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Quoted from pen penfras

I take it you're going to step forward and share your all encompassing genius with the club? I assume, since you are clearly a business expert, that you also have great wealth, so I and the rest of the supporters thank you in advance for donating the funds and knowledge required to deliver this stadium.

Talk about missing the point completely!

His track record is demonstrably pathetic, both in delivering the stadium and indeed everything else, on and off the pitch.

Like everyone else I have faced challenges and made mistakes in my own life, under my own set of circumstances, but this is a GTFC forum and I am replying to a thread about the new stadium at PP being dead in the water.

I do not need to be a financial wizzard, or a planning officer, or a wealthy businessman to comment on the rather obvious conclusion that Fenty hasn't got enough money that he is prepared to spend, nor the attitudes required to get other people on board to make anything happen, let alone a new stadium.

I was in business; I have talked to many business people who have had dealings with Mr. Fenty and their opinions are invariably negative.

You can be cocky, arrogant and dismissive if you have a great track record... I think more humility and less hubris would serve the Fenty and his acolytes well.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Talk about missing the point completely!

His track record is demonstrably pathetic, both in delivering the stadium and indeed everything else, on and off the pitch.

Like everyone else I have faced challenges and made mistakes in my own life, under my own set of circumstances, but this is a GTFC forum and I am replying to a thread about the new stadium at PP being dead in the water.

I do not need to be a financial wizzard, or a planning officer, or a wealthy businessman to comment on the rather obvious conclusion that Fenty hasn't got enough money that he is prepared to spend, nor the attitudes required to get other people on board to make anything happen, let alone a new stadium.

I was in business; I have talked to many business people who have had dealings with Mr. Fenty and their opinions are invariably negative.

You can be cocky, arrogant and dismissive if you have a great track record... I think more humility and less hubris would serve the Fenty and his acolytes well.

Too right.

Obviously pen penfras speaks for the board in some way and, as per normal, the tone is 'well come & do better'. Well we can't, because we are not directors of Grimsby Town Football Club!

It might sometimes be useful for the board to see things from a fan's perspective. We have been promised a new stadium for 20 years or so, we've been told that the club can't continue to survive financially at BP, in November 2014 we were told that we would be in a new stadium within 5 years. Well, you've got 15 months!

Nothing from the board, nothing from Extreme, not even a peep from the council.

If we re-locate to Freeman Street we could always move the druggies,shop lifters etc to Peaks Parkway. It's only fare that they will be able to share into the benefits of being able to buy dodgy baccy at their local newsagent

Quoted from gaz57

Not if they knock it down for training pitches.

I’m guessing it’s listed, the white knight and white bear on the other hand 😓

Let’s face it never getting a new stadium

So freeman street stadium gets the go ahead. Am pretty sure there's no greater created twit warblers in the area, hardly likely to be any complaints from local residents (am sure it's been proven that new grounds in densely populated areas push house prices up), transport links are good and it's in Grimsby!

Was at the veggie ravers game, and the buzz down meggies pre match was great. Now, just imagine that if the ground is halfway between top town and meggies. 2 x the buzz. And for those drinking in meggies pre game, am sure a train could run between there and either new clee or the docks stations.

This just needs to be confirmed or denied by the club before it gets out of hand

Quoted from oldun

Good news for Cottees bar

Wtf! He never even played for us!

Freemo would also be handy for those niggley muscle strains to be treated.
Nicoles ( or whatever it’s called now) could give that vital massage to aid recovery.

Could give a whole new meaning to getting pulled off at half time 😄

The ladies who work in Railway St would also see an increase in potential customers..

Really hope its true - have thought for a long time that its the logical place for it
But like a lot of people I wonder if it will ever happen ………...

Does anyone know how much the stadium capitcy is

Quoted from moosey_club

Freeholds are complicated and can be expensive regardless of who owns it....the less time left ...the higher the price.

Anything less than 25 yrs and the price shoots up as they know you would struggle to sell the property without it, as any mortgage lenders wouldn't see it as a secure asset.

Having recently dealt with a house on a short lease we decided to buy the freehold off Sir Alec Black estates. It cost a lot of money but was worth it for piece of mind and any future transactions.

Quoted from FrazerGTFC

Does anyone know how much the stadium capitcy is

As it stands at the minute...

0

I have posted on here many times that in my opinion there was more in the pulling of those flats than we were told and once the announcement was made a couple of years ago pp as just been used as a distraction and now the final tower is being demolished the plans can be announced. It’s the final piece of the east marsh docks regeneration. Just my views of course I know nothing

Quoted from promotion plaice

Rumour has it that the workmen knocking down the flats have found it surprisingly easy ;D

I could tell you a few stories while I was working on that site PP,

The 6 months I spent doing the snagging jobs after the people had moved in was very interesting. 8)

Quoted from grimsby pete

I could tell you a few stories while I was working on that site PP,

The 6 months I spent doing the snagging jobs after the people had moved in was very interesting. 8)

Sorry Pete. Misread it first time but then I saw you said ‘snagging’ jobs.

Thought for a minute I wanted a job like you used to have 😉

Quoted from FrazerGTFC

Does anyone know how much the stadium capitcy is

If you mean the new stadium capacity.... it's supposed to be 14,000 if it ever happens.

Quoted from moosey_club

The ladies who work in Railway St would also see an increase in potential customers..

At least someone will be scoring on match days.

Anyone with basic business sense, basic knowledge of 21st century football and the interests of GTFC at heart knows we need a new stadium. To be in the top ten for match-day revenue as a % of total revenue is good if you are Brighton with a new stadium with 30k capacity but not good if you have a 1920s stadium with a capacity of 8.5k with several hundred seats with a restricted view. At some point 50% of BP will get closed off and we'll be Conference or worse...

Out of town retail is going out of fashion - the future is less car use and vibrant town and city centres. For professional team sport it is the overall match-day experience for the fans that will be important to increase attendances. Peaks Parkway would be better than staying at BP but Freeman Street, if done right, could be great for the club and for the town. A new 14k stadium with a fan zone outside the stadium, apres-match live music in the stadium bar afterwards, 7 days a week use, food and beverage spend in the town and more away fans would be a boom for the club and Gy. Think Burnley, Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool - all clubs in poor area in the north that we have competed well with in the past, all redeveloped in the town centres. Set aside the Blackpool ownership issue, they've doubled their crowds from the bad hooligan days of the early 80s. Newcastle have done the same - which is a better fan experience St James Park or the Ricoh / Majedski / Reebok / Pride Park and numerous other out of town identikit stadia.

It's not just GTFC who have no money to spend but the fans themselves. Half the town is skint so no scheme can rely on the support from this town. If you had fur lined seats you wouldn't get a bigger crowd no matter where the location. A Freeman Street site would cost twice as much with underlying problems than Peaks Parkway. All those who think Freeman Street is viable -get real.

If you look on Google maps the land that will be reclaimed from the flats being knocked down is not enough to fit a ground on as there are a few 100 houses behind the last tower and Freemo that are staying which makes the reclaimed land L shaped

Quoted from golfer

It's not just GTFC who have no money to spend but the fans themselves. Half the town is skint so no scheme can rely on the support from this town. If you had fur lined seats you wouldn't get a bigger crowd no matter where the location. A Freeman Street site would cost twice as much with underlying problems than Peaks Parkway. All those who think Freeman Street is viable -get real.

But more likely to get central gov money...

Money will be chucked around post brexit - there will be a big Keynesian boost in brexit land (otherwise there will be carnage). But it needs leadership and vision, something Gy council has never had, to bid for the money with a coherent deliverable plan.

It's been a Rumour rattling around in Fentys head from day one.
Said it then will say it again it won't happen in any form while Fenty is in charge.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I did when I worked at the Telegraph just round the corner. It was there or the Mariners club in Kent St. who did a curry to die for.

My mum and Dad got their wedding do done at the mariners club in ‘81 it was free as my dad was a member 😝 believe it’s in church street though, or was rather.

Quoted from Mariner Ronnie

My mum and Dad got their wedding do done at the mariners club in ‘81 it was free as my dad was a member 😝 believe it’s in church street though, or was rather.

Yes sorry - I was mulling over whether it was Church Street. I ought to have remembered as I used to live in Church Street in the 50's. Or was it Kent Street... ;D Its an age thing.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Yes sorry - I was mulling over whether it was Church Street. I ought to have remembered as I used to live in Church Street in the 50's. Or was it Kent Street... ;D Its an age thing.

The Kent Arms was the pub in Kent St where you could usually get served as an under 18.😉

My aunt passed away a few years ago but as an employee and customer of The Mariners she had many happy times.

My folks in the 60s and 70s and latterly myself in the very early 80’s always used to go out on Freemo and the surrounding pubs, the Mariners, Smokers, White Bear, Wellington and Cairns’s amongst others being the regular haunts.

Quoted from Civvy at last

Freemo would also be handy for those niggley muscle strains to be treated.
Nicoles ( or whatever it’s called now) could give that vital massage to aid recovery.

Could give a whole new meaning to getting pulled off at half time 😄

If a post deserves to win the weekly award then it's this one. Nearly choked on my tea laughing

Where exactly would it go on freemo? A combination of the Comber Place /3 southern tower block sites? Or the mostly defunct shopping blocks opposite Wilko?

I can't believe that Freeman Street would be chosen, I can only hope that this rumour is as accurate as those rumours predicting all the players we were going to sign, none of whom ever materialised.

UTM

Quoted from golfer

It's not just GTFC who have no money to spend but the fans themselves. Half the town is skint so no scheme can rely on the support from this town. If you had fur lined seats you wouldn't get a bigger crowd no matter where the location. A Freeman Street site would cost twice as much with underlying problems than Peaks Parkway. All those who think Freeman Street is viable -get real.

In that case why bother with a football league team at all? Sell BP , invest the money in Grimsby Borough or Cleethorpes Town and wallow in the lower reaches of non-league with affordable gate money. Simples!

Quoted from Posh Harry

Sorry Pete. Misread it first time but then I saw you said ‘snagging’ jobs.

Thought for a minute I wanted a job like you used to have 😉

A bit of snogging went on as well Harry well I was 18 :)

Get it built in Freemo and bry all the spice and bag heads under it. Freemo land is never gonna worth toss all now as its heyday has well and truely gone so the 'Freeman' will either sit on it and make no money out of it or sell up and get some cash back. they wont seeanything otherwise.

The Council ruled Freeman Street out as recently as April. It's not big enough.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-town-stadium-freeman-street-1463482

Quoted from ginnywings

The Council ruled Freeman Street out as recently as April. It's not big enough.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-town-stadium-freeman-street-1463482

Maybe not big enough for the full Fenty vanity project but more than enough size for a modern stadium with facilties for 7 day income streams. MK Dons was superb and would fit there easily.

A few beers down Freemo, fish and chips from the pee bung, and something "extra" if we win. What more could you want?

Freemo site would be a great idea. Would regenerate the area and form a much needed ‘link’ between Gy and Clee. All we need is funding ! I understand the Arab billionaire Sheikh anvac is looking to invest in GTFC...he could put some freshness back into the club !

Freeman St is plenty big enough for the stadium and parking,

Training pitches and housing could be elsewhere.

Knock down the lhs of Freeman st (looking from riby sq) from riby squate to the market. There are no worthwhile shops or pubs and some of the buildings have been condemned around the tje old council tower block. That will create plenty of room.
That whole are wants flattening and starting again.
Blank canvas

The club has no idea how to engage the fan base, no idea that keeping the fans informed can keep the fans on board even if there are delays.

The club treats the fans like mushrooms, they keep us in the dark and feed us excrement.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Freeman St is plenty big enough for the stadium and parking,

Training pitches and housing could be elsewhere.

The land the flats where on is not big enough to fit our current ground never mind a new ground with 4 modern stands. The land the shops and carpark are also not big enough and to throw another spanner in the works there are a few 100 council houses in the middle of both which are staying put.

The Freemo site won't need car parking spaces, after Brexit we could rent the massive car parking area on the docks from ABP :)

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

The land the flats where on is not big enough to fit our current ground never mind a new ground with 4 modern stands. The land the shops and carpark are also not big enough and to throw another spanner in the works there are a few 100 council houses in the middle of both which are staying put.

Of course it's not big enough- but having said that there would be no need for car parks as we could park down Peaks Parkway and walk the rest of the way taking in the scenic Hainton Avenue

The club appear to be slightly obsessed with a minimum 20 acre site to incorporate parking and training facilities. That’s all well and good, but we need to be open to making the odd concession in order to make it happen at all.

Brentford, situated in West London where land is both scarce and incredibly expensive are building a 17,500 stadium on a site of just 7.6 acres. Not only that, but it’s also awkwardly shaped with poor access meaning that a certain amount of architectural skill is required to make it viable (which actually lends itself to a finished product which is a lot more unique than your average, modern ‘bowl’.

Is the site ideal? Not at all, but what matters is this - it’s actually getting built.

I don’t know how big the site near Freeman Street is (a damnnsite bigger than 7.6 acres I’d imagine) but it’s an area screaming out for regeneration and what better ‘anchor’ for that than a community stadium?

With the proposed development of Freshney Place / riverhead, there’s an opportunity to really do something quite special with a large area which is currently an embarrassment to the town.

If Peaks Parkway is indeed dead in the water, and there’s certainly been nothing in the last 12 months to convince me otherwise, then we surely have to be looking at every possible way to make a Freeman Street stadium work. It might not be the ideal location, but the wider argument for it to be situated there surely outranks any other and I wouldn’t foresee anything other than unianimous public support.

Quoted from Poojah

The club appear to be slightly obsessed with a minimum 20 acre site to incorporate parking and training facilities. That’s all well and good, but we need to be open to making the odd concession in order to make it happen at all.

Brentford, situated in West London where land is both scarce and incredibly expensive are building a 17,500 stadium on a site of just 7.6 acres. Not only that, but it’s also awkwardly shaped with poor access meaning that a certain amount of architectural skill is required to make it viable (which actually lends itself to a finished product which is a lot more unique than your average, modern ‘bowl’.

Is the site ideal? Not at all, but what matters is this - it’s actually getting built.

I don’t know how big the site near Freeman Street is (a damnnsite bigger than 7.6 acres I’d imagine) but it’s an area screaming out for regeneration and what better ‘anchor’ for that than a community stadium?

With the proposed development of Freshney Place / riverhead, there’s an opportunity to really do something quite special with a large area which is currently an embarrassment to the town.

If Peaks Parkway is indeed dead in the water, and there’s certainly been nothing in the last 12 months to convince me otherwise, then we surely have to be looking at every possible way to make a Freeman Street stadium work. It might not be the ideal location, but the wider argument for it to be situated there surely outranks any other and I wouldn’t foresee anything other than unianimous public support.

Great post.

I'm not sure why the training pitch(es) need to be at the same site as the Stadium? That'd really bring down the amount of space needed at the stadium. Have the stadium on Freemo and the training pitches on PP? Many teams train half an hour's drive away from the matchday stadium.

If Peaks Parkway has fallen through it's obviously through finance,so who is going to pay for a Freeman St site. Town aren't interested in a stadium here,and who can blame them. The council [US] have said it's not big enough so what are we going on about. The council haven't put their heart in it or they wouldn't have allowed sites all over the town to be built. There must be 2-3 thousand new houses in the pipeline never mind those required to help pay for the stadium. Grants wont go any where near the cost

Quoted from golfer

Of course it's not big enough- but having said that there would be no need for car parks as we could park down Peaks Parkway and walk the rest of the way taking in the scenic Hainton Avenue

Never mind the car park you will not get the ground in to the site without making it shorter than it currently is as the land in question is l shaped and not long enough for a full sized pitch with a stand at each end.

Bit of a brainstorm idea, and I’m open to having it shot down but could a space saving idea be to have parking underneath the stadium itself. I’m sure it could be done structurally (is it Ajax that have a road under theirs?) but would probably be expensive.

Quoted from Jaws

Great post.

I'm not sure why the training pitch(es) need to be at the same site as the Stadium? That'd really bring down the amount of space needed at the stadium. Have the stadium on Freemo and the training pitches on PP? Many teams train half an hour's drive away from the matchday stadium.

I’ve suggested previously that any new training facility would be better placed somewhere like Barnetby. Realistically, few players move to the area these days with many commuting from the likes of Leeds and Sheffield.

Reducing that commute by 20 or 30 minutes can only help to offset the challenging effect our location has on recruitment.

Quoted from Poojah

I’ve suggested previously that any new training facility would be better placed somewhere like Barnetby. Realistically, few players move to the area these days with many commuting from the likes of Leeds and Sheffield.

Reducing that commute by 20 or 30 minutes can only help to offset the challenging effect our location has on recruitment.

Why not go the whole hog and have a training facility on the outskirts of Sheffield as I have also suggested previously, radical I know but think of the players we could attract that would normally turn us down.

There is plenty of “dead” space around that part of Town that could be cleared and used for parking, look at the land around the Ice House, behind Cleethorpe Rd etc...

I get that regeneration money could be available to anyone developing the sight but would there really be the kind of cash available to do something properly and worthwhile?

