Freemo/New Stadium

I walked past the site of the old flats yesterday and having not been that way in a while looked to see if I thought the ground would fit given the comments saying not possible. As you come past Strand St school towards Oxford St you have site 1 then opposite the now boarded up Mariners Rest site 2. Site 2 looked to me from ground level easily big enough to accomodate the current Blundell Park for example leaving site 1 for carparks etc. This is a fairly huge vacant area and if the stadium doesn`t go there you would have to wonder what else could that would help to regenerate that area? It`s just so rundown around there boarded up/ defunct pubs Albion,Humber,Mariner`s virtually no shops left but still quite a lot of residents many of whom traditionally have been the core support of the football club. A new build in that area will reinvigorate the pubs,shops ,public transport and to a degree the residents who would see improvements to bring the area upto scratch.

Is the Freeman St/Flats site the ONLY chance for GTFC to see a new stadium actually delivered with Council support ?
Is it completely wrong and unsuitable and if so why?
Is the whole thing just a pipe dream that will never happen?

Unfortunately I don't think it'll happen mate 🤔

Quoted from gytone

Unfortunately I don't think it'll happen mate 🤔

Do you think it would fit though?

Yeah I think it'd fit , given a bit of manoeuvring, and i think it'd be a great idea and would possibly regenerate a run down area, but it doesn't seem to be in our leaders plans, although it could be understandable in some ways, if our council are involved in it.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Do you think it would fit though?

I must admit I hadn't looked at it as two separate sites. I had an idea in my head that it was all one big area but looking at it the difficulty for me would be the little rows of maisonettes that seem to be all over that area which there is no intention to remove (not that I'm suggesting there should be).
I've come round to the idea that Freemo should be the site but it would be good to see some actual artists impression of the fit.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

I walked past the site of the old flats yesterday and having not been that way in a while looked to see if I thought the ground would fit given the comments saying not possible. As you come past Strand St school towards Oxford St you have site 1 then opposite the now boarded up Mariners Rest site 2. Site 2 looked to me from ground level easily big enough to accomodate the current Blundell Park for example leaving site 1 for carparks etc. This is a fairly huge vacant area and if the stadium doesn`t go there you would have to wonder what else could that would help to regenerate that area? It`s just so rundown around there boarded up/ defunct pubs Albion,Humber,Mariner`s virtually no shops left but still quite a lot of residents many of whom traditionally have been the core support of the football club. A new build in that area will reinvigorate the pubs,shops ,public transport and to a degree the residents who would see improvements to bring the area upto scratch.

Is the Freeman St/Flats site the ONLY chance for GTFC to see a new stadium actually delivered with Council support ?
Is it completely wrong and unsuitable and if so why?
Is the whole thing just a pipe dream that will never happen?

There is already existing car parking off Freeman Street that wouldn't be affected by the development. You also have a car park on Orwell Street which is only a five minute walk from where the ground would go. There are certainly a lot more facilities for parking there within a five minute walk than anywhere near BP.

I work in the office opposite and there's loads of work taking place at the minute.
The flat sites have been flattened and one part of it has already been converted into a car park.
The old white knight, house of holland block of shops and freeman house is about to be knocked down over the next 12 weeks so that will free up further space.

Be interesting to see how it all develops over the next 6-12 months.

Quoted from rancido

There is already existing car parking off Freeman Street that wouldn't be affected by the development. You also have a car park on Orwell Street which is only a five minute walk from where the ground would go. There are certainly a lot more facilities for parking there within a five minute walk than anywhere near BP.

I think this is a good point. I would also imagine some of the businesses opening up their yards to match day parking. Libera's on Railway St open up for workers parking anyway during the week.

Quoted from barralad

I think this is a good point. I would also imagine some of the businesses opening up their yards to match day parking. Libera's on Railway St open up for workers parking anyway during the week.

The car parks I mentioned are also council owned, so a bit of a boost in car parking income for the council. Also the rates are cheaper than most club ground parking at other places.

I would love it to go where the old flats where . but i dont think our so called board want it there,, IMO, the club would win out but the board would not gain financially by it so its a dead duck untill they are removed

Quoted from denni266

I would love it to go where the old flats where . but i dont think our so called board want it there,, IMO, the club would win out but the board would not gain financially by it so its a dead duck untill they are removed

This is were the board need to look at the bigger picture.  It's about everyone really but it wouldn't surprise me if this is the main stumbling block I. E. They won't be owning it and therefore would lose control.

