square. The ring road around Worcester needs completing and is the obvious answer to relieve traffic congestion. The part from Powick to Bromyard Road was done, across land that had fortunately been suddenly purchased by the Golf Club, who hadn't consulted their members, and guess what, it was just before the route was chosen - fancy that ! The last bit needs to go through Hallow to cross the river at Bevere to join up with the A449. Can't have it going near Bevere now can we chaps !
Still not political ? Despite their grasping greed to allow inappropriate building everywhere in Worcester, and always going along with their own Planners, they have recently decided to dig their toes in over one proposed development, despite it being recommended for approval by their own planning officer Mr Coleman, who was sent away with his tail between his legs, and asked to come back with a report to try and justify the Councillor's stance which was opposite to his own, and despite projected legal costs of 100 k plus in trying to oppose the development at appeal ! Where is this proposed development ? The fields at the end of Battenhall Road that's where. All of a sudden it's become a haven for wildlife various, an important battlefield site, and as if it's mattered anywhere else in Worcester, a potential traffic problem. Over density of houses has also been put up, which is ironic with WCFC to anyone who has seen the pokey dwellings being put up at SGL, with another 13 being proposed for the Cavalier Pub site.
If the Council had the will and wanted the football club in the City and more importantly one with a community based plan, it would have got things moving years ago. If they want it, they go ahead. Look at the speed at which the swimming pool has gone from " we can't afford a six lane one " to " we can now afford an 8 lane one ", with the diggers appearing in an instant at Perdiswell. Not much said there by the Protest Groups ! The will was found to revamp Diglis Playing Fields with arty play equipment, at a staggering cost of £ 912,000. How much ? Yes, it's true ! Somehow our cash strapped Council has found and can somehow justify spending an unbelievable £ 912k, on some Councillors latest pet project, yet cannot support a long running application from the football club !
How many more instances do people need as to the will and leanings of the Council ? Everything about the Council's big decision making is totally political and always has been, and I'm all for locking horns and putting their " impartial " decision making process under scrutiny and challenging them. Testing the memory of Sheena Ramsey is a pretty good start. Publicly shaming them into some sort of positive action is the only action left to me, as box ticking and form filling has just allowed the Council to put obstacle after obstacle in the Club's way as funds dwindle. I've never met Jeremy Pitt, but I have met Rob Crean, and I have little doubt there is nothing wrong with their hearing and recall of what was said by Ms Ramsey.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 11:42:38 GMT
Post by kentenigmawcfc on Jan 31, 2016 11:42:38 GMT
Wow a.n.y! As those who know me will know I am not currently a Worcester resident, though that is my long term aim so I have not followed all the historical developments you have outlined. If what you have written is true and I have no reason to doubt it at this stage, that amounts to a shocking legacy of cronyism and similar to some developments that have gone on in my own local authroity of Bromley Borough council which is also Conservative run. As to the politics issue well much though I am not a Conservative fan I must point out that not all Conservative councillors are in it for themselves and there are plenty of Labour Councils up and down the country who have not been averse to dabbling in similar practices as you have highlighted.
Just to prove a point my preliminary information about Dartford FC is that their Conservative Council actually found land and built the stadium for the Club at a peppercorn rent, tasking the Club with looking after and improving the stadium, which I now understand, though I cannot confirm this yet, that Dartford Council either gifted the stadium/land to the Club or sold it to them for a nominal fee. So the moral of my tale is that some Councils can see the benefit of having a local Football club and supporting it and it's efforts to work with and get involved with the local community.
Sadly it seems like Worcester Council may not have the same foresight and if the potted history you wrote about is true, then the Council and it's members need to be be brought to task to justify some of these earlier planning decisions around the City, as not all seem to be in the residents and Council tax payers interests and more importantly value for money. The Golf Club one where the Bromyard to Powick Road was built on it certainly has a distinct whiff of a possible council insider tip off and corruption if true? Unless you have evidence to prove these allegations though, which is unlikely to be unearthed within the Council records or by members of a Masonic Lodge, if any of them were involved, it will be hard convince all residents their Council is really that corrupt and they will site you as working for the Labour party or just a frustrated party angry that your(our) pet project is being blocked.
I would certainly ask residents to start quizzing their local councillors views over the Football club and some of these historical projects you highlight subject to what the residents find out or feel should govern their votes in May. Going forward I think residents should be more pro-active in challenging some council planning decisions such as that shambles of the Ketch roundabout, even the least savvy amongst us could tell straight away it was wrong and badly planned and those responsible should hold their heads in shame and have been picking up the cost of many of the accidents caused, not the vehicle drivers.