Seems to me that a suitable site for a ground is one issue finding the cash for building it is a completely bigger challenge.

It’s great that this topic comes up every few months but in reality I reckon we’re as far away from a move than we’ve ever been.

I just wonder how many people or organisations would need to agree the sale of their property to facilitate the Freemo site.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I just wonder how many people or organisations would need to agree the sale of their property to facilitate the Freemo site.

Quite a few I reckon but looking at the amount of dereliction around that part of the Town there would probably be a queue for any CPO cash?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I just wonder how many people or organisations would need to agree the sale of their property to facilitate the Freemo site.

I cannot get my head around the role of the Freemen of Grimsby in all this. I suspect they own a fair chunk of the land needed.
Whilst we are on the subject I'd be interested to know what percentage of Town's usual gate travel from the south and west of the area thereby negating the advantages of the A180 and adding considerably to the traffic chaos around Hainton Avenue/ Fred Ward Way and the Parkway/Victoria Street West on a Saturday match day.

In the unlikely event of the council getting grants, plus their own funds to build a community stadium for the club to lease, I cannot see Mr. Fenty having any part of that.

He has dreamt of that as his legacy, and would be mightily miffed I would think. That would involve some interesting meetings where on the one hand the council want to build the stadium, but the major shareholder is reluctant to move the club to a stadium that hasn't got his name on it.

I suppose if Fenty hasn't got the cash or contacts to build one, then a council initiative, however unlikely it seems, is our only hope of ever moving.

Quoted from jimgtfc

Bit of a brainstorm idea, and I’m open to having it shot down but could a space saving idea be to have parking underneath the stadium itself. I’m sure it could be done structurally (is it Ajax that have a road under theirs?) but would probably be expensive.

OR

Have the pitch on top of the car park like Monaco .

Question for Rob who is convinced the site is not big enough,

Can you inform us of the size we require against the size available,?

Having worked on those flats for over 3 years I am sure a ground would fit.

Lack of space is obviously the main issue, in that any decent sized site incorporating the land from the flats is hampered by a large block of residential dwellings between Kent Street and Albert Street. To do anything worthwhile in the area would need council intervention and CPOs, which would be costly and may be a long, protracted process.

[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/72i6nvpq7/cpo.jpg[/img]

Without removing the residential area (orange), you've a site of about 5.8acres, but if you do remove the dwellings (looks to be about 70 in total?), as well as incorporating the Agra site (red), that bumps the site up to 18.7acres.

If you knocked the market down and extended the site all the way down to Duncombe Street, taking in the car park and old ABC Cinema, you've a site of roughly 24 acres.

[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/t4d2bb4n3/site.jpg[/img]

The thing is though, the process is infinitely more difficult than finding the right amount of land and parachuting a new ground in, and this is where the hurdles pop up and costs start to sky rocket. It's buying the land, treating it, Section 106s, public realm improvements, highways and access, the other uses that are going to make it a 7-day income-generating venture - even if it's just a set of 6-a-side pitches, look at how much space they take up.

I'd love it Kev Keegan style if the club, council, business and even Central Govt could out their heads together and find a way of delivering what would be the biggest development in the town for generations, but I just think it's too big a challenge at the moment for a town without a pot to urine in.

What CANNOT be allowed to continue, though, is keeping the fans in the dark. We aren't just fans, we're residents, stakeholders, tax-payers, communities, the past, present and future of this area and a huge voice locally - whether this is in terms of speaking to friends, family and colleagues around the town, or in lobbying councilors and local business to come together on this and show some appetite to improve the town, and not just collect signatures to get the grass cut.

The whole thing needs a refresh. The telegraph are still referencing a study put together in 2015, and the club are still supposedly looking at a multi-site, housing/leisure/retail/training/football/bmx hybrid plan that the current developer has no idea how to deliver. I think the current proposal for Freeman St is a public square on the site around the old flats? That's got disaster written all over it, who the intercourse's gonna use that? Time to think big.

Interesting Ska
May I ask if you, or anyone else, knows if the houses in the orange area are privately owned or council/housing association?

Quoted from The_Laughing_Mariner

Knock down the lhs of Freeman st (looking from riby sq) from riby squate to the market. There are no worthwhile shops or pubs and some of the buildings have been condemned around the tje old council tower block. That will create plenty of room.
That whole are wants flattening and starting again.
Blank canvas

I work in that area loads of empty derelect premises. they are welcome to knock down where I work near by lol.

O.K. I give up Let's knock a few mansions down in Humberston Avenue and please everyone-it would be more viable than trying to build a stadium down Freeman Street-I thought MY brain had gone.

Quoted from Cloudy

Interesting Ska
May I ask if you, or anyone else, knows if the houses in the orange area are privately owned or council/housing association?

Not sure myself, looks to be mixed tenure.

Are grants currently available for regenerating inner city sites bringing town centres back to life just a thought?

Freemo is a fantastic idea but the logistics of getting all of the land & building owners to sell their real estate at the same time is unrealistic. If, and it's a big if, anywhere other than PP is to be developed, it would surely be to buy from a sole owner and the only one I could think of would be dockland belonging to ABP.

As much as i would love a new stadium in Freeman Street, i just can't see it myself. Even if there was enough room, the logistics and costs involved would make it impossibly prohibitive.

It's much easier, quicker, and infinitely cheaper to build on virgin land like PP, than it is to develop a site containing many homes and businesses of varying sorts. PP already has a road running alongside, and all you need is to add a couple of slip roads and off you go.

As others have mentioned, i wish the club would just come out and tell us what the hell is going on. The silence has been deafening.

Quoted from ginnywings

As much as i would love a new stadium in Freeman Street, i just can't see it myself. Even if there was enough room, the logistics and costs involved would make it impossibly prohibitive.

It's much easier, quicker, and infinitely cheaper to build on virgin land like PP, than it is to develop a site containing many homes and businesses of varying sorts. PP already has a road running alongside, and all you need is to add a couple of slip roads and off you go.

As others have mentioned, i wish the club would just come out and tell us what the hell is going on. The silence has been deafening.

The club don't have the money for PP though Ginny.

I think Fenty thought if he could get the land given to him, and get planning permission on it he would be quids in.

A developer may be interested, but not interested enough to pay for a £20 million stadium up front! It would be many years before they got any of their investment back so I guess that is why it has probably hit the buffers.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

The club don't have the money for PP though Ginny.

I think Fenty thought if he could get the land given to him, and get planning permission on it he would be quids in.

A developer may be interested, but not interested enough to pay for a £20 million stadium up front! It would be many years before they got any of their investment back so I guess that is why it has probably hit the buffers.

Key word in bold LCL. No-one is telling us anything - as usual - because they don't want us to know.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

The club don't have the money for PP though Ginny.

I think Fenty thought if he could get the land given to him, and get planning permission on it he would be quids in.

A developer may be interested, but not interested enough to pay for a £20 million stadium up front! It would be many years before they got any of their investment back so I guess that is why it has probably hit the buffers.

That is why they need an enabling project. I think the Council are selling the land at a favourable rate to a developer, so the question now is whether a developer thinks they can make money from building the houses and throwing in a football stadium. Extreme seemed to think they could but whether that has now changed, i have no idea.

All this is conjecture on my part, but it's always been the case the the club can't afford to pay for a new stadium, and need it to be covered by an enabling project and grants.

Still think the club should let us know either way. The last concrete thing they said was that they were 80% sure (or something around that region) that it would be going ahead. We've heard nothing since except rumour and speculation.

What will happen is we will not get a new ground at PP.

AND

We will not get a new ground at Freeman St.

Instead of giving the P P land to the club at a reduced rate, they sell P P, what is premium land to a developer. Monies from the sale are used for regeneration of the land around Freeman Street, which will include the new stadium. Training ground remains where it is or is actually on PP as part of the housing development.

I wonder if one of the reasons the club don’t want to admit that the new stadium is dead is that they will then have no excuse to spend fcuk all on Blundell Park !!

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

In the unlikely event of the council getting grants, plus their own funds to build a community stadium for the club to lease, I cannot see Mr. Fenty having any part of that.

He has dreamt of that as his legacy, and would be mightily miffed I would think. That would involve some interesting meetings where on the one hand the council want to build the stadium, but the major shareholder is reluctant to move the club to a stadium that hasn't got his name on it.

I suppose if Fenty hasn't got the cash or contacts to build one, then a council initiative, however unlikely it seems, is our only hope of ever moving.

Another bonus!

Quoted from barralad

I cannot get my head around the role of the Freemen of Grimsby in all this. I suspect they own a fair chunk of the land needed.
Whilst we are on the subject I'd be interested to know what percentage of Town's usual gate travel from the south and west of the area thereby negating the advantages of the A180 and adding considerably to the traffic chaos around Hainton Avenue/ Fred Ward Way and the Parkway/Victoria Street West on a Saturday match day.

How do people get from the west of the area to BP currently? That'd be no worse than it is surely, with less traffic heading down Cleethorpe/Grimsby Rd towards Cleethorpes. There'd be a longer journey from the Cleethorpes side granted. But on balance it'd be no worse than BP. Solving the traffic problem is surely lower down the list than solving the need for a new stadium. If solving traffic problems is an objective then we'd be imposing another barrier.

I see how PP would provide both the land and a location more central to the population, but there's not the slightest sign of the enabling development is there?

Quoted from ska face

I think the current proposal for Freeman St is a public square on the site around the old flats? That's got disaster written all over it, who the intercourse's gonna use that? Time to think big.

If this is true, then what it actually means is, there's going to be intercourse all. A square in the middle of what?! Staggering if true.

All the talk about the cost of infrastructure is rubbish, to get to P.P. it has already been acknowledged a considerable amount of money will be needed to provide a NEW route to the proposed? stadium. P.P./fredrick ward way junction is a nightmare during busy times anyway.

Freemo as much closer access to the A180 via the flyover plus loads of space to build a massive car park close by to me it makes complete sense to have the stadium close to the motorway thus keeping traffic away from the town centre. I am sure a lot of those derelict shops and buildings dock side of freemo around Cottees could be flattened and used if needed.

That would generate more interest and footfall in the area that can only be good for the rest of the proprietors along that street. It would definitely bring it back to life.

Maybe Freshney place would block it though they always object to anything threatening their piece of excrement like they tried to stop old Ramsdens site being redeveloped.

The cynic in me thinks a lot of brown envelopes are been drawn up by councillors/developers behind closed doors to prevent this.

Mrs Doyle, you are assuming people going to a game near Fresno would travel down the A180 to do so.
I doubt a significant percentage of fans come from Great Coates, Brigg, Barton direction and not all the couple of hundred away fans either.
I have never understood why people believe being close to the A180 solves traffic problems?

Look around Grimsby as a whole, there are loads of places to build a stadium.
people have got it in there heads it has to be in A180 corridor, why? there plenty of roads into Grimsby.
A lot of clubs would travel through Louth way or through Caister so mayybe look at sites on those routes?

The land next to Morriosns for an example is is huge and im sure Strawson the farmer would sell for the right price.
This has always been about money with this stadium and if the right people arent going to get their pockets lined then thats where the issue lays, chairman councilors etc.

Of course it it should be for the town and the fans but as the lack of updates shows it isnt, its for for egos and the wallets.

A stadium in the centre of town means almost everyone can walk or use public transport to get there. I see traffic as more of an issue for an out of town stadium with only one car park. If we are looking at a home for 100 years then we can't afford to be too reliant on everyone driving there anyway. One of many reasons why a location in the town centre would be ideal.

Quoted from ska face

Lack of space is obviously the main issue, in that any decent sized site incorporating the land from the flats is hampered by a large block of residential dwellings between Kent Street and Albert Street. To do anything worthwhile in the area would need council intervention and CPOs, which would be costly and may be a long, protracted process.

[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/72i6nvpq7/cpo.jpg[/img]

Without removing the residential area (orange), you've a site of about 5.8acres, but if you do remove the dwellings (looks to be about 70 in total?), as well as incorporating the Agra site (red), that bumps the site up to 18.7acres.

If you knocked the market down and extended the site all the way down to Duncombe Street, taking in the car park and old ABC Cinema, you've a site of roughly 24 acres.

[img]https://s33.postimg.cc/t4d2bb4n3/site.jpg[/img]

The thing is though, the process is infinitely more difficult than finding the right amount of land and parachuting a new ground in, and this is where the hurdles pop up and costs start to sky rocket. It's buying the land, treating it, Section 106s, public realm improvements, highways and access, the other uses that are going to make it a 7-day income-generating venture - even if it's just a set of 6-a-side pitches, look at how much space they take up.

I'd love it Kev Keegan style if the club, council, business and even Central Govt could out their heads together and find a way of delivering what would be the biggest development in the town for generations, but I just think it's too big a challenge at the moment for a town without a pot to urine in.

What CANNOT be allowed to continue, though, is keeping the fans in the dark. We aren't just fans, we're residents, stakeholders, tax-payers, communities, the past, present and future of this area and a huge voice locally - whether this is in terms of speaking to friends, family and colleagues around the town, or in lobbying councilors and local business to come together on this and show some appetite to improve the town, and not just collect signatures to get the grass cut.

The whole thing needs a refresh. The telegraph are still referencing a study put together in 2015, and the club are still supposedly looking at a multi-site, housing/leisure/retail/training/football/bmx hybrid plan that the current developer has no idea how to deliver. I think the current proposal for Freeman St is a public square on the site around the old flats? That's got disaster written all over it, who the intercourse's gonna use that? Time to think big.

Excellent post with obvious subject knowledge, the point in bold is nailed on.

I've said before that I have been told that the Freeman Street site options is far from off the tables, it wasn't from someone connected to the club or the council directly so I've always treat it with a pinch of salt but it more or less backs up the stuff raised on here.

I was told that the Red area which is the mostly derelict shop units and the Amber residential areas of Thesiger Street/Kent St are included in the overarching plans, but also the whole regeneration vision stretches up as far east as Victor Street and west as Central Hall.  That creates a big old area to work with if true.  As ska points out, there's no point in making a gesture of regeneration there.  If it's going to be done it has to be all in, this would be the regeneration plan for Grimsby with the knock-on coming elsewhere.  The Town centre is dead and is currently kept alive only by lunchtime trade from office buildings, many of which are council.  The plans I was told about was of the council building a super-hub that incorporates the vast majority of their buildings under one roof as part of this regeneration.  The sheer number of workers that would move up to the Riby Square area would breath new life into the area in an instant, freeing up the Town centre to be more of an entertainment based complex.

I don't know the technicalities of compulsory purchase orders or anything like that, nor indeed how far down the line anyone would be with that.

Let's put it this way, if money or planning permission wasn't an issue, this site ticks all the boxes for me.  It boosts the area in a way we can only dream of.  Peaks Parkway on the other hand feels a bit like it's just somewhere that we can build the stadium, rather than the best site or any knock on benefits to the area.

Quoted from monkeyboy

Look around Grimsby as a whole, there are loads of places to build a stadium.
people have got it in there heads it has to be in A180 corridor, why? there plenty of roads into Grimsby.
A lot of clubs would travel through Louth way or through Caister so mayybe look at sites on those routes?

The land next to Morriosns for an example is is huge and im sure Strawson the farmer would sell for the right price.
This has always been about money with this stadium and if the right people arent going to get their pockets lined then thats where the issue lays, chairman councilors etc.

Of course it it should be for the town and the fans but as the lack of updates shows it isnt, its for for egos and the wallets.

There's 3 roads into Grimsby:

A16 which then means shoving traffic up a single carriageway through Tollbar/New Waltham and then bottle-necking.
A46 - as above after Lincoln, exception of dual carriage between Laceby and Bradley Crossroads.
A180 - Dual Carriageway from Barnetby Top, motorway before.  The only road where you're not likely to get major gridlock in/out once you've left the built up areas.

We don't want to be shoving any extra traffic down the A roads that then go through the Town.  Can't think of many teams that would come up the A16 here.  Boston, Peterborough, Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester maybe.  Vast majority would come A1 or M1 from the South.  M180 from North or West.

We don't get great away attendances.  We're not talking thousands of extra cars travelling from anywhere.  For the games where there is likely to be an increase the club and local authorities would need to implement park and ride systems.  Examples of the Lincoln games, well advertised that if you're coming in a car from that way on park up and get the free bus to the ground.  Even doing it at Grimsby College would save congestion nearer the ground.  Properly run that could be the case for all games, home and away fans.  College for the A46 - Europarc for the M180.  Buses get priority in and out of the ground, fans are back in their car and on an exit road far quicker than if they parked in a car park and got gridlocked for half an hour.

Quoted from friskneymariner

Lots of money available in Coastal Communities Grant perhaps Club should be doing research how a new ground could enhance the community by doing outreach work in the west marsh.,.The club needs to appoint someone who is experienced in making grant applications.

This is absolutely the way forward, especially for smaller clubs looking for finance.

The AFL is a model of this type of "community" based structure, as BillO will attest. It is successful because the community is involved from the planning stages, not TOLD what is going to happen whether they like it or not.