Are there any “intheknowers” that have seen any progress? It’s very quiet.

Talking to a Freeman this morning and there are positive vibes about a new stadium there within the full area regeneration plans.

Too cramped also layout is all wrong i am sorry to say. What about Cambridge Rd where the old Western School used to be

I’ll be shocked if we get a new stadium i can’t see it happening not with this council

Freeman Street = Community stadium, regenerating a poor area and altruism.

PP= Kudos and money making opportunities from housing development and ancillary buildings.

Which one would be most attractive to a Tory businessman?

Quoted from ginnywings

Freeman Street = Community stadium, regenerating a poor area and altruism.

PP= Kudos and money making opportunities from housing development and ancillary buildings.

Which one would be most attractive to a Tory businessman?

As our current stadium is in Cleethorpes, wouldn't it be nice to have a brand spanking new stadium in the middle of Grimsby regenerating an area that's been run down for years?

Is there no chance of getting a real experts opinion on this, maybe working with the trust, as fans we could rule it out for ourselves or create an idea to try and sell to mr fenty and the council, its clearly a very popular idea with the fans and maybe we could have a go at making some progress ourselves

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

its clearly a very popular idea with the fans

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

I don't care where the stadium is built I just want it built in my life time,

I am in my 70's so time is running out .

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

🤣

I don't think freemo will work, I would like it to work and think it's a wonderful idea and can see why most fans would like it there. However I don't see that there is enough room without it all feeling to cramped etc with the market, the shopping and such like. We need more than a football stadium. We need to generate an income on days when there is no game. We need to generate an income 7 days a week. We don't need a cramped squashed up thrown together building. We need 4g pitches. We need much more than BP picking up and putting on Freeman st. IF pp got the g ahead there would be transport links, park and ride, buses for the fans from the town centre etc. Freed up spaces on residential streets on match days so residents can park outside their homes which they are crying out for. If it gets the go ahead for freemo all its going to do is move the issues further along the road.

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

Go on then Kris, I’ll bite.

Instead of (or as well as), slagging off everything to do with the fans, the area, the history of GTFC etc. Tell us where YOU think the new ground should be and how it would be financed.
But you have to do it yourself. No help from your dad or your teachers


. I await your constructive reply with interest !!

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

I don't think freemo will work, I would like it to work and think it's a wonderful idea and can see why most fans would like it there. However I don't see that there is enough room without it all feeling to cramped etc with the market, the shopping and such like. We need more than a football stadium. We need to generate an income on days when there is no game. We need to generate an income 7 days a week. We don't need a cramped squashed up thrown together building. We need 4g pitches. We need much more than BP picking up and putting on Freeman st. IF pp got the g ahead there would be transport links, park and ride, buses for the fans from the town centre etc. Freed up spaces on residential streets on match days so residents can park outside their homes which they are crying out for. If it gets the go ahead for freemo all its going to do is move the issues further along the road.

Hi john.. pleased you could join us!!

The club don't have the finances to build it on their own so need it to have an enabling scheme to help with the cost of the development. That is why the club are not that keen. There's no room for additional houses or shops etc.to help with funding.

Quoted from ginnywings

Freeman Street = Community stadium, regenerating a poor area and altruism.

PP= Kudos and money making opportunities from housing development and ancillary buildings.

[b]Which one would be most attractive to a Tory businessman?

[/b

Why drag politics into this? A businessman of any political persuasion ( yes there are many Labour and LidDem] businessmen ) would think that was a good business proposition. I don't know why some people use JF's politics like a big stick to beat him with.

Quoted from rancido

[/b

Why drag politics into this? A businessman of any political persuasion ( yes there are many Labour and LidDem] businessmen ) would think that was a good business proposition. I don't know why some people use JF's politics like a big stick to beat him with.

I never mentioned JF. You did.

Are you naive enough to think that local politics won't play a massive part in what happens? Politics are involved whether we mention them or not.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Hi john.. pleased you could join us!!

What a crass response !!

