Bristol Rovers Groundshare

MEETING WITH SANDY GREY STFC RE BRISTOL ROVERS GROUND SHARE THURSDAY 17 MAY 2007

PRESENT Sandy Grey - STFC, Councillors - Darker, Wright and Montaut, Kevin Leakey - Secretary BSACC, Michael Rimes - Committee BSACC.

MINUTES

SG: Have talked to a supporters group and they are 80% in favour of a ground share happening BW: He has dealt with the Trust STFC and they are mostly against a ground share happening.

KL: Community Council do not wish to see this happen. Have failed to so far find anyone, fans or not, who thinks a ground share with Bristol Rovers would be a good thing. This is from people not only in the vicinity of the County Ground, but also across the town. The only positive thing a number of people had to say was it could help STFC financially as they are in trouble.

People are concerned that there will be traffic and parking problems happening every week. People tend work around Swindon’s home matches- if they go out, they may not be able to park when they get back so they either do not go out, or they stay out until after the football has finished having to do this every week is a lot to ask. With Bristol Rovers behaviour problems of recent years, residents are extremely worried about their safety and the prospect of damage to their properties.

SG: Will be good for businesses in the town, as Bristol crowd will spend extra money. KL: Our concerns are how residents will be affected, not how much money a business will be able to make. Residents life will be disrupted every week from football, it is also very noisy especially for people living directly around the stadium. While we all have to accept that disruption will happen on Swindon’s home games, it is not acceptable to have to put up with it every week.

SG: Are looking to bus in around 1000 fans and expect crowds of 2500 to 4000 at each match Rovers have home crowds of around 4000 to 6000 maximum. Swindon has crowds of around 7000 so it will be a lot less fans in town for Bristol matches.

SG: Do understand that families will come by car-will encourage them to use park and ride KL: STFC do not do this for Swindon fans now, why would Bristol fans use the facility.

SG: Police budget to be paid for by Bristol, not only in the ground but the whole policing bill – Swindon and Wiltshire residents should not have to pay for this.

If Bristol Rovers go up a division then crowds are likely to be much bigger than the 2500 to 4000 talked about how many is this likely to be?

SG: Still think that even if this happens, crowds will not exceed 4000.

SG: The Police are not too worried about problems. They envisage that any ‘teething’ problems will only last for the first month; -2 matches - then the novelty will wear off and crowd numbers will drop. KL: This is all speculation, no one actually has any idea how many people will come down to watch Rovers play.

SG: Bristol Rovers FC say fans that cause trouble at football are not Rovers fans. KL: Rightly or wrongly if they come to Swindon and cause trouble because Rovers are playing here, they are still connected to the club whether they are Rovers fans or not.

DM: There will be an increase in rubbish, STFC should recognise this and pick up the bill. SG: STFC already pay a large rent to the Council, as their profits increase so does the amount they pay to the Council. So they should not have to pay any extra.

DM: May be the Council should pay for the extra cleaning!!!

BW: Can accept the principle of ground sharing with other sports, but sharing with Bristol Rovers who have no allegiance with Swindon is completely different from, for example Swindon Hockey Club using the ground. This would not cause residents any of the problems that Bristol Rovers could cause.

BW: Extra revenue that comes into the town because of Rovers fans coming here is likely to have to be used to fix broken windows etc. Police cannot stop this happening; they can only do so much.

BW: STFC should be aware that should the ground share go ahead, the Broadgreen area has direct contact with their police teams who are very active in the area. Any problems that happen in the area will soon find their way to the police and residents will expect action to be taken.

Who will pay if there is trouble and damage is done to residents properties and cars etc.

SG: Any problems that go on outside the ground are not the clubs responsibility; they cannot be expected to pay for this SD agreed with SG that this is not STFC’s responsibility. KL: Pointed out that although it is the case that residents have to begrudgingly accept this when STFC play, it is completely unfair that residents should have to pick up any costs because another football club are sharing the County Ground, STFC will be making money and residents will pay the price.

DM: May be club could pick up some of the costs if damage occurs.

MR: The only way this could work is if the whole crowd is bussed directly to the stadium and bussed out again after the match without anybody ever leaving the ground, then nobody could cause trouble or damage or parking problems, which would never be feasible.

DM: This happens on the continent, but many people ignore it.