Not everybody in a town/city is a football fan, but it's still their town as well, and they need to be shown whats in it for them.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Excellent post with obvious subject knowledge, the point in bold is nailed on.

I've said before that I have been told that the Freeman Street site options is far from off the tables, it wasn't from someone connected to the club or the council directly so I've always treat it with a pinch of salt but it more or less backs up the stuff raised on here.

I was told that the Red area which is the mostly derelict shop units and the Amber residential areas of Thesiger Street/Kent St are included in the overarching plans, but also the whole regeneration vision stretches up as far east as Victor Street and west as Central Hall.  That creates a big old area to work with if true.  As ska points out, there's no point in making a gesture of regeneration there.  If it's going to be done it has to be all in, this would be the regeneration plan for Grimsby with the knock-on coming elsewhere.  The Town centre is dead and is currently kept alive only by lunchtime trade from office buildings, many of which are council.  The plans I was told about was of the council building a super-hub that incorporates the vast majority of their buildings under one roof as part of this regeneration.  The sheer number of workers that would move up to the Riby Square area would breath new life into the area in an instant, freeing up the Town centre to be more of an entertainment based complex.

I don't know the technicalities of compulsory purchase orders or anything like that, nor indeed how far down the line anyone would be with that.

Let's put it this way, if money or planning permission wasn't an issue, this site ticks all the boxes for me.  It boosts the area in a way we can only dream of.  Peaks Parkway on the other hand feels a bit like it's just somewhere that we can build the stadium, rather than the best site or any knock on benefits to the area.

The coloured map is a bit misleading. The complete blundell park footprint comfortably fits in the space behind the market with Albert street west and Albion street as the other bounderies. With a bit of creative thinking it would be more than enough space to facilitate everything

What's everything though?

If you're talking stadium with maybe a couple of all-weather pitches and a little bit of car parking, then yeah it is.

But if, big if, it is going to be site we end up with I think it's going to be far bigger than just a football stadium and a gesture at a community project via some astroturf projects.

If we just put a ground there and little else that benefits the community, what's the point?  We're benefiting about 4,000 people out of a combined Grimsby/Clee population of about 130,000.   Just over 3%.  Get this right and it could be a game changer for the area, get it wrong and we've lost a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Blundell Park does fit comfortably within the available space:
[img]https://preview.ibb.co/mKoRq9/freeman_street.png[/img]

But there isn't much room to build a bigger stadium or ancillary facilities without also including the Kent Street housing.

It won't happen anyhow, there is no money or vision.

Quoted from Dan

It won't happy anyhow, there is no money or vision.

Bet you a tenner it does.

How about building the new stadium with a tower block of flats sited at each corner,?

Then anyone living on or above the 4th floor could watch the games for free.

This has been done to a certain degree at other grounds in our and other countries.

Then we are sorting out the housing problem at the same time,

If you had six flats on each floor and 12 floors that is 72 units X 4 = 288 units.

That's half the number required so we only have to find space ( at P.P. ? ) for the other half.

Just a thought.

Quoted from psgmariner

Bet you a tenner it does.

Yes but by the time its done your tenner will be worth 5p :)

Quoted from ginnywings

That is why they need an enabling project. I think the Council are selling the land at a favourable rate to a developer, so the question now is whether a developer thinks they can make money from building the houses and throwing in a football stadium. Extreme seemed to think they could but whether that has now changed, i have no idea.

All this is conjecture on my part, but it's always been the case the the club can't afford to pay for a new stadium, and need it to be covered by an enabling project and grants.

Still think the club should let us know either way. The last concrete thing they said was that they were 80% sure (or something around that region) that it would be going ahead. We've heard nothing since except rumour and speculation.

Sorry I meant they don't have the money even with the enabling project as far as I can see; can you realistically see a house builder who would be prepared to build a say £20 million stadium on the promise of future profits from selling the houses? Obviously it is more intricate than that, but it seems too far fetched.

I totally agree with you about the club need to give us a viable update as to where the situation is at the moment.

Not directly related but just read in the Grim Tel that Sea View St is to be ‘regenerated’. Last time I looked (Saturday ) it seemed to be thriving. I’m sure there’s other areas of GY and Cleethorpes that need money spending on them before SVSt.

In any case if you regenerate Sea View street it will lose its charm-like the area round the bull ring before precinct built

Putting the new Town ground near Freeman street and regenerating the whole of that area which has needed doing for years is a great idea. Can't see a downside to the idea.. bout time the board say what's going on?

Quoted from golfer

In any case if you regenerate Sea View street it will lose its charm-like the area round the bull ring before precinct built

By ‘regenerate’ I think they mean put some new paving in and reduce parking to 1/3.

The Sea View St thing just smacks of someone trying to coat tail onto the success the traders down there have had in turning things around.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Not directly related but just read in the Grim Tel that Sea View St is to be ‘regenerated’. Last time I looked (Saturday ) it seemed to be thriving. I’m sure there’s other areas of GY and Cleethorpes that need money spending on them before SVSt.

I now await a 12 page thread as to why building the new stadium in Seaview St isn't feasible ;)

It would be interesting when we were kicking 'downhill' ;D

Quoted from psgmariner

Bet you a tenner it does.

Just out of interest (and I might be putting 2 and 2 together to get 5 here), but does the location for your new brewery tap have anything to do with some yet to be announced regeneration plans around Freeman Street? It's a little bit out of the way of everything at the moment (I mean i'm still looking forward to visiting regardless of that!), but obviously if there was to be a big regeneration project around Freeman Street or the docks which included a new stadium, Docks Beers would be right in proximity to it all. Was that a factor at all in the site choice? Totally understand if you're not able to comment on this!

Quoted from Chrisblor

Just out of interest (and I might be putting 2 and 2 together to get 5 here), but does the location for your new brewery tap have anything to do with some yet to be announced regeneration plans around Freeman Street? It's a little bit out of the way of everything at the moment (I mean i'm still looking forward to visiting regardless of that!), but obviously if there was to be a big regeneration project around Freeman Street or the docks which included a new stadium, Docks Beers would be right in proximity to it all. Was that a factor at all in the site choice? Totally understand if you're not able to comment on this!

My confidence in this happening is just based on rumours I've heard plus the fact it's the only site that seems universally popular and is available.

None of it is linked to the new brewery but yeah it would be good for a lot of businesses in that area.

Quoted from Civvy at last

I now await a 12 page thread as to why building the new stadium in Seaview St isn't feasible ;)

It would be interesting when we were kicking 'downhill' ;D

If we knocked Ross Castle down we could have a stadium stretching out into the river on long stilts. As the Pier is just a fish and chip shop owned by a family from HULL anything could happen.

Please can someone give me the email address to the trust?

Quoted from H19P1

Please can someone give me the email address to the trust?

http://www.marinerstrust.co.uk/contact/

The amount of people that have the internet and know powers on how to do a search on a search engine amazes me.

Quoted from SteffiMariner

http://www.marinerstrust.co.uk/contact/

The amount of people that have the internet and know powers on how to do a search on a search engine amazes me.

Thanks for the pointer and being better than me, sorry

I think the site between Garibaldi Street and Duncombe Street would have to be included, it's almost 50% carpark anyway. The fact that the one perceived stumbling block is 70 council-owned properties, feels like it should encourage, rather than discourage, unless I'm being distinctly naive (highly possible). No compulsory purchase needed. No one wants to see people moved out of their homes but if suitable, attractive accommodation is built on another site(s) does it have to be the dealbreaker? They've already moved a lot of people to demolish the high rises so the precedent is there. GTFC, the council, Shoreline, national government need to get around a table and get a serious dialogue going.

GTFC moving to Peaks Parkway, benefits soley GTFC. GTFC moving to the East Marsh potentially benefits the entire community of N.E Lincs and surrounds. When it was mooted, I thought 'excrement, this has to happen' and when the feasibility study came back advising it wasn't the preferred location, I was massively disappointed . I would like the club in collaboration with the council to come out and say once-and-for-all why it isn't possible, if it isn't. The club can't be blind and deaf to the chatter, it isn't just on here. It is almost-universally popular. I see nay-sayers but they mostly seem to be logistical complaints rather than any personal preference for another site. Talks of potential 20+ acre sites gets me a bit giddy if I'm honest. I could genuinely see five figure crowds from the off at a dock tower-backed new BP, versus probably only a marginal increase at PP. It could be iconic, the shot in the arm this area desperately needs; 'The Dong Energy Stadium', new home of Grimsby Town football club, built 2022. Could you flipping imagine?

The new stadium needs to be within footfall of the masses ideally central with easy links to all directions and guess what ,that's Peaks Parkway. The lack of any form of development in this town for over three decades leads people to panic at the thought of a 4 car traffic jam. Let's have a fresh venue with facilities to be proud of and leave freemo prime for affordable housing.People wouldn't leave their car there to visit the redeveloped cinema and the same effect would be seen in a new stadium.Lets start making landmarks the whole Town can enjoy in an area for the whole family.

Quoted from Grim up north

The new stadium needs to be within footfall of the masses ideally central with easy links to all directions and guess what ,that's Peaks Parkway. The lack of any form of development in this town for over three decades leads people to panic at the thought of a 4 car traffic jam. Let's have a fresh venue with facilities to be proud of and leave freemo prime for affordable housing.People wouldn't leave their car there to visit the redeveloped cinema and the same effect would be seen in a new stadium.Lets start making landmarks the whole Town can enjoy in an area for the whole family.

No reason why that couldn't be in the East Marsh. Other ports have had redevelopment in the historic centre. Liverpool is thriving on it. People don't think I won't get out of my car to go to the Tate because it's in what was a run down area. With the right vision the Freemo area could be great. New council HQ building, spin off development, cafes, shops, open space.

Has there been anything on twitter about this rumour.... I've had a quick look but not seen anything.... Usually if RH get a whiff they start probing but it's all quite.

Silence is deafening from GTFC.
17 pages on here and yet nothing from the board whose members we know frequent this site.
Poor way to treat the fans really can we have an answer? is the rumour BS or not simple.

As much as I would love to see the stadium built as part of a regeneration of the Freeman Street area, I believe Peaks Parkway is still very much the preferred (and still) the only site.

Take a look on the Extreme site and the community stadium at Peaks Parkway still sits proudly amongst the projects Extreme are currently working on. Also, I noticed Extreme have added that the site will contain a new Leisure Centre, in addition to the new ice rink. I’m sure this is a new addition from the original proposal?

I believe if Freeman Street was genuinely on the table Extreme would have removed Peaks parkway from their site.

Also, for the last 12 months I believe architects (the same ones that designed Media City) have been working on detailed designs, again for the Peaks Parkway location.

Seriously do we believe all this time, money and effort will be scrapped, after the council themselves have already nominated PP as the preferred site?

In an ideal world Freeman street ticks all the boxes and would have the majority of N.E. Lincs behind it. I believe if any announcement is due, it will be a revealing of the detailed designs. The silence is due to not wanting to wake the PP Nimbys from their slumber.

Quoted from heppy88

As much as I would love to see the stadium built as part of a regeneration of the Freeman Street area, I believe Peaks Parkway is still very much the preferred (and still) the only site.

Take a look on the Extreme site and the community stadium at Peaks Parkway still sits proudly amongst the projects Extreme are currently working on. Also, I noticed Extreme have added that the site will contain a new Leisure Centre, in addition to the new ice rink. I’m sure this is a new addition from the original proposal?

I believe if Freeman Street was genuinely on the table Extreme would have removed Peaks parkway from their site.

Also, for the last 12 months I believe architects (the same ones that designed Media City) have been working on detailed designs, again for the Peaks Parkway location.

Seriously do we believe all this time, money and effort will be scrapped, after the council themselves have already nominated PP as the preferred site?

In an ideal world Freeman street ticks all the boxes and would have the majority of N.E. Lincs behind it. I believe if any announcement is due, it will be a revealing of the detailed designs. The silence is due to not wanting to wake the PP Nimbys from their slumber.

What's the gen on the architects? Obviously nothing has been announced about this, and it would be pretty unusual appointing them before funding was reasonably certain. Who's paying for them? No developer has appeared and the club wouldn't spend the money it hasn't got (surely?).

The ice rink was in previous statements about PP. Not sure about the leisure centre though.

Not sure the argument about letting sleeping NIMBYs lie holds much water. The process means they'll have their say whenever firm plans come forward. They've already been mobilised and are just waiting for the balloon to go up.

Interesting that the rumour you mention is about the Media City architects. That project was about regenerating transforming a rundown area in a dirty old town with a mix of buildings, public realm space etc. Good experience. (I'm adding 2 and 2 together and making 5 here of course ;) )

As for Extreme. Pfft!

Quoted from Grim up north

The new stadium needs to be within footfall of the m/asses ideally central with easy links to all directions and guess what ,that's Peaks Parkway. The lack of any form of development in this town for over three decades leads people to panic at the thought of a 4 car traffic jam. Let's have a fresh venue with facilities to be proud of and leave freemo prime for affordable housing.People wouldn't leave their car there to visit the redeveloped cinema and the same effect would be seen in a new stadium.Lets start making landmarks the whole Town can enjoy in an area for the whole family.

Have you seen the monstrosities built where Darleys once stood?
Who exactly are they aimed at???

The MASSIVE steps to get up to each dwelling rules out any families with small children and pushchairs, the elderly, and disabled etc.

Crickey even able-bodied people would soon get peed off by scaling them every time they go in or out.

The builders must know something about potential flooding the rest of the area doesn't another reason to relocate Fenty.

Working on plans for PP is fine but the last known shortfall was £13m and growing by the day!

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Have you seen the monstrosities built where Darleys once stood?
Who exactly are they aimed at???

The MASSIVE steps to get up to each dwelling rules out any families with small children and pushchairs, the elderly, and disabled etc.

Crickey even able-bodied people would soon get peed off by scaling them every time they go in or out.

The builders must know something about potential flooding the rest of the area doesn't another reason to relocate Fenty.

Like I jokingly said-"Build the stadium on stilts "

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Have you seen the monstrosities built where Darleys once stood?
Who exactly are they aimed at???

The MASSIVE steps to get up to each dwelling rules out any families with small children and pushchairs, the elderly, and disabled etc.

Crickey even able-bodied people would soon get peed off by scaling them every time they go in or out.

The builders must know something about potential flooding the rest of the area doesn't another reason to relocate Fenty.

The whole of Lincolnshire is classed as being at risk of flood, I did a job for a farmer out in the sticks and part of the plan for him to be granted planning permission to build a new house was to build the ground floor I think at least 1 meter off the ground level. If you go down Orchard Drive the old part of Guilford street that got knocked down, they were built well before Darleys they are over a meter off ground level. Incidentally the void under the farmers ground floor could easily be used as a wine cellar or store but the plan didn't allow any use of that and had to be sealed off so no access to it.

Quoted from Grim up north

The new stadium needs to be within footfall of the masses ideally central with easy links to all directions and guess what ,that's Peaks Parkway. The lack of any form of development in this town for over three decades leads people to panic at the thought of a 4 car traffic jam. Let's have a fresh venue with facilities to be proud of and leave freemo prime for affordable housing.People wouldn't leave their car there to visit the redeveloped cinema and the same effect would be seen in a new stadium.Lets start making landmarks the whole Town can enjoy in an area for the whole family.

The whole idea of a development at the top of Freeman Street is to reclaim that area back for the people of North East Lincolnshire.  It wouldn't/shouldn't be just a identikit stadium dumped where the flats are and then fans have the benefit of getting some frozen ready meals from Farmfoods after the game.  It would be unrecognisable from what it is today.

I cannot stress enough how important I believe that the regeneration of that area is to the Town itself.  We are incredibly fortunate to have an area with that much potential in it, from the pumping station at the Riverhead right up to the boundaries of the Estuary.  Look at the regeneration that other towns and cities have done around their waterways, then look at what we've not done.   Think beyond the derelict and decaying buildings around there, think of what could be.   If you get chance drive through the docks and look around the water area where the boats and yachts are near Ross House.  It's bloody beautiful and that's in its current state, imagine what we could do with the whole stretch of the Estuary?

I know the argument is that the land around the docks is ABP owned but I cannot believe that a huge business like ABP have no interest in making the best use of their land, especially when it would make a profit as opposed to doing absolutely nothing at present.   A forward thinking council will get them on board and make this work.

If anything like this is to work it has to be all-in, no exceptions.  The council are wasting time, money and energy in things like the Sea View Street regeneration, it doesn't need it!  There's absolutely no benefit to anyone from it.  The focus should be East Marsh/Riby Square and then carry that right through up to the North Prom at Cleethorpes.  That's the gateway to the area, that's where the money would be generated and that's where jobs would be made.  A half-arsed attempt at regeneration by putting some cheap social housing up and a few concrete parks will do little other than create building jobs for a few years, we need to think longer term than that.

There is so much potential there that it's painful when our own council seem unaware of it.

Stadium goes up at Peaks Parkway and within ten years it'll be surrounded by soulless housing estates with absolutely no potential for future development and the opportunity has gone.   Build the stadium and the whole regeneration development at Riby Square/Freeman Street and you give new life to this area.