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

I don't think freemo will work, I would like it to work and think it's a wonderful idea and can see why most fans would like it there. However I don't see that there is enough room without it all feeling to cramped etc with the market, the shopping and such like. We need more than a football stadium. We need to generate an income on days when there is no game. We need to generate an income 7 days a week. We don't need a cramped squashed up thrown together building. We need 4g pitches. We need much more than BP picking up and putting on Freeman st. IF pp got the g ahead there would be transport links, park and ride, buses for the fans from the town centre etc. Freed up spaces on residential streets on match days so residents can park outside their homes which they are crying out for. If it gets the go ahead for freemo all its going to do is move the issues further along the road.

We don't need 4g pitches at all, Colchester United's ground has no shops, no housing and is Council owned. It has excellent facilities for evening events, concerts  and other income generating stuff on non match days etc, its nowhere near a bus route so they run buses from the station. Difference is it's council owned and Fenty will do anything he can to avoid that.Granted it is next to the main A12 however rather than a restrictive and congested Freeman Street but the PP is no better.

Lets face it the council aren't going to go for PP and Fenty isn't going to go for Freemo. Impasse! Unless of course the council make it widely known they will finance then rent GTFC a new ground in Freemo and Fenty might then have to agree or look even worse than normal

Quoted from ginnywings

I never mentioned JF. You did.

Are you naive enough to think that local politics won't play a massive part in what happens? Politics are involved whether we mention them or not.

So who is the Tory businessman you are alluding to?

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Hi john.. pleased you could join us!!

Oh dear. It seems that you really can't have your own views on here!!! Just because I don't see the vision of the ground being at freemo doesn't mean I'm John. I'm far from John!!!  I am allowed a different view to most on here. Freedom of speech?? (although typed).

Quoted from Ipswin

We don't need 4g pitches at all, Colchester United's ground has no shops, no housing and is Council owned. It has excellent facilities for evening events, concerts  and other income generating stuff on non match days etc, its nowhere near a bus route so they run buses from the station. Difference is it's council owned and Fenty will do anything he can to avoid that.Granted it is next to the main A12 however rather than a restrictive and congested Freeman Street but the PP is no better.

Lets face it the council aren't going to go for PP and Fenty isn't going to go for Freemo. Impasse! Unless of course the council make it widely known they will finance then rent GTFC a new ground in Freemo and Fenty might then have to agree or look even worse than normal

Would you trust our council to run a football ground? In my time of taking an interest in local politics ( 50 years ) we have had a succession of councils of all political persuasion who couldn't be trusted " to run a whelk stall " to quote a famous historical expression.

Quoted from Ipswin

We don't need 4g pitches at all, Colchester United's ground has no shops, no housing and is Council owned. It has excellent facilities for evening events, concerts  and other income generating stuff on non match days etc, its nowhere near a bus route so they run buses from the station. Difference is it's council owned and Fenty will do anything he can to avoid that.Granted it is next to the main A12 however rather than a restrictive and congested Freeman Street but the PP is no better.

Lets face it the council aren't going to go for PP and Fenty isn't going to go for Freemo. Impasse! Unless of course the council make it widely known they will finance then rent GTFC a new ground in Freemo and Fenty might then have to agree or look even worse than normal

But we aren't Colchester.
We are Grimsby. There's no comparison that I can see.

Quoted from rancido

So who is the Tory businessman you are alluding to?

Any or all.

I'm not using it as a stick to beat JF as you say. He has his beliefs and i have mine, that's democracy.

I would like to see it built as a community stadium in a run down area, and put it at the heart of the community, where the working class demographic that originally built the game up can enjoy it's facilities. The game is moving away from that sadly, and to put it in a green belt with an attached housing estate of new semi's just seems all wrong, and in the wrong part of town. I accepted PP when we were told it was there or nothing, but now there is a new runner, i would love to see it happen, and i think most Town fans would agree.

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

But we aren't Colchester.
We are Grimsby. There's no comparison that I can see.

Sadly that's true

Colchester are challenging for the playoffs and have a new ground

As far as the council running a football ground is concerned, they don't. It's rented out to the club and run by them so it could easily work for us, John Fenty could run it.........oh err see what you mean

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

Oh dear. It seems that you really can't have your own views on here!!! Just because I don't see the vision of the ground being at freemo doesn't mean I'm John. I'm far from John!!!  I am allowed a different view to most on here. Freedom of speech?? (although typed).