The problem is though voters tend not to take enough interest in how their money is spent and Councils and Central Government know that, hence these travesties have and will continue to go on. Remember people, these are your servants spending your money and they are accountable to you and are not there to help their friends, as I feel was the case of Mr Amos being elected Mayor. If residents continue to allow their councils to enact decisions they are not happy with more fool you. You do have the right to challenge them, they are not there as a dictatorship much though they would like to convince you they are, if they are not looking after your or the City's interests they need to know they cannot get away with it any more and that you will be watching them VERY closely from now on
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 11:45:49 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 11:45:49 GMT
Alwaysnextyear, I'm not arguing with the disgusting planning policies of (the largely Tory) councils over the years. You missed out the disgraceful Blackfriars development that lasted barely 20 years; the atrocious Lychgate with the demolition of unique Tudor tythe barns etc. and many other schemes.
To this list I'd add SGL. Not only an historic site, but an invaluable social resource.
Was corruption involved in these horrors? Almost certainly in many cases.
What I'm talking about is how you deal with these people - and with the citizens of Worcester who have had the wool pulled over their eyes on too many occasions.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 13:01:42 GMT
Post by Brooksiders Return!! on Jan 31, 2016 13:01:42 GMT
I've never met Jeremy Pitt, but I have met Rob Crean, and I have little doubt there is nothing wrong with their hearing and recall of what was said by Ms Ramsey. If i had come out and said what I said, knowing that it was a falsehood, then I would have been an embarrassment to the club and would have compromised my position as a Director of WCFC Ltd. I would immediately step down and resign from the Board, which would not look good for the club that I both support and represent. I would also have also have belittled and embarrassed all the other people from the football club and trust in that meeting. Not to mention the supporters of the club. I would also have found it difficult to speak out so firmly if it hadnt been agreed by everyone in the room that this would all go into the public domain should the information that was promised not been delivered in the timescale. And it was not, not even close, and still no information! It would have been a dereliction of my duties as a Director, and also a complete disregard for my own principles of openness and transparency, had I not stuck to my word. Maybe Ms Ramsey thought that we were bluffing, I don't know. I don't do bluffing, I don't do sitting on the fence, certainly not when the future of WCFC is concerned. I might now find that the "dirty tricks" department now come gunning for me, things could get awkward, I've been there before with others involved in the relocation of WCFC!
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 13:35:25 GMT
Post by alwaysnextyear on Jan 31, 2016 13:35:25 GMT
Let me categorically state that I have not said that any corruption has taken place at all, and the very thought of it has barely crossed my mind. It's just that the Council ( of whichever persuasion ) appear to look on some planning applications far more favourably and with more haste than others. I just think that the Council cannot / does not want to see the worth of a community based football club in Worcester and has generally looked sneeringly down its nose at the Club over the years , preferring to throw its support and resources behind the more arty projects in the City. Simple as that. By the way, I've no doubt that Councils of whatever persuasion, the length and breadth of the country are similar to ours, and that we are not unique regarding the use of taxpayers money and value for money, and the endless quest of house building anywhere and everywhere ( except Battenhall of course ! ) . As for the Golf Club, its own members called an EGM at Christopher Whitehead School to ask its own Committee why they had spent their money without consulting them first ! Fortunately it all worked out well in the end. As for the fields at Diglis, is this all that £ 912,000 can buy these days ? www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/12887023.Overhaul_of_Diglis_fields_gets_under_way_with_work_on_play_area/How do you deal with these people ? Sadly the Club has always lacked the clout that favourable politicians and big money can bring to the table. The Council aren't interested. The Club's representatives meeting with Sheena Ramsey, and leaving with a hearing problem says it all !
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 17:25:42 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 17:25:42 GMT
Corruption? Masonic involvement? Dodgy solicitors? Who knows? The mystery about SGL has always been why Boddy seemed to do everything asked of him by Hallmark. One theory I heard was that Master Mason Hallmark had Boddy on a chain, along with news paper editors; councillors etc.
Of course this is just an unsubstantiated rumour. So I wouldn't dream of spreading it.
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 20:37:30 GMT
via mobile
Post by Croc on Jan 31, 2016 20:37:30 GMT
To paraphrase Shakespeare (coincidentally a statue of his squeeze Anne Hathaway is to be erected at great expense in the Cornmarket - another pet project of the Tory Cabal railroaded through quick sharp at great expense) - "Something is rotten in the State of Worcester..."
|
|
|
AGM
Jan 31, 2016 21:30:16 GMT
Post by alwaysnextyear on Jan 31, 2016 21:30:16 GMT
Indeed another sop to Worcester's arty set is to take place in the Cornmarket as part of its 500k ( honest, that's apparently the cost ) revamp. 5 statues of people supposedly associated with Worcester are to be erected.
Rev Studdert Kennedy ( Woodbine Willie ) and Vesta Tilley I can understand, but
King Charles II ( one nights b+b before legging it to France ) ?
William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway ( that well known Worcester pair, Stratford eat your heart out ) who MAY have got married in Worcester ? Give me strength.
|
|