Regarding the hopes of a Freeman Street site, I can't help but wonder how much additional expense this would add to the plan. Compulsory purchase of lots of property (derelict though some it may be), the cost of tearing down and removing the buildings then preparing the area for construction. I can't help but think it would add a vast amount to the cost. The PP plan obviously relies on the council selling off empty packets of land at a favourable rate so you would expect the cost of this to be a great deal lower. Its not a coincidence that most new stadia are constructed on the outskirts of towns on empty/farmed land. Just how many clubs have built a brand new stadium in the centre of a built up area in recent years? Obviously, Arsenal and Spurs, but they aren't comparable to us. Brentford are looking at something as well, but they do have a vastly wealthy owner and I'd imagine the land at Griffin Park is worth a huge amount of money to help fund it.

Don't get me wrong, the idea of a vast redevelopment around Freeman Street for the good of the town and the club is a nice one but I can't help but think it is a pipe dream. The council can't afford to support this and I think current central. government rules don't allow them to borrow to invest. There isn't likely to be any money from central government. EU funding obviously a non-starter these days. When there hasn't been any serious investment in the town by central government since the collapse of the fishing industry, why is there likely to be some now, especially as the Tories are still fixated on 'balancing the books'?

I'd also have to say that, even if it is ultimately built, will they come? Opening up the centre of town and Freeman Street for entertainment and social purposes is all well and good, but that's not going to create the good quality jobs which will allow the populace to actually have the money to spend in the new areas. It will take decades of investment to regenerate this town after the 'managed decline' since the 1970s. I can't see this coming and certainly not under the Tories.

I think the trend now is to move back towards stadiums getting built in the Towns rather than on the outskirts.  Thankfully it's now accepted that out-of-town stadiums are not what they were hoped to be.  A truly community stadium needs to be central so a large number of people can benefit from the added extras.  There's also the green argument too about forcing traffic onto the roads etc.  A while back someone put up an excellent link to a big piece of work a firm did about this and how the trend had really changed.

Cost - I genuinely don't know what the costings would be.  I'm neither an accountant nor a Town planner.  What I do know is that for god knows how many years this local authority has wasted god knows how much money on hair-brained schemes that have little or no value.  How much was spent on the farce of paving the area around Grimsby Train Station?  How much will be spent on re-vamping an already vibrant Sea View Street?  How much was spent on the traffic light changes at the Hospital, which I can see have served absolutely no benefit?  How much gets spent on the endless feasibility studies that are commissioned every time we get a whiff of any funding but no actually development?

Clearly NELC wouldn't have the money to do this alone.  They would need to seek assistance from outside bodies, I'm guessing companies like Dong (who appear to be bending over backwards to invest in this town) would need be involved. Ultimately any development has to be about creating jobs and then maintaining that level of employment.  The council have been notoriously closed when it comes to outside investment, that needs to change.  If a company is willing to invest here, NELC need to bend over backwards to welcome them.

Will they come?  A lot of people already come to the area (Cleethorpes) in peak season.  To do so the vast majority will pass the Riby Square area.  You've got a captive audience straight away.  I appreciate the argument that Grimsby/Cleethorpes is off the beat and track but I genuinely believe that if you build something good enough to attract people, they'll come and with that it'll create industry and jobs.  Where is the nearest decent water sports facility to here?  We've got a bloody big Estuary on our doorsteps and other than small business or individuals doing their own thing, we're making no use of people wanting to do this stuff or the ability we have to do it.  Now I'm not saying a watersports facility would suddenly make this area vibrant, but it's the notion that we have to make best use of the potential we have on our doorstep.  For decades we've fallen behind other towns and cities who have shown a forward approach to investment, we carry on standing still and we're going to fall further and further behind.

Exactly. It’s excrement or bust for Grimsby at the minute when places like Barnsley, Hull, Wakefield, Lincoln are all having tens of millions invested in town centre regeneration and we’re here with our thumbs up our arses.

Quoted from ska face

Exactly. It’s excrement or bust for Grimsby at the minute when places like Barnsley, Hull, Wakefield, Lincoln are all having tens of millions invested in town centre regeneration and we’re here with our thumbs up our arses.

The people around here have been held back for decades by bungling Council officials spewing money on things that don`t matter or make anything better like the block paving and Meridian Point or the demolition of Scartho Baths.

If only diehardmariner was in charge of the local government....

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

If only diehardmariner was in charge of the local government....

Yep. On the Fishy we’re used to the idea of us running the football club. But we’ve become complacent. We should be setting our sights higher. We should run NELC too!

(PS I agree DHM)

Nah, I'd only fritter the money on high class hookers and Class A Drugs*

*Ok, Haribo.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

If only diehardmariner was in charge of the local government....

In all seriousness dhm is saying what thousands of fed up residents have been saying for over 20 years.Problem is we have a hung Council which means one party blocks the other and at a General election we get Labour in Grimsby and Conservative in Clps then an inevitable Impasse regarding anything of importance.It`s not good enough and it`s holding back the area and has been for decades.Everybody has a go at Fenty regarding the stadium but pretty sure this new ground vision actually started around 1988 long before him and he appears to have got far closer than his predecessors? Mr Fenty in wanting to build a new stadium should have been told day one what he could have and where by the Council unless he was footing the bill and even then he would have needed there backing with the planning.They have led him,the fans and anyone else involved a merry dance for 30 year`s with BS feasibility studies.ADF who whilst much maligned by the likes of me actually said probably 15 year`s ago IF the football club want a new ground it should be in the Freeman St /Docks area and that would get unanimous Council support. I find it strange that comment wasn`t leapt on at the time by GTFC although possibly they did reply saying something along the lines of the feasibility study say`s Great Coates is the best available site? This Council needs to be providing answers and the 5-15k GTFC supporting voters locally need to be asking the questions
Where can we have a ground and when?

Will echo the above as was just thinking the same.

Surely it's in Grimsby councils best interest to move the ground into their constituency? More rates/tax etc to claim from the club, potential for new business' to invest in the area.

Only in this day and age, could the two councils not see the prospect of what is achievable. Admittedly, I always thought great Coates/freemo were the best ideas (or somewhere that utilises the a180) but was more than happy with the notion that any new ground is better. Now, am not too sure on that.

So, please, will either fenty/the club/the telegraph etc please give us an update of where we are with regards to it all.

Or, maybe the cynic in me that fenty is holding on until the value of the club increases, the same as a landowner that is seeking planning permission.

Cant believe the ignorance in these ladt two posts. Hung council? Rubbish Two councils. Rubbish again. Been a unitary authority since Humberside was abolished. Do you two actually know anything about this area?

Quoted from realist

Cant believe the ignorance in these ladt two posts. Hung council? Rubbish Two councils. Rubbish again. Been a unitary authority since Humberside was abolished. Do you two actually know anything about this area?

I moved away some 25 years ago.
And couldn't quite care about the councils, am
More interested in the future of the football club tbh

All I've questioned is the apparent short sightedness of all those involved. We, AS A CLUB, are being allowed to fall by the wayside yet again.

Certain people might think they own the club but they are wrong the club belongs to us all,

So the fans and the town should have more of an input and should be informed on a regular basis.

Quoted from diehardmariner

The whole idea of a development at the top of Freeman Street is to reclaim that area back for the people of North East Lincolnshire.  It wouldn't/shouldn't be just a identikit stadium dumped where the flats are and then fans have the benefit of getting some frozen ready meals from Farmfoods after the game.  It would be unrecognisable from what it is today.

I cannot stress enough how important I believe that the regeneration of that area is to the Town itself.  We are incredibly fortunate to have an area with that much potential in it, from the pumping station at the Riverhead right up to the boundaries of the Estuary.  Look at the regeneration that other towns and cities have done around their waterways, then look at what we've not done.   Think beyond the derelict and decaying buildings around there, think of what could be.   If you get chance drive through the docks and look around the water area where the boats and yachts are near Ross House.  It's bloody beautiful and that's in its current state, imagine what we could do with the whole stretch of the Estuary?

I know the argument is that the land around the docks is ABP owned but I cannot believe that a huge business like ABP have no interest in making the best use of their land, especially when it would make a profit as opposed to doing absolutely nothing at present.   A forward thinking council will get them on board and make this work.

If anything like this is to work it has to be all-in, no exceptions.  The council are wasting time, money and energy in things like the Sea View Street regeneration, it doesn't need it!  There's absolutely no benefit to anyone from it.  The focus should be East Marsh/Riby Square and then carry that right through up to the North Prom at Cleethorpes.  That's the gateway to the area, that's where the money would be generated and that's where jobs would be made.  A half-arsed attempt at regeneration by putting some cheap social housing up and a few concrete parks will do little other than create building jobs for a few years, we need to think longer term than that.

There is so much potential there that it's painful when our own council seem unaware of it.

Stadium goes up at Peaks Parkway and within ten years it'll be surrounded by soulless housing estates with absolutely no potential for future development and the opportunity has gone.   Build the stadium and the whole regeneration development at Riby Square/Freeman Street and you give new life to this area.

I Grew up not far from Freemo but to be fair moving forward I would like to bring family anf friends from away to a venue similar to Rotherhams in pleasant surroundings where you could have say a meal beforehand and views more pleasing to the eye and I dont see how this would be achieved at Freemo. We struggle to convince people new to the town that it's not a S***hole at the best of times and even with bottomless pockets and the backing of a Euromillion winner you would still struggle to achieve this here.

A guy I work with has a boat moored at the docks and said as a Londoner if this was down south it would all be developed but your not going to attract the investment needed in our location sadly.

Only my point of view and I understand people wanting Freemo / docks but not for me.

I get the sentiment of what you are saying 'grim up north'. Totally understand it, but, why not put the money into developing what is a rundown area?

Gloucester has had ££££ redeveloping the quays area, with an outlet shopping centre, bars, cafes, cinema etc and has to be said, is very good. The Rugby ground is still in the city centre bringing in 12000+ Crowds every other week. From the ground all the way to the quays (3 miles) , there's an amazing atmosphere with pubs, restaurants, coffee shops etc overflowing with customers.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Think beyond the derelict and decaying buildings around there, think of what could be. If you get chance drive through the docks and look around the water area where the boats and yachts are near Ross House. It's bloody beautiful and that's in its current state, imagine what we could do with the whole stretch of the Estuary?

I know the argument is that the land around the docks is ABP owned but I cannot believe that a huge business like ABP have no interest in making the best use of their land, especially when it would make a profit as opposed to doing absolutely nothing at present. A forward thinking council will get them on board and make this work.

The Docks (the north wall I think) was looked at in the days of Huxford/Ramsden, and the infrastructure cost needed to make sure the stadium wouldn't sink into the water was horrendous. I think that is the case even more now that the flood map has been published.

ABP wouldn't be putting themselves in a situation where they might be liable for millions in claims, should they allow something to be built on their land, that ultimately, became a death trap.

Just catching up with this thread, so from what I’ve read is that the Peaks Parkway ground is dead in the water and the next rumour is to have the ground and facilities at Freeman Street providing you got substantial investment?

Is there not a chance you could redevelop Blundell Park, modernise it?

As a fan of someone who seen his club fooked over by a much bigger ground than what the club could afford or have the fan base for, I wouldn’t wanna see another team close to my heart go mammaries up because one owner has the belief that when you build a bigger ground, that the crowds will suddenly appear.

Is there no chance that Fenty will call a meeting with the fans, council, media or whatever to iron out any finer details and discuss possible options moving forward.

Hi Andy, Blundell Park has limited opportunities to be redeveloped because the housing is so close to it. The Main Stand and Osmond would really need flattening and rebuilt to modern safety standards. The capacity would be massively reduced while this was going on, so that’s an extra cost.

I agree about the concern about affordability of any new stadium. The business case for P.P. has never been clarified really either (and obviously Freemo hasn’t).

The PP plan is not necessarily dead but it’s ‘all gone quiet over there’.

Quoted from Grim up north

I Grew up not far from Freemo but to be fair moving forward I would like to bring family anf friends from away to a venue similar to Rotherhams in pleasant surroundings where you could have say a meal beforehand and views more pleasing to the eye and I dont see how this would be achieved at Freemo. We struggle to convince people new to the town that it's not a S***hole at the best of times and even with bottomless pockets and the backing of a Euromillion winner you would still struggle to achieve this here.

A guy I work with has a boat moored at the docks and said as a Londoner if this was down south it would all be developed but your not going to attract the investment needed in our location sadly.

Only my point of view and I understand people wanting Freemo / docks but not for me.

Many posters go on about our location, but plenty of less affluent places along the east coast have been developed. I think the main thing is a lack of vision.

To have the stadium within a completely revamped Freeman Street area (ie the area to be unrecognisable from today) with the dock tower behind is something special if it ever got serious.

How do other towns do it? There must be grants available, government money and investment money surely?

The alternative is to stay where we are and never move forward, and allow BP to fall into disrepair as the clubs owner doesn't want to spend any money on it bar the absolute minimum, just in case we end up moving.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

The people around here have been held back for decades by bungling Council officials spewing money on things that don`t matter or make anything better like the block paving and Meridian Point or the demolition of Scartho Baths.

All work for their partners in crime-you know who

Quoted from malkamalka

The Docks (the north wall I think) was looked at in the days of Huxford/Ramsden, and the infrastructure cost needed to make sure the stadium wouldn't sink into the water was horrendous. I think that is the case even more now that the flood map has been published.

ABP wouldn't be putting themselves in a situation where they might be liable for millions in claims, should they allow something to be built on their land, that ultimately, became a death trap.

Stadium in and around the area where the flats have been flattened (all but one gone now as I went past this morning).

Dock/Quayside area developed into something that makes best use of the relatively unique water option we have.

Quoted from Grim up north

I Grew up not far from Freemo but to be fair moving forward I would like to bring family anf friends from away to a venue similar to Rotherhams in pleasant surroundings where you could have say a meal beforehand and views more pleasing to the eye and I dont see how this would be achieved at Freemo. We struggle to convince people new to the town that it's not a S***hole at the best of times and even with bottomless pockets and the backing of a Euromillion winner you would still struggle to achieve this here.

A guy I work with has a boat moored at the docks and said as a Londoner if this was down south it would all be developed but your not going to attract the investment needed in our location sadly.

Only my point of view and I understand people wanting Freemo / docks but not for me.

The reason we won't attract investment is because we put obstacles in the way rather than try to accommodate and attract investment. Your work colleague is spot on about down south, but that's because of a desire for their local authorities to see their area flourish. It's not just down south, a fair few towns and cities have been listed in this thread as ones that have taken the bull by the horns and done something.

You are not actually saying something detrimental against our glorious council ? Just look at all the wonderful things that have been done in Grimsby-it all started with the knocking down of The Ship Hotel and the " Mucky Duck"

Quoted from AndyDarloFC

Just catching up with this thread, so from what I’ve read is that the Peaks Parkway ground is dead in the water and the next rumour is to have the ground and facilities at Freeman Street providing you got substantial investment?

Is there not a chance you could redevelop Blundell Park, modernise it?

As a fan of someone who seen his club fooked over by a much bigger ground than what the club could afford or have the fan base for, I wouldn’t wanna see another team close to my heart go mammaries up because one owner has the belief that when you build a bigger ground, that the crowds will suddenly appear.

Is there no chance that Fenty will call a meeting with the fans, council, media or whatever to iron out any finer details and discuss possible options moving forward.

It would be nice to think that Mr Fenty would engage in a positive manner with the fans to move things forward. I sent a message to Chris Lewis at Extreme a little while back asking if there was any way in which the fans/engagement with the fans could help - I haven't had a reply.

Unfortunately, for what seem to be a variety of reasons, Mr Fenty only likes the cash that the fans spend rather than liking the fans themselves. We seem to be a necessary evil that the club has to put up with and our representative body, The Mariners Trust, has to pay for a seat at the table.

What Mr Fenty/the board/Extreme need to understand is that the fans actually do want the best for GTFC and most fans, myself included, believe them when they say that the club can't survive financially whilst we remain at BP. So, what can we do to help?

Here's Ipswich docks as it was:
[IMG]https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/D841/production/_89816355_imtimagearchivebuildings.w.quay1902.jpg[/IMG]
And here it is now
[IMG]https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/shares/20Mar17125606-TTDA_-_Ipswich_Town_and_Waterfront_-_View_of_Marina.jpg[/IMG]

There's no reason why something like this couldn't have been done in Grimsby. It just should have been done when new labour was throwing urban regeneration money around and all we got was the riverhead complex.

Don't wish to poo poo the comparison out of hand, but Ipswich is close enough to the south east (on the doorstep, in fact), that redevelopment there will come in part from the ever-expanding commuter belt around London. Not the case here.

Not wanting to make a political argument here, but the N.E. Lincs Council won't be in a position to invest money, regardless of which party is running it. The block grants from central government have been slashed over the past 8 years so its a struggle for them to keep the basic services running, let alone consider anything about redeveloping the town. Local government isn't allowed to borrow money to invest in infrastructure/facilities - we're practically the only country in Europe where this is the case. That's not to say that they couldn't take a more positive approach to schemes such as the Peaks Parkway one or A.N. Other. Just don't expect them to spend much money on it.