So sarcasm is lost on you, it's not about different views, it's about the fact that PP is JSFs foible and if you look at it realisticly it's a bloody terrible option.  Logistically it'd be a nightmare of the highest order and only because of the so called "enabling project",which if translated means "the only way I could make money" he would probably of never considered it .
I will always maintain we lost our greatest chance of relocating when we lost great coates but given the chance as a die hard grimbarian, to sit and look over to the dock tower as the players enter the pitch we would fill me with enough pride to split me open ...

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

Not many dare say what they think-well done son

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

So sarcasm is lost on you, it's not about different views, it's about the fact that PP is JSFs foible and if you look at it realisticly it's a bloody terrible option. Logistically it'd be a nightmare of the highest order and only because of the so called "enabling project",which if translated means "the only way I could make money" he would probably of never considered it .
I will always maintain we lost our greatest chance of relocating when we lost great coates but given the chance as a die hard grimbarian, to sit and look over to the dock tower as the players enter the pitch we would fill me with enough pride to split me open ...

In what way? Admittedly I think Freemo would be a good option but the road transport links to PP could be developed a lot easier than those to Freemo.

Quoted from rancido

In what way? Admittedly I think Freemo would be a good option but the road transport links to PP could be developed a lot easier than those to Freemo.

Oh c''mon, to get to that spot would awful, it'd be jammed all ends up..Werlsby Road, Victoria street, Scartho Road, Toll Bar, all areas that lock out now without the influx of 2000 plus extra vehicles on a match day...
At least with Freemo you could quite easily put a park n ride on Pyewipe and have a park n ride into the ground, plus it would give some use to the estate.

New stadium next door to a new housing estate and a Chiquitos - that’s exactly what we want...

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

You're a perceptive sort of chap Kris. What's your preferred solution and why?

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

But we aren't Colchester.
We are Grimsby. There's no comparison that I can see.

Do you have to work hard at that or does being that thick come naturally?

Quoted from mimma

The club don't have the finances to build it on their own so need it to have an enabling scheme to help with the cost of the development. That is why the club are not that keen. There's no room for additional houses or shops etc.to help with funding.

Why does the enabling scheme have to be on the same site?

Quoted from golfer

Not many dare say what they think-well done son

Funnily enough, we had a discussion along similar lines last night with our girls. One of them said 'the English see it as bad to be honest'. As you know, we're famous for being indirect about what we think.

The other way of looking at it is, in some situations it's rude to be honest. It shows a lack of consideration.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Do you have to work hard at that or does being that thick come naturally?

It comes naturally. Thanks for the concern. Oh and I don't have to work hard at anything.....I'm retired.

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

It comes naturally. Thanks for the concern. Oh and I don't have to work hard at anything.....I'm retired.

Thank intercourse for that. British business needs all the help it can get.

Quoted from Fishy_fishtails

I don't think freemo will work, I would like it to work and think it's a wonderful idea and can see why most fans would like it there. However I don't see that there is enough room without it all feeling to cramped etc with the market, the shopping and such like. We need more than a football stadium. We need to generate an income on days when there is no game. We need to generate an income 7 days a week. We don't need a cramped squashed up thrown together building. We need 4g pitches. We need much more than BP picking up and putting on Freeman st. IF pp got the g ahead there would be transport links, park and ride, buses for the fans from the town centre etc. Freed up spaces on residential streets on match days so residents can park outside their homes which they are crying out for. If it gets the go ahead for freemo all its going to do is move the issues further along the road.

Plenty of room for those at Clee Fields site and the fields behind the old astro there.

I'm getting to the age where I'm wondering if I'll ever see a new stadium......get the bloody thing built.

As Fergie said "not in my lifetime".

Tell you what , the new grounds just too much hassle . Just stick an Aldi or a Lidl on the site . Job done .

For fooks sake . This is Grimsby Town FC not some point scoring exercise.

I see Fenty's mate at it again 🙄

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

Not going to even slag that post off because the awful reality is Kris is right dreams are all we have got very few people with money or vision in this town sad but true..

Not easy to move away like most sensible people do when you live in one of the most deprived places in the country.

Wheres that bottle?

So if the council own the new stadium and the club rent it who picks up the funds for the sale of Blundell Park?
Surely thats got to be worth a few groats.

Quoted from monkeyboy

So if the council own the new stadium and the club rent it who picks up the funds for the sale of Blundell Park?
Surely thats got to be worth a few groats.

