M.B. has worked in Swindon for 14 years, found himself unemployed for 4 to 5 weeks when he was approached by STFC and been in the post for 3 months.
Being involved in a football club is a dream come true.
Has been involved with the Cultural Partnership, the Science Museum bid etc and puts his full energy into whatever he does. He will respect our views.
STFC is 127 years old he would like to see it around for another 127 years and beyond. Football is a funny business where nearly every team runs at a loss including STFC and Supermarine and very few make a profit.
The stadium is not good or modern or up to snuff
STFC have an income only every 2 weeks from 5 to 10k people. Income is needed that is good and offers more to the community, for example: Hotel, conference facilities, cricket nets, swimming pool etc.
Looking at what has been done in Crawley by the local authority for a new stadium.
Need a modern stadium but the current footprint offers limited commercial space and no proposals can be financed solely from the current footprint.
A new stadium will cost £30 to £40 million need to work with developers unless a millionaire can be found.
The Wills family have given tremendous support to the club, but unless anyone knows of a millionaire to support the club as it is, the footprint needs to be bigger. They would like more space and need the residents support.
This does mean taking away green space, but there are dreams that a new stadium can be a bit like Cardiff, where you can walk out of the stadium and you can instantly get food or go to a pub etc. This could be possible in Swindon when the Town Centre redevelopments happen.
None of this can be achieved with the cricket ground and extension there, if the community are against it then STFC are likely to be the ones who will lose out and possibly fold, there is also the broader community to consider as well.
M.B. wants STFC to stay within the borough and not too keen on the Chippenham idea, so if anyone knows of a 30-acre site within Swindon then let him know.
Their proposals may also include astro pitches, bowls and a theatre.
Question Time
Q. Why should a private company have public ground to develop?
A. If for example facilities that are now at the Oasis moved, then the club may be able to get hold of the Oasis land. This may interest SBC.
Q. You can walk through the area and use the CG extension at any time, if the whole of the County Ground is taken up by redevelopments, will local residents be able to use for example the new astro pitches for free, as you do not have to pay to have a kick around there at the moment?
A. Maybe able to have free access.
Q. The commercial world is very tough and obviously STFC want to make money, they will need developers for the redevelopment but they will only be interested if they can make money so will want the whole area to develop. What is the Councils view on this?
A. They have had many meetings with the council and nothing is a done deal.
Q. As the County Ground is not within the New Swindon Co’s remit, what is their interest and involvement?
A. Chief executive Peter James is a golfing partner of M.B. and he offered to help the club with their re-development plans. He will be at the next meeting with the club SBC and St Modwens.
Q. The whole County Ground site tends to accumulate lots of litter generated on football days, very little is cleared up now, if there is a bigger stadium the problem is only going to get worse?
A. Assured that the litter problems will all be cleaned up and will get straight onto it tomorrow (Thursday 15 March ‘07) and should be cleared within 2 weeks.
Will have litter pickers on match day.
Q. How do the club propose to deliver a safe and clean site in a new bigger stadium, they struggle now?
A. Health and safety within the stadium is very good, but a minority of people pollute areas outside the ground and are a disgrace, will look into it.
Q. It is not unusual for damage to happen to cars and property in surrounding streets, do the club pay for the policing of these areas on match day?
A. The club only fund the police within the ground and not outside of it.
Q. What are the three plans being considered by the club.
1- The Nationwide Stand staying in situ and pushing back the footprint with 3 new stands.
2- Turn the stadium 90 degrees build 4 new stands and move away from the road.
3- Something in-between the 2 but not include the Nationwide stand.
Q. Central area already has a lack of green spaces. If the club manages to develop the whole of the CG site, where in Central Ward can new green space be created to replace what will be lost?
A. Answered own question, there is nowhere.
Q. How do the club actually expect to make a profit, plans and ideas seem a little vague?
A. Hotel, conference facilities, swimming pool etc
Q. Will there be any housing?
A. No, this is the problem with the Trusts plans, as housing would not be allowed in the stadium. (Pointed out that planning policy actually directs housing to be denser, that’s why there are so many flats being built in the town centre)
M.B. asked how people felt about flats within a new stadium, people didn’t seem too bothered, and there was no great uproar about it.
Q. As Tesco has expanded the traffic and noise in the area has greatly increased if there is a big redevelopment of the whole site, these problems are only going to get worse.
A. When any plans are being drawn up the traffic and road situation will have to be looked at and a transport plan put together.
Q. At the oasis and Link Centre the parking is free, if there is a new development on the site with new sports facilities, will the parking be free at the CG?
A. Not sure, but personally believes the town centre car parking charges are too high, would be down to the council.
M.B. They are looking to build a 20 to 22k all seater stadium. At the moment the average gate is 6 to 7k would prefer to have 12k watching a game even if they only get 7k worth of gate receipts.
Q. Do the cricket club want to move?
A. M.B. Has talked to Nick Parkinson chairman of the club and they would be prepared to move if offered a superior site.
(note) Yes, partly true. The cricket club may consider moving if offered far better facilities, but only if close to the Central area.
Apparently this is not what Nick Parkinson has told M.B.
Q. Has Rod Bluh been shown actual plans of the proposed 3 developments?
A. No, M.B. has talked about his plans but not shown him any because there are none. They are all ideas in MB’s head and not on paper.
Q. What will we get out of a re-development?
A. SBC could have a 30% share in it.
To sum up, M.B. said it was good to be able to talk to residents and hear their views, rather than only reading what is reported in the Adver etc. Cannot lay all cards on table and often things discussed in meetings are confidential. It is important to form a good relationship with residents and hopes we can all move on, as STFC may not want to take on residents.
An open invitation was given to M.B. to attend more of the community councils meetings in the future, when they have more concrete plans to discuss and it was hoped the club would contact us rather than the other way around, especially if the finances, loss of green spaces, parking and the covenant on the land were involved.
M.B. accepted the invitation and will return in the future.