Quoted from Maringer

Don't wish to poo poo the comparison out of hand, but Ipswich is close enough to the south east (on the doorstep, in fact), that redevelopment there will come in part from the ever-expanding commuter belt around London. Not the case here.

Not wanting to make a political argument here, but the N.E. Lincs Council won't be in a position to invest money, regardless of which party is running it. The block grants from central government have been slashed over the past 8 years so its a struggle for them to keep the basic services running, let alone consider anything about redeveloping the town. Local government isn't allowed to borrow money to invest in infrastructure/facilities - we're practically the only country in Europe where this is the case. That's not to say that they couldn't take a more positive approach to schemes such as the Peaks Parkway one or A.N. Other. Just don't expect them to spend much money on it.

Hartlepool a good comparison and example?

http://hartlepool-marina.com/latest-news/test/

https://www.destinationhartlepool.com/see-and-do/attraction/hartlepool-marina.html

It's hard to get funding I guess and even harder when you're in our location.It seems just like benefits ,whoever shouts loudest wins. Liverpool on the West has had money poured at it by the millions and following "City of culture" Hull has had similar this side so I imagine we will be fighting for scraps and to convert Freemo /docks would take a fair few millions .

Quoted from Grim up north

It's hard to get funding I guess and even harder when you're in our location.It seems just like benefits ,whoever shouts loudest wins. Liverpool on the West has had money poured at it by the millions and following "City of culture" Hull has had similar this side so I imagine we will be fighting for scraps and to convert Freemo /docks would take a fair few millions .

That’s...not how it works.

Maybe we could send Theresa May a personal Email as she seems to have billions at her disposal to fritter away.

Very simple I know but look at any Town/city that gets a university seems to have an upsurge in investment, from educational buildings to local housing improvements for student accommodation.

Quoted from Bigdog

Hartlepool a good comparison and example?

Hartlepool is within the commuter belt of Tyneside and Wearside. A good deal more money flowing around there than N.E. Lincs.

Quoted from Gaffer58

Very simple I know but look at any Town/city that gets a university seems to have an upsurge in investment, from educational buildings to local housing improvements for student accommodation.

The university con is coming to an end. These City’s that live of the kuni kids are in for a shock. give it a few years and the student claims against the these university will make the PPI scandel look like minuscule.

Quoted from Grim74

Maybe we could send Theresa May a personal Email as she seems to have billions at her disposal to fritter away.

Well, a government in control of and borrowing in its own currency has as much money to spend as it wants to create. Nobody ever asks how we're going to pay for the aircraft carriers or cruise missiles, do they? Tick a box on a spreadsheet and pay for it.

Not wanting to derail this thread, but if the forecasts for severe economic impacts of Brexit are correct, it may take serious government investment in all areas of the economy to bring us out of a crash so that is one way in which money from central government might potentially become available.

In fact, it might be that local government is allowed to borrow to invest in infrastructure as part of this so that might be one way in which a new stadium could end up being funded.

Quoted from Maringer

Well, a government in control of and borrowing in its own currency has as much money to spend as it wants to create. Nobody ever asks how we're going to pay for the aircraft carriers or cruise missiles, do they? Tick a box on a spreadsheet and pay for it.

Not wanting to derail this thread, but if the forecasts for severe economic impacts of Brexit are correct, it may take serious government investment in all areas of the economy to bring us out of a crash so that is one way in which money from central government might potentially become available.

In fact, it might be that local government is allowed to borrow to invest in infrastructure as part of this so that might be one way in which a new stadium could end up being funded.

Not like you to change the subject ;D the Michael Fish of forecasts.

Quoted from Maringer

Not wanting to derail this thread, but if the forecasts for severe economic impacts of Brexit are correct,

Please try on keep on track so my reasoned responses don’t get erased by the moderator.

Oh and try not to lose any sleep over the pro EU forecasts as they keep getting them wrong.

The other thing to bear in mind is that we have the stumbling block of ABP who don't seem to want any investment in the docks area unless it's industrial. Neither local nor central government have any say in what investment goes in there because it's a private business - the docks were sold off by the government in the 80s.

If anybody thinks they can get anything out of ABP they must live in cloud cuckoo land-they would spend £1k to stop you getting a penny

Quoted from golfer

If anybody thinks they can get anything out of ABP they must live in cloud cuckoo land-they would spend £1k to stop you getting a penny

Certainly in the past this has been the case but I've been told recently that there has been a significant softening of their stance as evidenced by their willingness to commit to the kasbah scheme. Apparently they have a new chief exec. (Whether that is local or nationally I don't know).

Oh, and this is the local councils that said no to major investment from Nando's in 2005. A company that has gone on to be more than a household name. A company that was going to put a training headquarters in the local area that could've provided a lot of income for the area.

But, the council are never to blame are they

The stadium needs to be in the Freeman area to keep the town centre alive, look at Scunthorpe, its town centre has more empty units than used ones, mainly because the council have allowed 3 edge of town shopping areas.

Quoted from Dan

Here's Ipswich docks as it was:
[IMG]https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/D841/production/_89816355_imtimagearchivebuildings.w.quay1902.jpg[/IMG]
And here it is now
[IMG]https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/shares/20Mar17125606-TTDA_-_Ipswich_Town_and_Waterfront_-_View_of_Marina.jpg[/IMG]

There's no reason why something like this couldn't have been done in Grimsby. It just should have been done when new labour was throwing urban regeneration money around and all we got was the riverhead complex.

That is exactly what should be done, with the stadium a stones throw away and all interlinked. In an earlier post I mentioned other east coast towns had made a success of redeveloping the dockside and I was mainly thinking of Hartlepool,; I see another poster has referenced Hartlepool as a good example to follow.

I have always been bewildered how Grimsby, probably the most famous name in fishing and docks, has never made the most of its heritage and the pulling factor of its waterfront. Some cities make the most of a pidlly little river running through it, and we have the North Sea lapping on our shores!

I wrote a letter to the Telegraph years ago asking why the stadium couldn't be built on the docks with the iconic dock tower behind it, but this would be the next best thing if the East marsh could be redeveloped, which could provide a catalyst for the dockside regeneration which would compliment each other.

Sadly like many posters, I just cannot see the council being dynamic enough to go for it, or attempt to find ways of financing it.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

That is exactly what should be done, with the stadium a stones throw away and all interlinked. In an earlier post I mentioned other east coast towns had made a success of redeveloping the dockside and I was mainly thinking of Hartlepool,; I see another poster has referenced Hartlepool as a good example to follow.

I have always been bewildered how Grimsby, probably the most famous name in fishing and docks, has never made the most of its heritage and the pulling factor of its waterfront. Some cities make the most of a pidlly little river running through it, and we have the North Sea lapping on our shores!

I wrote a letter to the Telegraph years ago asking why the stadium couldn't be built on the docks with the iconic dock tower behind it, but this would be the next best thing if the East marsh could be redeveloped, which could provide a catalyst for the dockside regeneration which would compliment each other.

Sadly like many posters, I just cannot see the council being dynamic enough to go for it, or attempt to find ways of financing it.

I worked with one of the council's leading lights - I left the company when he retired 15 years ago!

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Oh, and this is the local councils that said no to major investment from Nando's in 2005. A company that has gone on to be more than a household name. A company that was going to put a training headquarters in the local area that could've provided a lot of income for the area.

But, the council are never to blame are they

You probably aren't trying to make a political point here but for clarity I should point out that the council in 2005 was a Conservative/Lib. Dem. Coalition. It begs the question why is the make up of the area such that politicians of all parties find it difficult to apply themselves to things that ordinary lay folk see as obvious.

Over 200 posts now on a thread based on the rumour that PP is dead in the water, surely the club have seen this by now and should at least give us some sort of an update after such a long time of hearing nowt !

Nandos is garbage. Thank god they didn't come here. Lets aspire to better

What I would like to see is for the council to buy up the top end of Freeman Street and flatten the lot.

Relocate the Fishing Heritage Centre there and include the Doughty collection and the fishing memorial. For those that don't know, the Doughty collection is a large collection of artefacts that was bequeathed to the town to be displayed for all to enjoy. It is a fantastic collection including many scale models of ships and trawlers which is all we have left of our proud trawler fleet of bygone years. I often use to go to the town hall where parts of it was displayed, and marvel at it. It is currently gathering dust in storage somewhere at some cost because the council have nowhere to display it.

Put the museum at the top end, against Cleethorpes Road, opposite the docks, put the stadium where the flats are. Hopefully this would attract restaurants and cafes and other investment thus regenerating the whole area.

All that is needed is some joined up thinking and a bit of foresight.

That's the end of that then!

Quoted from mimma

What I would like to see is for the council to buy up the top end of Freeman Street and flatten the lot.

Relocate the Fishing Heritage Centre there and include the Doughty collection and the fishing memorial. For those that don't know, the Doughty collection is a large collection of artefacts that was bequeathed to the town to be displayed for all to enjoy. It is a fantastic collection including many scale models of ships and trawlers which is all we have left of our proud trawler fleet of bygone years. I often use to go to the town hall where parts of it was displayed, and marvel at it. It is currently gathering dust in storage somewhere at some cost because the council have nowhere to display it.

Put the museum at the top end, against Cleethorpes Road, opposite the docks, put the stadium where the flats are. Hopefully this would attract restaurants and cafes and other investment thus regenerating the whole area.

All that is needed is some joined up thinking and a bit of foresight.

That's the end of that then!

I think this is a great idea but it still isn't enough. What the area (especially Grimsby) needs and has done since the late 80's is jobs. Unless fishing comes back or something of that kind of scale is begun in the town, the problem will remain the same, imho. Remove the jobs, the traditions, the stories, the hierarchies of respect and pride walks. Once that happens getting it back is one hell of a task. Grimsby and Cleethorpes people are no better or worse than any other townsfolk, but the town itself needs real jobs. Retail won't do it, being a university centre won't do it, the wind boom didn't do it. I don't have an answer to the lack of jobs, obviously, but it is 100% about jobs, if you ask me. If there was a way of linking an enabling development with a new venture that provided jobs, then the museums et al would be the perfect accompaniment to complete the picture. I often wonder why the council don't outsource the 'ideas' job to the community; clearly they can't do it after decades of being in power.

Quoted from realist

Cant believe the ignorance in these ladt two posts. Hung council? Rubbish Two councils. Rubbish again. Been a unitary authority since Humberside was abolished. Do you two actually know anything about this area?

Ok 19 Labour 18 Tories good luck with that in terms of agreeing anything locally. :-/

Quoted from barralad

You probably aren't trying to make a political point here but for clarity I should point out that the council in 2005 was a Conservative/Lib. Dem. Coalition. It begs the question why is the make up of the area such that politicians of all parties find it difficult to apply themselves to things that ordinary lay folk see as obvious.

realist will love this

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Ok 19 Labour 18 Tories good luck with that in terms of agreeing anything locally. :-/

The council is run on the cabinet basis that makes all the decisions. Everh member of the cabinet is labour so everything goes through. That is why this town is bad

Quoted from 1mickylyons

realist will love this

During the coaltion we saw massive improvements throughout the borough. I have asked the current opposition cojncillors to forget their differences and unite again but they would sooner see the town ruined than do something positive

Quoted from BeijingMariner

I think this is a great idea but it still isn't enough. What the area (especially Grimsby) needs and has done since the late 80's is jobs. Unless fishing comes back or something of that kind of scale is begun in the town, the problem will remain the same, imho. Remove the jobs, the traditions, the stories, the hierarchies of respect and pride walks. Once that happens getting it back is one hell of a task. Grimsby and Cleethorpes people are no better or worse than any other townsfolk, but the town itself needs real jobs. Retail won't do it, being a university centre won't do it, the wind boom didn't do it. I don't have an answer to the lack of jobs, obviously, but it is 100% about jobs, if you ask me. If there was a way of linking an enabling development with a new venture that provided jobs, then the museums et al would be the perfect accompaniment to complete the picture. I often wonder why the council don't outsource the 'ideas' job to the community; clearly they can't do it after decades of being in power.

The fishing industry will never return to what it was, for a start we no longer have the ability to fish like we did 70 odd years ago.  Much like how former pit villages would no longer be able to mine for coal, the trade has died because of neglect and lack of investment/support.  It's a disgrace but we can't wallow on it and hope for former glories to return.

Which is why this area needs an alternative source of jobs, income and hope.  You say retail won't do it and you're right, alone it won't.  But tourism is what I honestly believe will make this area vibrant again.  We already have something that drags people into the area in Cleethorpes Beach/Fitties area.  It's great down there but 1) we don't make enough of it and 2) it's seasonal.   We have to make more of what's on our doorstep as our selling point.  That area around Riby Square has two major selling points.  The water and the sheer amount of space that could be created.  The post about putting the museums up there is spot on, part of a complete change of what the area looks like and what it delivers.  I go back to the point about Grimsby/Cleethorpes and we don't benefit from passing trade, so make it that people want to come here in the first place.  People travel from all around the North of England to go to Xscape which is little more than some big units just off the M62.  Why wouldn't they travel here for something that's bigger and better?  I don't believe that everyone goes to places like Xspace just because they're on their way to Leeds or Manchester and decide to pop in.  People make trips to go there.

It doesn't really matter where we have the stadium as long as the road leading to it is made of imitation marble slabs haphazardly strewn, lamp posts from Pisa ,water fountains gushing out on match days,and lifebelts in every stand in anticipation of the predicted floods. Can we rely on anybody to get it right ?

Quoted from barralad

Certainly in the past this has been the case but I've been told recently that there has been a significant softening of their stance as evidenced by their willingness to commit to the kasbah scheme. Apparently they have a new chief exec. (Whether that is local or nationally I don't know).

They might have " softened " their attitude but ABP are not the only ones putting money in and they still own the land.
I once worked for ICI at the ammonia plant on Immingham docks. ICI were only allowed to lease the land from ABP and when the plant became redundant ICI had to bear the cost of clearing the site from all the structures. More recently you had the situation over the "Killingholme Triangle " where ABP fought "tooth and nail" to prevent ABLE UK from acquiring the land.

Quoted from realist

Nandos is garbage. Thank god they didn't come here. Lets aspire to better

Maybe it's your personal opinion about Nandos but the fact remains that they are a successful widespread food chain and they appeal to a growing section of the public. I, personally, don't like McDonalds but I can see their appeal and I would imagine the one near BP has bumper days when town are at home. Outside MK Dons stadium there was a whole row of fast food outlets and all must be doing ok otherwise they wouldn't be there. Obviously there are other attractions in the immediate vicinity but that is a major point when it comes down to a football ground location.

Quoted from realist

During the coaltion we saw massive improvements throughout the borough. I have asked the current opposition cojncillors to forget their differences and unite again but they would sooner see the town ruined than do something positive

What where the massive improvements realist? They should come together for the greater good I totally agree irrespective of party they are supposed to do what`s best for the people of the Town.The two local MP`s also annoy me again one Labour one Tory they need to be involved to raise the bar.At this rate we will still be bleating about the lack of ground in another 30 year`s.

Quoted from barralad

Certainly in the past this has been the case but I've been told recently that there has been a significant softening of their stance as evidenced by their willingness to commit to the kasbah scheme. Apparently they have a new chief exec. (Whether that is local or nationally I don't know).

Ian as a member of the Trust board could you inform us of any movement at Peakes Parkway,

OR

Has he who must be obeyed told the trust to say nothing.

It’s not for the Trust to make statements on behalf of the club and Extreme.

Quoted from ska face

It’s not for the Trust to make statements on behalf of the club and Extreme.

It was only a question Ska if they are keeping quiet for any reason maybe the Trust could enlighten the fans of the problem,

That's if there is a problem,

There might not be a problem,

BUT

Until somebody who knows tells us this thread could go on to Christmas.

Next year

Quoted from grimsby pete

Ian as a member of the Trust board could you inform us of any movement at Peakes Parkway,

OR

Has he who must be obeyed told the trust to say nothing.

I think thats a little unfair to be honest Pete.

I don't think it's the trusts news to announce. Do the Trust board even know whats going on? Probably not.

Until there is anything concrete either way I personally think it's best nobody says anything. There has been so many disappointments over the past 10 20 years that we really don't need another.

The Trust is a body to represent the views of fans.

The club are the ones supposedly building a new ground.

It is not for the fans to update themselves on the progress of a project being run by the club. You might as well ask the Trust for an update on Saturday’s ticket sales and the first team injury situation.

The MT have been asked to seek any new information regarding PP and they were awaiting feedback Pete.A nothing answer but the truth in so much I asked the same question and received that answer a few weeks back.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

The MT have been asked to seek any new information regarding PP and they were awaiting feedback Pete.A nothing answer but the truth in so much I asked the same question and received that answer a few weeks back.

When you say seek any new information I presume you mean fans views etc. rather than information from the developers, land owners, council?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

The MT have been asked to seek any new information regarding PP and they were awaiting feedback Pete.A nothing answer but the truth in so much I asked the same question and received that answer a few weeks back.