Those dingo dollars will go towards paying his lordship off surely?

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

Regeneration of post industrial towns and cities has been working for decades now It’s one of the reasons we’ve been left behind so much.
Hull and Lincoln are two obvious examples locally. The ground would have a multiplier effect on the area and would be the most positive thing to happen in the town in my lifetime. I understand the skepticism from people who’ve been let down so many times before but we need to start looking forward at  reasons to do things rather than reasons not to.

Quoted from H19P1

Those dingo dollars will go towards paying his lordship off surely?

Don't you mean hopefully?

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

So sarcasm is lost on you, it's not about different views, it's about the fact that PP is JSFs foible and if you look at it realisticly it's a bloody terrible option.  Logistically it'd be a nightmare of the highest order and only because of the so called "enabling project",which if translated means "the only way I could make money" he would probably of never considered it .
I will always maintain we lost our greatest chance of relocating when we lost great coates but given the chance as a die hard grimbarian, to sit and look over to the dock tower as the players enter the pitch we would fill me with enough pride to split me open ...

I think mine and your understanding of the phrase "enabling project" are streets apart (no pun intended). The enabling project was surely to provide the money outside of grants and individual investment to get the thing built in the first place? The council were going to provide the land at P.P. As I understand it a fair few of the big new stadia of the late 90s early 00s were enabled by the retail developments that grew up around them. Our much talked about dilemma is that retail parks etc are dead in the water in the late second decade of the 21st. century.

Quoted from Kris2

It's a very popular idea with a small number of fans, most of which probably live in that area and think it's full of good,honest Grimbarians and not people selling stolen ham joints so they can buy smack. The other people who want it are old people who have a whole bunch of nostalgia for the glory days of Freeman Street and the Docks. The reality is the area has always been pretty rough and not really the best foot forward to sell the town as a viable commercial area to draw new business and growth.

A shithole with a football stadium in it is still a shithole and it won't suddenly make the council spend money it doesn't have to rebuild the entire area. How many newly developed football stadiums do you go to and sing "This place is a shithole"? That's because it's true right? A new stadium doesn't fix a run down shithole.

You all only want it because of your old rose tinted memories or because it's near where you live. "It'll be near the DOCKS and the DOCK TOWER will be overlooking the ground! It's be the perfect symbol of what being from Grimsby is all about and inspire the team!". I bet that's exactly what you're all thinking  .

As I understand it the council hope that a football stadium will be the centre piece for a massive regeneration which will then attract in other businesses which they actually DO have the money to fund at least in part through various grants. The key as always will be to attract inward investment to supplement the public sector money.

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Not going to even slag that post off because the awful reality is Kris is right dreams are all we have got very few people with money or vision in this town sad but true..

Not easy to move away like most sensible people do when you live in one of the most deprived places in the country.

Wheres that bottle?

Nil desperandum. I'll wager a lot of the firms who invest in other areas have no connection with that area but the key will be whether they think it represents a good chance to make some money. Firms like the off-shore wind firms already see the business opportunities. 50/60 years ago firms came to the Humber Bank...

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Oh c''mon, to get to that spot would awful, it'd be jammed all ends up..Werlsby Road, Victoria street, Scartho Road, Toll Bar, all areas that lock out now without the influx of 2000 plus extra vehicles on a match day...
At least with Freemo you could quite easily put a park n ride on Pyewipe and have a park n ride into the ground, plus it would give some use to the estate.

...and of course it's so much easier to access Freeman Street! It's very narrow at the Riby Square end and the other access is from the Hainton Avenue end. The only other way is from Albion Street or Victor Street and they are very restricted. All the reasons you have pointed out for access to PP would apply even more so for Freemo. At least the traffic to the PP would be split between all the roads you mentioned and not just the inadequate access that exists for Freemo.

You mention a Park and Ride but how would that be financially viable for just 23 occasions a year? I doubt there would be much call for it at other times as it's not as if thousands of people are flocking to Freeman Street for the " shopping experience". Even if the regeneration of the East Marsh area includes some retail units I can't see that they would justify a Park and Ride scheme

Quoted from Vance Warner

Regeneration of post industrial towns and cities has been working for decades now It’s one of the reasons we’ve been left behind so much.
Hull and Lincoln are two obvious examples locally. The ground would have a multiplier effect on the area and would be the most positive thing to happen in the town in my lifetime. I understand the skepticism from people who’ve been let down so many times before but we need to start looking forward at  reasons to do things rather than reasons not to.