Thank you Micky but that is the answer I thought woulf come back,

My point is as a representative of the trust surely they could ask the man what is holding up the process,

The answer could be the council, extreme, funding, the club itself or something completely different,

Saying nothing shows the fans do not count for much so why should they be involved.

Quoted from rancido

Maybe it's your personal opinion about Nandos but the fact remains that they are a successful widespread food chain and they appeal to a growing section of the public. I, personally, don't like McDonalds but I can see their appeal and I would imagine the one near BP has bumper days when town are at home. Outside MK Dons stadium there was a whole row of fast food outlets and all must be doing ok otherwise they wouldn't be there. Obviously there are other attractions in the immediate vicinity but that is a major point when it comes down to a football ground location.

I thought the choices outside Stadium MK were excellent. If there hadn’t been a few it would’ve been impossible to get served in a reasonable time

A new stadium would attract fast food outlets simply because of the footfall on match days. The chippies around Blundell Park do very well on match days.

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for an update.

If the answer is ' We are still working very hard to make progress and will let you know as soon as anything happens' then it should be accepted as such. What worries me is that no progress is being made.

25 pages on a rumour is this a record ?

[url=https://www.extremesportscompany.com/destinations]List of projects on the extreme website:[/url]

Extreme Destination Sheffield - AKA Sheffield Ski Village - Burnt down in 2012. Last on fire June 2018. Also in June 2018 Extreme revealed plans for 22.5 million development. No evidence of change on site apart from travellers moving in.
QIDDIYA, RIYADH - Place hasn't been built but had a fancy oil money launch party. According to Extremes website Alistair Gosling - founder of extreme - is an acting board advisor and supporting partner - which doesn't sound like the extreme company are actually involved at all.
SVANETI MOUNTAIN RESORT - Not built. No evidence of any plans. Not sure it exists.
GLANUSK ESTATE- Country estate that existed long before any extreme involvement (if extreme actually are involved, as there's no reference to them). Even if they are, no evidence from this project that they are able to develop anything.
GRIMSBY STADIUM - No evidence of funding in place. No evidence of land acquired. Plans for new stadium that extreme distributed [url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/mayor-gives-backing-new-torquay-1831576]recently popped up with a torquay united badge stuck on them[/url].
Circuit of Wales - [url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44197819]Project collapsed amidst claims of financial impropriety and misuse of public funds[/url]

I think we'll be waiting a while.

Quoted from Dan

[url=https://www.extremesportscompany.com/destinations]List of projects on the extreme website:[/url]

Extreme Destination Sheffield - AKA Sheffield Ski Village - Burnt down in 2012. Last on fire June 2018. Also in June 2018 Extreme revealed plans for 22.5 million development. No evidence of change on site apart from travellers moving in.
QIDDIYA, RIYADH - Place hasn't been built but had a fancy oil money launch party. According to Extremes website Alistair Gosling - founder of extreme - is an acting board advisor and supporting partner - which to me looks like the Extreme companies involvement in the project is questionable if not non existent and this is a side hussle.
SVANETI MOUNTAIN RESORT - Not built. No evidence of any plans.
GLANUSK ESTATE- Country estate that existed long before any extreme involvement (if extreme actually are involved, as there's no reference to them). Even if they are, no evidence from this project that they are able to develop anything.
GRIMSBY STADIUM - No evidence of funding in place. No evidence of land acquired. Plans for new stadium that extreme distributed [url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/mayor-gives-backing-new-torquay-1831576]recently popped up with a torquay united badge stuck on them[/url].
Circuit of Wales - [url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44197819]Project collapsed amidst claims of financial impropriety and misuse of public funds[/url]

I think we'll be waiting a while.

What a list of achievements that is. Only one man could have possibly thought " I reckon this is the blue chip company that will provide Grimsby's biggest infrastructure project in a generation..."

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

What a list of achievements that is. Only one man could have possibly thought " I reckon this is the blue chip company that will provide Grimsby's biggest infrastructure project in a generation..."

Its no wonder he has gone quiet,

I wonder if he will ever say " I have made a mistake "

Taken from Extreme's own website..

EXTREME are experts at creating sustainable sports, leisure and entertainment destinations. As world leaders in our field and recognised for our creative vision and entrepreneurial flair we design, develop and operate large scale outdoor and indoor projects.

Underpinned and marketed by our world-famous brand, EXTREME’s offer encompasses a variety of action and adventure experiences that appeal to people of all ages and abilities. Driven by the growth in extreme and adventure sports and the rapid change in consumer demand for more inspiring and experiential based activities EXTREME not only showcases the best of what the sports have to offer but also inspire progression through placemaking.

Breathing life into under-utilized locations, EXTREME delivers valuable inward investment, job creation and leisure experience offers which significantly enhance the community they are in and help drive engagement and footfall for tourism resorts, mixed use developments and urban regeneration projects.

EXTREME works to unlock the full potential of each opportunity, maximise value for all stake holders and with considerable experience in public private partnerships often introduce capital where required. Services EXTREME delivers include strategy support, feasibility studies, master planning, business planning, design, financial structuring, operational management and marketing.

EXTREME’s unique branded offer engages with and supports key government agendas including sport, health, wellbeing education and tourism. Run by a deeply experienced sports and leisure destinations development team our project pipe line is valued at over £950million and includes a significant residential portfolio alongside our core sports and leisure assets.

A load of old overstated airy fairy bullshitt without any evidence of results. The highlighted £950million will obviously include the widely reported but unsubstantiated £250million at Peaks Parkway.

Whoever got this lot in to make a new football stadium happen should hang his head in shame.. A desperate move if I ever saw one.. Seventeen years (not two, three, five or ten, SEVENTEEN) to deliver his only one key objective required and he comes up with Extreme Leisure.. FFS!

It's just a company that requires the use of other people's money to make money for themselves. Waste of time in my opinion.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Its no wonder he has gone quiet,

I wonder if he will ever say " I have made a mistake "

Now come on Pete, you know better than that!

I try to think of myself as an honest man, and true to myself and if I had presided over such a shambolic tenure, with the square root of next to nowt being achieved I think I would publicly apologise, take a back seat and bring somebody else to run the club for decent wages even if I was determined to hang on. This is the thing - there is never a hint of things moving forward; no changes in personnel or of new people coming in with a new perspective and at least some investment. Nothing new to add to a tired and jaded boardroom.

I hope Michael Jolley can get us some success on the field to breathe new life into the club which might generate some renewed interest, as the future without that bit of footballing fortune looks bleak as long as the current regime sit tight.

Quoted from MarinerBen

It's just a company that requires the use of other people's money to make money for themselves. Waste of time in my opinion.

Don't mind any company doing that as long as it's got a long successful record of getting results. Extreme have delivered sweet FA anywhere in the world when it comes to stadia building and acquiring funding.. Only at GTFC!

251 posts and nearly 22,000 views and still no word from anybody in the know.

Not even "an announcement on the stadium coming shortly", or "unfortunately there is nothing yet to report". Nothing!

There has been some great comments, ideas and suggestions on this thread and proves again why The Fishy is one of the best fans forums around ;)

Quoted from MarinerBen

It's just a company that requires the use of other people's money to make money for themselves. Waste of time in my opinion.

Pretty sure thats the foundation of every for profit business isnt it ? ;D

The reason we dont have a new ground is... we dont have any money for one no matter where folk want it,, Fenty may be rich to us flat cap brigade,, but in football terms he is poor . , No money from anywhere = no new ground

Quoted from grimsby pete

Thank you Micky but that is the answer I thought woulf come back,

My point is as a representative of the trust surely they could ask the man what is holding up the process,

The answer could be the council, extreme, funding, the club itself or something completely different,

Saying nothing shows the fans do not count for much so why should they be involved.

Seems reasonable to me Pete. The club surely needs supporters ready and willing to put their shoulders to the wheel if we're ever to get a new stadium and if the stadium is to be a success.

Rotherhams New York stadium cost just under 20 million , a figure quite a bit lower than the figures bandied about for Towns .If we're seriously ever looking to move wouldn't it be worth grabbing the guys who built this and have the necessary quality and experience to see through a well designed build.

Most construction companies will provide a design and build service. Buckinhams are stadium specialists why not contact them direct you don’t need Extreme freeloaders.
Our stadiums about as realistic as our boards comment of the championship in 5 years.

Quoted from Grim up north

Rotherhams New York stadium cost just under 20 million , a figure quite a bit lower than the figures bandied about for Towns .If we're seriously ever looking to move wouldn't it be worth grabbing the guys who built this and have the necessary quality and experience to see through a well designed build.

Where did Rotherham get the £20million from? We need the money spinning idea as well as the design and build bit.

Whack £52 on everyone in NEL council tax per year for the next 5 and bingo its paid for .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Whack £52 on everyone in NEL council tax per year for the next 5 and bingo its paid for .

That'd work for me. ;)

A decent chunk comes from football league grants which the club will be well versed on by now . I guess JF would have built a fair few contacts within the game and talks between chairmen would've taken place many times.
The beauty of Rotherhams over designs such as Donnys is despite only being a 12 000 seater it tapers down from a big home end giving decent home atmosphere inside and the appearance of a decent 25 000 seater from the outside .

Quoted from diehardmariner

When you say seek any new information I presume you mean fans views etc. rather than information from the developers, land owners, council?

All I can say is pretty much everything on this thread so far was talked about in exactly the same context if`s but`s and maybe`s and from there it was going to be a anything new to tell us (please bear in mind this is half a dozen fan`s chatting over a pt nothing more).We did agree in the event one of us won the euromillions we would build a stadium made from recycled plastic so we could out do Dale Vince ;)

I don`t know but presume something will be put out by the Club in the very near future even if it say`s nothing further to report?

Quoted from grimsby pete

Thank you Micky but that is the answer I thought woulf come back,

My point is as a representative of the trust surely they could ask the man what is holding up the process,

The answer could be the council, extreme, funding, the club itself or something completely different,

Saying nothing shows the fans do not count for much so why should they be involved.

Sadly Pete things that in my opinion should take a few day`s to sort out take weeks or even Months it`s painfully slow to get anywhere.These are the processes that the MT and Board work to and they all have day jobs elsewhere so it`s not as simple as we think to pull everyone together.What I can say the MT and the very small body of people they have actually doing anything put a lot of time and effort into GTFC.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Sadly Pete things that in my opinion should take a few day`s to sort out take weeks or even Months it`s painfully slow to get anywhere.These are the processes that the MT and Board work to and they all have day jobs elsewhere so it`s not as simple as we think to pull everyone together.What I can say the MT and the very small body of people they have actually doing anything put a lot of time and effort into GTFC.

If only the club had a Supporters Liaison Officer who could act as a communications conduit between the club and the fans.

;)

Quoted from KingstonMariner

If only the club had a Supporters Liaison Officer who could act as a communications conduit between the club and the fans.

;)

Look he's got a busy job basically retweeting everything the official club account posts on twitter and ignoring every town fan who tweets at him ok!

Quoted from Chrisblor

Look he's got a busy job basically retweeting everything the official club account posts on twitter and ignoring every town fan who tweets at him ok!

Very true

Been told from a very good source that the Uni is having the land where the Freemo flats were and are planning on building a sports science facility. Sorry if already said but didn't read the whole thread.

Grimsby University ?

Quoted from RexFannies

Been told from a very good source that the Uni is having the land where the Freemo flats were and are planning on building a sports science facility. Sorry if already said but didn't read the whole thread.

This whole new stadium fiasco is making me angry now.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Grimsby University ?

That's where you go if you can't get a job.

Quoted from golfer

That's where you go if you can't get a job.

Is Slade a mature student there ?

Slade is going to be the head of the sport science department, he comes cheap as he's already got a laptop.

I wonder how many years the Uni will have to wait for the plans to be drawn up excepted and building in use,

20, 30yars ?

Quoted from golfer

That's where you go if you can't get a job.

Grimsby university - is that a certificate they bought off the internet?

We dont need a new ground,,, we need a freeking team first

Quoted from denni266

We dont need a new ground,,, we need a freeking team first

We have a new team every season,

BUT

They don't seem to be any better than the last one.

Quoted from grimsby pete

We have a new team every season,

BUT

They don't seem to be any better than the last one.

So true , Thats because the other clubs dont play fair and up grade there squads as well.. usually better than we do :(

Maybe the players are not sure what they should be doing this week,

Jolley might have a premiership brain but his players are L2.

Keep changing formations might confuse a few of the players,

Lets settle on playing a formation that suits our players,

Early days yet so we could be a lot better when Thomas and the 2 new lads get in the team.

https://twitter.com/codalmighty/status/1037668852539301888

Quoted from Bigdog

https://twitter.com/codalmighty/status/1037668852539301888

That is the vision we need. We or most of us would be very happy with that. Years ago I hoped it might be truly stunning by the dockside but that was before the flats were earmarked for the chop,but this would still be great,and a fitting tribute to our town. Is there anyone able to make it happen though - I don't think the present board seem to have the necessary nous or money sadly.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I don't think the present board seem to have the necessary nous or money sadly.

I don't think the present board have the will quite frankly, for all the brave 'new stadium' bullshit.

They are actually quite happy just to bumble along season to season at BP making the right noises about it (not unlike the 'we are looking for a suitable offer to take over the club' balderdash) and only appearing enthusiastic about a new ground when the periodical moans, groans and questions come in from the fans.

The lack of any update whatsoever about Peakes Parkway(or interest in issuing one) is evidence of this - Fenty appears to have lost his voice.

It will never happen due to as much to the board's attitude as that of the NELC

Quoted from grimsby pete

I wonder how many years the Uni will have to wait for the plans to be drawn up excepted and building in use,

20, 30yars ?

It's actually NOT Grimsby University, it's The University Centre, based at Grimsby College. It's an off shoot of Hull Uni.

The Music department’s programmes are nestled within the Faculty of Digital and Creative Arts in the Grimsby School of Art that is over 120 years old. Their multi-million pound new premises boast some of the most up-to-date industry-standard facilities in the area. Students come from all walks of life. Starting from the Music and Performing Arts courses at Level 1, all the way through to their flagship degree programmes (validated by the University of Hull) in Music Production and Popular Music Performance.

I've been invited to a guided tour next week.

flipping music degree 🔫

We need tradesmen.

No more art, music, psychology or drama. Make Britain great again.

Hooper used to be an actor-he always played the part of a goal scorer- he wasn't a very good actor.

Quoted from Father Christmas

flipping music degree 🔫

We need tradesmen.

No more art, music, psychology or drama. Make Britain great again.

The arts are a big export earner for this country.

Quoted from Father Christmas

flipping music degree 🔫

We need tradesmen.

No more art, music, psychology or drama. Make Britain great again.

What a backward attitude. Britain's growth industries at the moment are in the creative and technical sectors, which need a balance of skills and experience. We're world leaders in exporting our culture, music and art. The financial and technology companies among my clients spend lots of money hiring people with an understanding of psychology, creativity and technical skills.

There's room for all sorts!

Interesting interviews on Radio Humberside this morning. Councillor Wheatley said that the council have been trying to steer GTFC towards a location away from Peaks Parkway for the past six months without any success. Nigel Lowther was also on and spoke a lot of good honest sense. Burnsy trying to get JF on air asap to hear the club's current position re the new stadium..

https://twitter.com/nigellowther

It just goes on and on. I’m resided to no stadium being built and just ignore all these pipedreams.

Quoted from Bigdog

Interesting interviews on Radio Humberside this morning. Councillor Wheatley said that the council have been trying to steer GTFC towards a location away from Peaks Parkway for the past six months without any success. Nigel Lowther was also on and spoke a lot of good honest sense. Burnsy trying to get JF on air asap to hear the club's current position re the new stadium..

https://twitter.com/nigellowther

Heard this also sounds like the council would be willing to work with the club but the clubs not playing ball. Listening to Nigel Lowther it sounds like Peaks Parkay is dead in the water. It’s time the club give us the fans some answers absoultyy shocking the way they keep supporters tottally in the dark, I appreciate some information can be sensitive but just a yes PP is still on or No it’s not.

The new cinema development should have started weeks ago. No sign of it. In the words of the song "nothing ever happens"

Quoted from Bigdog

Interesting interviews on Radio Humberside this morning. Councillor Wheatley said that the council have been trying to steer GTFC towards a location away from Peaks Parkway for the past six months without any success. Nigel Lowther was also on and spoke a lot of good honest sense. Burnsy trying to get JF on air asap to hear the club's current position re the new stadium..

https://twitter.com/nigellowther

Starts talking about the New Town Deal at about 1 Hour 38 Minutes and the Stadium specifically at around 1 Hour 42
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p06hlz3h

Quoted from Bigdog

Interesting interviews on Radio Humberside this morning. Councillor Wheatley said that the council have been trying to steer GTFC towards a location away from Peaks Parkway for the past six months without any success. Nigel Lowther was also on and spoke a lot of good honest sense. Burnsy trying to get JF on air asap to hear the club's current position re the new stadium..

https://twitter.com/nigellowther

and that highlights the problem that the club & the town in general has....the council are fcking clueless !!

They have already previously steered the club towards PP, insisted on independent assessments and studies and then recommended that site and now it seems they have been spending the last "6 months" steering the club elsewhere !!

Fking joke. The club dont help themselves but FFS the council should be answering questions over this IMO.

The club has spent a big chunk of cash and time getting the right location considering all facts and this boiled down to Peaks Parkway .Every time Nigel Lowther/an other reporter/ Joe Bloggs suggests another location it gives an already dithering rudderless council more fuel to delay agreeing a site agreed by all.

Quoted from moosey_club

and that highlights the problem that the club & the town in general has....the council are fcking clueless !!

They have already previously steered the club towards PP, insisted on independent assessments and studies and then recommended that site and now it seems they have been spending the last "6 months" steering the club elsewhere !!

Fking joke. The club dont help themselves but FFS the council should be answering questions over this IMO.

This is so true!!!!

Quoted from moosey_club

and that highlights the problem that the club & the town in general has....the council are fcking clueless !!

They have already previously steered the club towards PP, insisted on independent assessments and studies and then recommended that site and now it seems they have been spending the last "6 months" steering the club elsewhere !!

Fking joke. The club dont help themselves but FFS the council should be answering questions over this IMO.

IMHO, I don’t think the council steered the club anywhere, more the other way round. Whenever I spoke to or heard from JF he was adamant that PP was the only gig in Town. He told everyone that, and was based on his ‘independent review’ which appeared to be decided before the review because of the parameters set.

Didn’t he chastise Lowther for advocating the docks/EastMarsh because it made people question PP.

Decent Cod Almighty article today..

Tribute to Mardy Diary Diary writes: The do-gooder department at the tax-dodging multinational where I work is on the prowl. Their eyes are sparkling with mindless enthusiasm, looking for volunteers for a bag-pack to raise 30k for the local foodbank. That's a bag-pack on your day off to collect for a charity that wouldn't be needed if big companies, you know, paid their flipping taxes. Let's get this diary over with quickly so I can go and get my gun.

Peaks Parkway stadium. Get lost. Even the dogs on the street know it's dead. No-one wanted to go there except a few gobshite Tories. For my next tautology, read yesterday's masterpiece from West Yorkshire Diary. Case closed. Shut up. Zip it. Build it. Anyone pulling against that idea doesn't have the best interests of the club and the town at heart. Nigel Lowther knows. So does Peter Wheatley. Both were on Radio Humberside this morning. Nigel gave a passionate rallying call to all stakeholders to get together and make it happen. "If this was in Hull, it would be built by now." Now that is throwing down the gauntlet.

Wheatley is the council's portfolio holder for regeneration, housing, skills and assets. He revealed that the council have been trying to steer the club away from Peaks Parkway and reconsider the East Marsh site for the stadium. Booo council, trying to help the football club and doing civil-minded, sensible things in the interest of the town.

John Fenty? He'll no doubt tell us it can't be done, just like he did in 2015. That's if he's still talking to Burnsy. Remember that amid the insanity of the last fans' forum, he condescended to a room of people with the fishing industry in their blood that "as someone from the fishing industry", fish and chips at the new stadium were something he just couldn't see being possible.

Wait. Fried food. At a football stadium. John can't see it. That's small-town, small-minded crap at its best or worst. Is that the spirit that bridged the Humber, built the Dock Tower or saw GY become the greatest fishing port the world has ever known or will know? "Sorry mate, can't get chips here, we can heat you up a three-week-old burger though"?

With a can't-do attitude like that, there's no limit to the routine stuff we can't do. Certainly it's no surprise that sod remains unturned at Peaks Parkway. There has to be more to it. It's more a case of 'if John doesn't want it, it means it can't be done'. In making his rallying cry Nigel Lowther pointed out that "personalities have got in the way of progress in Grimsby for too long". If Fenty can't climb aboard and row with the rest of us, he should get gone and stay gone.

This 'Fenty out' message was broadly the one revealed by the Mariners Trust survey. Yes, the survey, remember that? What the hell are we playing at there then? It's been months. The trust has said it's working on something with Supporters Direct. Who knows the whats and whens of that – but is the trust as dead as Peaks Parkway? Many may have missed this little nugget from ex-chair Paul Savage on the Fishy at the height of the summer heatwave:

"More than happy to share the emails from the Trust board member to the club board saying he didn't agree with the fans survey or the direction of the Trust so he could save his seat on the board if you'd prefer? I'm not interested in 'vague injustices' – the fans suffer when they're not represented as they should be. And they're not being under the current setup of the Trust. Just my opinion having witnessed it first hand.”

Wow, just wow. Has the trust director has forgotten why he's there?

Maybe the trust is just taking a lead from those pillars of football admininstration over at the Football League. What a bunch. Fans can't possibly know what they want, so let's give them what we want. The game at Bury tomorrow will be streamed on IFollow. Wait! we all cried. 3pm on a Saturday is sacred. No live broadcast. Never to be tampered with. Hang about – why are we surprised? Binning the Saturday 3pm rule is a bagatelle compared to crap like B teams.

Take a look at Andy Holt's Twitter to see that it wasn't just fans who were surprised by the change. Club chairmen across the land are spitting out their tea this morning. Yet Shaun Harvey always tells us he's just acting out the wishes of the clubs.

Right now, it looks as those wishes are to have as many empty stadiums as possible. This week, Football League Cup and Trophy matches were played out in front of sparsely populated stadiums. It's an epidemic. Weakened FA Cup teams, weakened League Cup teams, weakened third and fourth division teams playing B teams.

It's clear that the clubs and fans don't want all this football, so why do they keep scheduling it? The league has remained immune to this watering down, being the thing everyone wants to stay strong for by being weakened for everything else. 3pm streaming should take some of the gloss off that. Truth be told, the genie popped out of the bottle when the 3pm kick-offs were made available to overseas subscribers. Anybody in the UK bothered to Google "VPN, IFollow" could have been watching these games.

Right. Housekeeping. Max Wright and Ahkeem Rose have shipped up to Boston on loan. Don't panic, it's just a month loan, not a Sladian, don't forget to pack your winter clothes, season-long jobbie. And the B team trophy has got more terms and conditions than my mobile phone contract. One of them is that players out on loan can still play for their parent club. So both will be available for those games we are boycotting. More super youth news – and loanee Elliot Embleton scored for England yoof yesterday in a 2-0 success over Switzerland.

That's it. Your homework for today is to listen to the stadium stuff on Burnsy. It was at about 10:40am. UTM.

Quoted from Grim up north

The club has spent a big chunk of cash and time getting the right location considering all facts and this boiled down to Peaks Parkway .Every time Nigel Lowther/an other reporter/ Joe Bloggs suggests another location it gives an already dithering rudderless council more fuel to delay agreeing a site agreed by all.

The biggest "fuel to delay" Peaks Parkway is the 15-25m shortfall, nothing else..

Exactly. Peaks Parkway and the associated enabling developments are not viable. Out of town retail etc is done and there's no evidence of any demand for the sort of complex that was proposed. It seems like the plan was based on a retail / entertainment / housing complex being built, with the side addition of the stadium being financed by it all. It was never the place for something like that and it was never going to work.

Freeman Street has been spoken about for a long time as a destination. It needs something like this and Peaks Parkway doesn't. With the flats gone, it's closer to being ready to go then it ever was as a starry eyed idea. There should be additional streams of funding available for revitalising an area like that compared to developing a white elephant on greenfield land.

Why don't we all forget the new stadium for a while. Rumours rumours and more rumours-and that's all they are. Loads of armchair architects and accountants making out they know what's going on when there's NOTHING going on. If there is any news we will be told when the time is right. At present it's all FAKE news.It's like this government should have been doing-don't give out information until it is fact.

Quoted from golfer

Why don't we all forget the new stadium for a while. Rumours rumours and more rumours-and that's all they are. Loads of armchair architects and accountants making out they know what's going on when there's NOTHING going on. If there is any news we will be told when the time is right. At present it's all FAKE news.It's like this government should have been doing-don't give out information until it is fact.

I don't think anyone's pretending they know what's going on, it's the exact opposite from what I'm reading. We're crying out to be told what is/isn't happening.

Rumours they may be but the club are the only ones who are capable of shutting the mill down with the hard truth.

In my opinion, the more we stay quiet the more licence the club has to continue to keep us in the dark. The current mob at the top table are just custodians of the club. It's not their club, it's our club. They have no justification in keeping the lifeblood of the club in the dark like this.

Quoted from golfer

Why don't we all forget the new stadium for a while. Rumours rumours and more rumours-and that's all they are. Loads of armchair architects and accountants making out they know what's going on when there's NOTHING going on. If there is any news we will be told when the time is right. At present it's all FAKE news.It's like this government should have been doing-don't give out information until it is fact.

Up until Cllr Wheatley opened his mouth it was just fake news/ rumours etc.....however now he has slipped that out of the bag its a little more than that now.

A big problem you have before anything gets off the ground or a penny is found is the apathy of residents to anything at all getting built or moving the Town forward. People don't like change and a good percentage of residents are happy with their lot, look at the grief when the Auditorium plans came out and the same negative press for the money to develop Cleethorpes ....money from central government that will be spent elsewhere if we don't use it ,hopefully wisely unlike the monstrosity that is Freeman st paving and street lights.
I don't mind where the ground ends up as long as it's easy access to everyone, with facilities for all in a location that's pleasing on the eye and safe to leave your car without damage which is why I wouldn't be keen on Freemo even if we had Abramovich's millions behind us to turn it into something half decent.

Quoted from Grim up north

A big problem you have before anything gets off the ground or a penny is found is the apathy of residents to anything at all getting built or moving the Town forward. People don't like change and a good percentage of residents are happy with their lot, look at the grief when the Auditorium plans came out and the same negative press for the money to develop Cleethorpes ....money from central government that will be spent elsewhere if we don't use it ,hopefully wisely unlike the monstrosity that is Freeman st paving and street lights.
I don't mind where the ground ends up as long as it's easy access to everyone, with facilities for all in a location that's pleasing on the eye and safe to leave your car without damage which is why I wouldn't be keen on Freemo even if we had Abramovich's millions behind us to turn it into something half decent.

An interesting post which highlights the need for leadership of the project; we need an enthusiastic council who see the benefit of the facilities for the town. Leadership involves rising above the apathy (mainly caused by so many false dawns in the past) and showing what could be done. In a perfect world Freemo would be transformed into an area that is totally different to today - this has been done in many towns and cities throughout the land.

I grew up in the East marsh - the slums in John Street, a terraced house in Church Street and a council flat in Bath Street so I know the area well and know it is not the most salubrious part of the town and your worry about parking, but this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to change things for the better and remove a blight on the town.

Having said that, I have no faith at all that any vision will be shown - either by the council or the club so as you were!

Having read the earlier posts, I am not surprised Fenty doesn't seem keen. Its not his idea, and a community stadium for the benefit of us all perhaps doesn't bring the riches he was hoping for.

Heard the interviews with the counciller and Lowther on the way home this evening. Bloody brilliant was my reaction. Fenty must either get on board with the idea or stand aside.

I asked on here years ago what the cost (capital and on going) of the new stadium was, and what BP currently costs to maintain and what the future revenue projections were for the new stadium. And what therefore is the funding gap to be covered by developers, and told to shut up in not so many words by the pro PP lobby. "It's too early for that*" they all said (Fenty and other posters). And here we are now with no progress on PP. * what that really meant was "WE HAVEN'T A FUCKINGCLUE'.

So now the lead council member for regeneration is basically saying, let us know what you think. What is the demand for the stadium being on the East Marsh.

Time to get lobbying folks!!

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Heard the interviews with the counciller and Lowther on the way home this evening. Bloody brilliant was my reaction. Fenty must either get on board with the idea or stand aside.

I asked on here years ago what the cost (capital and on going) of the new stadium was, and what BP currently costs to maintain and what the future revenue projections were for the new stadium. And what therefore is the funding gap to be covered by developers, and told to shut up in not so many words by the pro PP lobby. "It's too early for that*" they all said (Fenty and other posters). And here we are now with no progress on PP. * what that really meant was "WE HAVEN'T A FUCKINGCLUE'.

So now the lead council member for regeneration is basically saying, let us know what you think. What is the demand for the stadium being on the East Marsh.

Time to get lobbying folks!!

How about a poll on here to show the council what we think ?

Quoted from Father Christmas

flipping music degree 🔫

We need tradesmen.

No more art, music, psychology or drama. Make Britain great again.

Which choir boy red crossed this? I hope you’re ashamed you filthy cross dressers

Quoted from promotion plaice

How about a poll on here to show the council what we think ?

It'd be much more effective to write directly to your ward councillors, the portfolio holder for regeneration who was on today and maybe your MP (for any help needed from central government).

When I did a NIMBY thing years ago, I was advised that petitions were not much use, but individual letters* showed a greater strength of feeling because they took more effort. You were much likely to remember the issue and vote accordingly if you could be bothered to write a letter (bearing in mind this was pre-internet). Even more effort was involved if you hand delivered them and therefore had even more impact.

* not templates with just the names added

Lets be honest if the club really wanted a new stadium,

We would have had it by now.

Kingston -I don't think it's anything to do with NIMBY-more like they can't find anybody prepared to cough up the money for various reasons-one being the uncertainty of being able to find a market for the proposed "houses" needed to fund the project when the council has allowed houses to be built everywhere, without a thought for the stadium, in the recent years.

Quoted from golfer

Kingston -I don't think it's anything to do with NIMBY-more like they can't find anybody prepared to cough up the money for various reasons-one being the uncertainty of being able to find a market for the proposed "houses" needed to fund the project when the council has allowed houses to be built everywhere, without a thought for the stadium, in the recent years.

If you re-read my post I didn't say it had anything to do with NIMBYs. Just what I learned when I was a NIMBY.

If the club needs the council to stump up an eight-figure sum to underwrite the stadium then they have no chance.  Any councillor with half a brain only has to look at the mess in Northamptonshire to see where that leads and they have to put the taxpayer first.  I think we can assume that PP is dead in the water.

When PP was assessed as the only option (due to the "enabling" conditions placed on the search by the club) then I was willing to back it.  However, the situation has changed and the Town Deal along with the razing of the Freeman Street flats now looks to have prevented a window of opportunity for the whole town to get something right.  It will need people to respond to the consultation for the town deal though.

Nigel Lowther was so passionate on the radio that I wish he could just become a figurehead for it, maybe just to bang the right heads together as someone in the area who can pick up the phone to anyone else and have his call taken.  Get the right people round a table and let's get it sorted, not just for the football club, but for the whole area.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Heard the interviews with the counciller and Lowther on the way home this evening. Bloody brilliant was my reaction. Fenty must either get on board with the idea or stand aside.

I asked on here years ago what the cost (capital and on going) of the new stadium was, and what BP currently costs to maintain and what the future revenue projections were for the new stadium. And what therefore is the funding gap to be covered by developers, and told to shut up in not so many words by the pro PP lobby. "It's too early for that*" they all said (Fenty and other posters). And here we are now with no progress on PP. * what that really meant was "WE HAVEN'T A FUCKINGCLUE'.

So now the lead council member for regeneration is basically saying, let us know what you think. What is the demand for the stadium being on the East Marsh.

Time to get lobbying folks!!

What Cllr Wheatley all but said was that the council want it there, there are potential central government funds, as part of the New Town Deal, to help make it happen, but they need a groundswell of support from consultations to firmly put it on the table. As Nigel Lowther said, this opportunity to put the new ground in the East Marsh has suddenly become about much more than the football club itself and its own need for a new home. This is about the future prosperity of this proud community. A project like this could change the whole psyche of this area from cynical and apathetic to forward-looking and proactive. I honestly think it is that big an opportunity

I've not openly said this before because in spite of his many flaws, I've always erred on the side of grass not necessarily being greener, careful what you wish for, better the devil you know (other excrement idioms are available), but if John Fenty cannot see the potential in this and/or is not willing to swallow his pride and properly explore it, then he needs to go, and we as a fanbase need to find a viable way of making it happen.

Seriously, how do we mobilise the support and harness all the passion and pragmatism displayed in this thread?

Quoted from immariner

What Cllr Wheatley all but said was that the council want it there, there are potential central government funds, as part of the New Town Deal, to help make it happen, but they need a groundswell of support from consultations to firmly put it on the table. As Nigel Lowther said, this opportunity to put the new ground in the East Marsh has suddenly become much more about the football club itself and its own need for a new home. This is about the future prosperity of this proud community. A project like this could change the whole psyche of this area from cynical and apathetic to forward-looking and proactive. I honestly think it is that big an opportunity

I've not openly said this before because in spite of his many flaws, I've always erred on the side of grass not necessarily being greener, careful what you wish for, better the devil you know (other excrement idioms are available), but if John Fenty cannot see the potential in this and/or is not willing to swallow his pride and properly explore it, then he needs to go, and we as a fanbase need to find a viable way of making it happen.

Seriously, how do we mobilise the support and harness all the passion and pragmatism displayed in this thread?