Totally agree and the fault for this lies at the door of successive councils of all political persuasions.  Instead of coming up with long term plans for the good of the town , they have all done piecemeal vanity projects without a clear long term strategy. The side streets off Freeman street are a prime example. When all the old houses were cleared in the late 60's , they should have all been replaced with modern houses in the same area. Instead we have ended up with some housing, some light industrial units and various other establishments. A lot of people moved out to the suburbs but still having to come into town for employment hence our present traffic problems.

How much do you think a park & ride scheme would cost? A car park, couple of bus shelters and a bus running a few hours a day. Hardly gonna break the bank on a project that’s going to cost tens of millions of pounds.

PP’s a non-starter because Fenty’s spent 15 years banging his own drum and hadn’t got a single person on board. A project that the fans are lukewarm on, a “community stadium” in the middle of a community almost universally opposed to the idea, funded by a housing project in a town with no demand for new housing and retail units that were on the way out 20-years ago. He’s not sold the benefits to anyone outside of his own house, despite the council handing him a massive patch of land for free just to help him along the way. Maybe if the club had appointed a proper developer rather than the BMX Bandits we might’ve made some progress.

Freeman Street, and the money being thrown at it, is the only show in town at the minute so he needs to get on board sharpish.

Quoted from ska face

How much do you think a park & ride scheme would cost? A car park, couple of bus shelters and a bus running a few hours a day. Hardly gonna break the bank on a project that’s going to cost tens of millions of pounds.

PP’s a non-starter because Fenty’s spent 15 years banging his own drum and hadn’t got a single person on board. A project that the fans are lukewarm on, a “community stadium” in the middle of a community almost universally opposed to the idea, funded by a housing project in a town with no demand for new housing and retail units that were on the way out 20-years ago. He’s not sold the benefits to anyone outside of his own house, despite the council handing him a massive patch of land for free just to help him along the way. Maybe if the club had appointed a proper developer rather than the BMX Bandits we might’ve made some progress.

Freeman Street, and the money being thrown at it, is the only show in town at the minute so he needs to get on board sharpish.

Regardless of cost, and it certainly isn't as simple as you infer, who would pay for it? It has all the potential for losing money except on match days. Do you think the club should pay for it or the council? You then have to get Stagecoach or some other bus company to buy into it and they will only get involved if they can make money out of it or somebody subsidises it. Park and Ride schemes are only viable in towns that attract a lot of visitors and are either severely congested in their centres or have limited parking. Realistically how many people do you think would use a Park and Ride scheme from the Pyewipe area ( as was suggested) to Freeman Street on a midweek day in the middle of winter?

I’m honestly not interested in arguing the toss over the costs and operational technicalities of a hypothetical park & ride scheme that has only ever been suggested by one person on an Internet forum off the top of their heads for a stadium project that had not even been proposed yet.

How about a park and ride scheme what only runs on match days?

Quoted from ska face

I’m honestly not interested in arguing the toss over the costs and operational technicalities of a hypothetical park & ride scheme that has only ever been suggested by one person on an Internet forum off the top of their heads for a stadium project that had not even been proposed yet.

Fair comment but your post seemed to endorse the fact, so you must have some interest in it or you wouldn't have even mentioned it.

I've got an old double decker-only needs a lick of paint,new set of tyres and something doing to the engine but was very reliable for it's age

Quoted from ska face

How much do you think a park & ride scheme would cost? A car park, couple of bus shelters and a bus running a few hours a day. Hardly gonna break the bank on a project that’s going to cost tens of millions of pounds.

PP’s a non-starter because Fenty’s spent 15 years banging his own drum and hadn’t got a single person on board. A project that the fans are lukewarm on, a “community stadium” in the middle of a community almost universally opposed to the idea, funded by a housing project in a town with no demand for new housing and retail units that were on the way out 20-years ago. He’s not sold the benefits to anyone outside of his own house, despite the council handing him a massive patch of land for free just to help him along the way. Maybe if the club had appointed a proper developer rather than the BMX Bandits we might’ve made some progress.

Freeman Street, and the money being thrown at it, is the only show in town at the minute so he needs to get on board sharpish.

Cracked me right up