Genuinely i think it's up to every individual to make his or her voice heard and that's got to be by each person making a direct communication to his/her representatives (usually what 3 councillors per ward) plus Cllr Wheatley and Cllr Fenty. Info on contact details is usually readily available in the public domain. Put cynically every contact is a vote, and local election turnouts are usually very small so a small number of people can easily turn the result. The Charlton Athletic Valley Party in the early 90s showed that. But don't wait around for someone else to start something. Get writing now.

Was just listening to this. Don't let this be our town's requiem. We've got a chance to put life into the old girl yet.

'I'm leaving tomorrow but I don't wanna go. I love you my town you've always been in my soul'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9IUj1mDENg

Quoted from golfer

Kingston -I don't think it's anything to do with NIMBY-more like they can't find anybody prepared to cough up the money for various reasons-one being the uncertainty of being able to find a market for the proposed "houses" needed to fund the project when the council has allowed houses to be built everywhere, without a thought for the stadium, in the recent years.

Sorry, to address the second part of your post Golfer, relying on an unproven 'developer' to scrape up a scheme to build enough houses at enough profit, quickly enough just shows the level of incompetence at the club. I'm sorry but it'f you're a multi-millionaire bright spark businessman who believes in the free market (and are a Tory councillor to prove it) you really ought to be smarter than this. 'You flipping missed the boat Fenty' is what you're saying Golfer. 'No credibility Mr F' to put it another way, you seem to be saying.

I suspect that even if there was a developer who was on the ball, there wouldn't have been enough profit in the PP scheme to subsidise the stadium enough. My conjecture, yes, but it seems it was only ever conjecture that there was enough profit in the 'enabling development' to fund the stadium. No one has been able to prove it was viable.

So time to try a different tack. See what's available through different means. Call Cllr Wheatley's bluff (if you're cynical about his intentions).

Time for a mass protest at a time and date to suit for most impact possible.

Let’s show this town what a new Stadium means to us.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

An interesting post which highlights the need for leadership of the project; we need an enthusiastic council who see the benefit of the facilities for the town. Leadership involves rising above the apathy (mainly caused by so many false dawns in the past) and showing what could be done. In a perfect world Freemo would be transformed into an area that is totally different to today - this has been done in many towns and cities throughout the land.

I grew up in the East marsh - the slums in John Street, a terraced house in Church Street and a council flat in Bath Street so I know the area well and know it is not the most salubrious part of the town and your worry about parking, but this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to change things for the better and remove a blight on the town.

Having said that, I have no faith at all that any vision will be shown - either by the council or the club so as you were!

Having read the earlier posts, I am not surprised Fenty doesn't seem keen. Its not his idea, and a community stadium for the benefit of us all perhaps doesn't bring the riches he was hoping for.

I think you may be right. While putting up the new stadium location poll this morning, I noticed that "Sonik" was one of very few posters online and bang one vote for Peaks Parkway and he was offline. I then thought I can guess who will suddenly appear online.. Pen Penfras appears and another vote for Peaks Parkway, then ten minutes later Squarkus (who hasn't been on here for a good while) and another vote for Peaks Parkway appears. Shows that JF is entrenched in his Peaks Parkway dream. While he is in charge we'll never get anything done with any third party, he's far too stubborn, lacks the generosity in spirit to work alongside anybody, overrates his own abilities and is so hell bent on leaving his own legacy the rest of us don't matter at all. I understand personal loyalties but as the years go on without any progression, these votes are votes for John and John alone, they're not for the well-being of GTFC, there's a huge difference after 17 years of tenure and four years of non-progession at Peaks Parkway..

Lots of interesting stuff in the interviews yesterday, especially as I used to work with Pete Wheatley! Sounds to me like NELC have told Extreme what they want but the club still want PP for reasons best known to themselves which leads you to think that someone at the club has a personal interest in PP.

What I do know is that Pete Wheatley is a massive Town fan, he's also the cheese to John Fenty's chalk.

As with most things it will come down to money. If the Council are involved I just hope their big partner Engie are not allowed anywhere near the project, the Council are far too much in bed with them already. This is not healthy and I already get whiff something unsavoury in the relationship.

Just listened to Cllr Wheatley and Nigel Lowther. We need to cut our losses with Extreme ASAP and engage with someone regards Freeman Street. I just hope these meetings with the public Cllr Wheatley refers to are held at various times so that the working public can attend.

Yeah, Extreme don't seem to be able to produce the goods as we'd hoped. That or they're simply waiting for the go-ahead from the non-chairman, who is also waiting on a football fortune so he can get the hell outta dodge..... Either way it seems lose-lose to keep them involved for now.

A true community stadium as suggested in freeman street wont allow Fenty to get his money back. This is what the stadium project is about

Quoted from realist

A true community stadium as suggested in freeman street wont allow Fenty to get his money back. This is what the stadium project is about

This. So he'll block at the detriment of the club and the community when there huge regeneration funds available if sited at Freemo.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Sorry, to address the second part of your post Golfer, relying on an unproven 'developer' to scrape up a scheme to build enough houses at enough profit, quickly enough just shows the level of incompetence at the club. I'm sorry but it'f you're a multi-millionaire bright spark businessman who believes in the free market (and are a Tory councillor to prove it) you really ought to be smarter than this. 'You flipping missed the boat Fenty' is what you're saying Golfer. 'No credibility Mr F' to put it another way, you seem to be saying.

I suspect that even if there was a developer who was on the ball, there wouldn't have been enough profit in the PP scheme to subsidise the stadium enough. My conjecture, yes, but it seems it was only ever conjecture that there was enough profit in the 'enabling development' to fund the stadium. No one has been able to prove it was viable.

So time to try a different tack. See what's available through different means. Call Cllr Wheatley's bluff (if you're cynical about his intentions).

Exactly this. I was speaking to someone who was at the meetings with the club about the land. He explained to Mr. Fenty that there was two main problems to the PP plan. One was that all the infrastructure would need to be in place to make it viable at all, for developers to be interested, and who was going to pay for that? More importantly developers would only build a few houses at a time, and make a relatively small profit on each unit, so where was the money going to come from for the stadium as it would take years for developers to make a decent profit.

The club would have been many millions of pounds short and our only hope would seem for the council to use a community stadium as a centre point for Freeman St regeneration.

I will hold my hands up and say I wanted Great Coates at the time; I wanted PP to a degree because we were told all the money was in place or would be(!) but agree with most that a council led complete regeneration of Freeman St. with a community stadium would get the most support locally. Probably pie in the sky though.

Quoted from realist

A true community stadium as suggested in freeman street wont allow Fenty to get his money back. This is what the stadium project is about

100% correct.

I can see the fishy being shut down again if this disobedience persists 😳
Some comments look to near the truth for comfort ... but on a positive note at least we now no where to look if we need a skate park (thumbup1)(whistling)

Definitely think Freeman Street is the right idea. An area of Town that is very tired and needs some regeneration. The iconic Dock Tower in the backdrop of a new stadium would retain our identity too!!

I also hope that Fenty isn’t just concerned about a ‘Football Fotune’ by pushing for PP. The highest priority for this project has to be the long term future of the Football Club and Town alike. Personalities have to be put aside their differences and select the best option! UTM

Apologies not read all the 33 pages, but been advised that there is a potential announcement, Peaks Parkway not happening and it is going to Freeman Street, as council owns the land. Also advised that the plans for the stadium are being drawn up with local architect..

Apologies if all this has been mentioned already.. :-/

Just thought I would share..

Quoted from MarshMariner

Apologies not read all the 33 pages, but been advised that there is a potential announcement, Peaks Parkway not happening and it is going to Freeman Street, as council owns the land. Also advised that the plans for the stadium are being drawn up with local architect..

Apologies if all this has been mentioned already.. :-/

Just thought I would share..

Well can't wait to hear more, exciting times let's hope we get an official announcement asap!!!

Quoted from MarshMariner

Apologies not read all the 33 pages, but been advised that there is a potential announcement, Peaks Parkway not happening and it is going to Freeman Street, as council owns the land. Also advised that the plans for the stadium are being drawn up with local architect..

Apologies if all this has been mentioned already.. :-/

Just thought I would share..

For a rumour like this to get to 33 pages without our great leader having a few too many drinks and penning a drunken statement quashing it tells me that there is something going on.

No doubt about it a new stadium in one of the most deprived wards in the uk would change the dynamics massively.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

For a rumour like this to get to 33 pages without our great leader having a few too many drinks and penning a drunken statement quashing it tells me that there is something going on.

You implying he’s on the waggon?

Quoted from MarshMariner

Apologies not read all the 33 pages, but been advised that there is a potential announcement, Peaks Parkway not happening and it is going to Freeman Street, as council owns the land. Also advised that the plans for the stadium are being drawn up with local architect..

Apologies if all this has been mentioned already.. :-/

Just thought I would share..

Pretty much what I heard a few weeks back.

Some great posts on here and genuinely encouraging to see so many people so passionate about why the stadium has to be at the top end of Freeman Street, not just for GTFC but for the local area itself. I listened to the interviews with Peter Wheatley and Nigel Lowther and I was really lifted into a belief that this could actually happen. I'm a proud GTFC fan but also a proud resident of the area, I want what's best for this area and I firmly believe the regeneration of the Freeman Street/East Marsh area is essential to a vibrant North East Lincolnshire.

Just one point though, there's quite a few references to 'what the club wants'. We are the club, the fans. John Fenty is not the club, he's merely someone who has accrued a majority of shares in the club at this moment in time. He should not be dictating the direction of the club.

Fenty doesn’t want it there as he cannot make any money off it there.

I am 100% sure it will not be built while Fenty is involved,

Also I am 100% sure if he does not leave our great club it will not be built in my lifetime.

Quoted from grimsby pete

I am 100% sure it will not be built while Fenty is involved,

Also I am 100% sure if he does not leave our great club it will not be built in my lifetime.

Am pretty sure you were only 16 last birthday too Pete!

Quoted from Yoda

Fenty doesn’t want it there as he cannot make any money off it there.

This could quite easy be true,, and it wont be known as the Fenty dome ;) . This seems a golden chance for the club and the area in one swoop.. And if Mr Fenty stands in its way imo it shows what and who is holding the club back

One question which I'm sure some of the more informed on her will be able to answer...

One of the main pitching points for the new stadium is that BP only generates income on a matchday, and the new stadium would have the ability to make money all year round through an enabling development, making the club money and in turn financially stronger.

IF, the stadium is built in Freeman Street as part of the regeneration proposal, wouldn't the council still own the land and/or stadium, meaning any generated income outside of a GTFC match would go to the council?

Essentially what I'm asking is will the club see any financial gain from moving to Freeman Street outside of normal match revenue or will we be in the same situation as Blundell Park?

I suppose we would have the cash made from the sale of BP but how long would that last!

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

One question which I'm sure some of the more informed on her will be able to answer...

One of the main pitching points for the new stadium is that BP only generates income on a matchday, and the new stadium would have the ability to make money all year round through an enabling development, making the club money and in turn financially stronger.

IF, the stadium is built in Freeman Street as part of the regeneration proposal, wouldn't the council still own the land and/or stadium, meaning any generated income outside of a GTFC match would go to the council?

Essentially what I'm asking is will the club see any financial gain from moving to Freeman Street outside of normal match revenue or will we be in the same situation as Blundell Park?

I suppose we would have the cash made from the sale of BP but how long would that last!

I'm not sure even the best informed could answer that. There are other League clubs where the club rent the stadium from their local authority. It would be interesting to see what the set up there is. The negotiations would be interesting to say the least. I assume no Town fan would want a deal anything like Coventry ended up with when they moved to the Ricoh?

Good question, we don't know the potential details... but turning it on its head, do GTFC have to pay council rent... 8-)

Quoted from jamesgtfc

For a rumour like this to get to 33 pages without our great leader having a few too many drinks and penning a drunken statement quashing it tells me that there is something going on.

Don't forget that Fenty thinks not once, not twice but 3 times before he posts.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/0St7f3n.jpg[/img]

My guess is that Town would pay a peppercorn rent for an ageed period e.g. £100pa for 100 years.

The stadium income including for example, conference facilities, creche, community sports facilities should give Town income. IF all that was to go to the council then it isnt the best deal but lets face it, it will be a long long time until this comes to reality and I'm nearly 65

Quoted from Marinerz93

Don't forget that Fenty thinks not once, not twice but 3 times before he posts.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/0St7f3n.jpg[/img]

I’m still in the other half of the camp and back Fenty, but it would be funny if we did a John Fenty Shuttleworth away day theme.

For all the club’s talk of conference rooms and meeting space, are you more likely to need those facilities in the heart of the town’s business and industry, or on the outskirts of town miles away from a motorway or train station?

With conference facilities, I think it is a case of "If you build it, they will come". Wouldn't imagine proximity to the train station would make a huge difference (and the proposed Freeman Street site would still be a mile and a half or so from Grimsby Town station), but then maybe that's just me making the assumption that most people would drive to conferences held in this area.

The other question would be whether or not there is enough big business in the area to bother with larger conferences here at all. Board members past and present have worked in various local industries so you'd think they would have some idea whether this would be a viable plan and wouldn't be backing the idea if it wasn't.

It's a depressing thought that each Premiersh*t club gets a cash injection from televised matches that could build three grounds for GTFC! And that is every season !

Freemo is a very romantic notion but would take millions to get the development anything other than a pig in lipstick plus would have no better traffic remedies than what we have now a mile up the road .

Quoted from Marinerz93

Don't forget that Fenty thinks not once, not twice but 3 times before he posts.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/0St7f3n.jpg[/img]

PMSL. ;D

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

One question which I'm sure some of the more informed on her will be able to answer...

One of the main pitching points for the new stadium is that BP only generates income on a matchday, and the new stadium would have the ability to make money all year round through an enabling development, making the club money and in turn financially stronger.

IF, the stadium is built in Freeman Street as part of the regeneration proposal, wouldn't the council still own the land and/or stadium, meaning any generated income outside of a GTFC match would go to the council?

Essentially what I'm asking is will the club see any financial gain from moving to Freeman Street outside of normal match revenue or will we be in the same situation as Blundell Park?

I suppose we would have the cash made from the sale of BP but how long would that last!

Not informed at all, but I'd have thought it's a toss up between getting a new stadium or not*. If the council pay for it then they're likely take the non football income to contribute to the cost. If the the club pay for it.....nah that's not gonna happen is it. If developers pay for it, it's a toss up as to how good a deal the club can get, but that's looking less and less likely.

* that's assuming we do need a new stadium - e.g. if there's a risk of parts of it being condemned on safety grounds.

Quoted from Marinerz93

Don't forget that Fenty thinks not once, not twice but 3 times before he posts.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/0St7f3n.jpg[/img]

Ooof!
Love the idea of a Shuttleworth/Fenty away day. Maybe at Mansfield as it’s onlt a short trek to the Crich Tram Museum. Dandelion and Burdock all round.

This is clearly not going to go away and it`s high time this stadium issue was addressed by the board with a statement to the fan`s.This Freeman St idea has been going on since ADF publicly stated several year`s ago it was his preferred choice the bloke objected to everything else and garnered a lot of support with his objections.Now a Labour Councillor is suggesting the same it`s high time the football club sat down with these people and ask why they have gone through two expensive feasibility studies neither of which threw up Freemo yet it`s the only site the council will support. WTF IS GOING ON?

I keep hearing an announcement is "weeks away" but then nothing. Completely agree an update on PP at the very least would be helpful.

We have as much chance of developers paying to build our stadium as Trump as getting the Mexicans to pay to build a wall to keep themselves out.

A community stadium is the way to go and have it sited in Freeman St,

Where ever a stadium is sited will cause traffic problems so that should not be taken into account.

I am sure with most away fans coming in on the A180 Freeman St is far better to get to than Peakes Parkway and it would be better for some home fans and it will not be a lot of difference for most home fans coming in from the Cleethorpes way apart from they might find a parking space.

anyone got any links to the interesting/informative interviews that have been mentioned?

Councillor Wheatley starts talking about the New Town Deal at about 1 Hour 38 Minutes and the Stadium specifically at around 1 Hour 42 then Nigel Lowther speaks straight after..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p06hlz3h

Quoted from grimsby pete

We have as much chance of developers paying to build our stadium as Trump as getting the Mexicans to pay to build a wall to keep themselves out.

A community stadium is the way to go and have it sited in Freeman St,

Where ever a stadium is sited will cause traffic problems so that should not be taken into account.

I am sure with most away fans coming in on the A180 Freeman St is far better to get to than Peakes Parkway and it would be better for some home fans and it will not be a lot of difference for most home fans coming in from the Cleethorpes way apart from they might find a parking space.

But Pete isn't that exactly what would be happening were the Council to build a Community Stadium using the millions of pounds that MAY be available from the recently signed "Town Deal"? From 2020(?) all Local Government funding has to be generated from business rates from businesses in the locality. There will be no support from central government at all. NELC would be guilty of a gross deriliction of duty if they didn't ensure that this money be used to attract lots of businesses to the area. In fact my understanding of this type of funding is that NELC will have to prove the sustainability of the regeneration to the satisfaction of central government-especially as this area is the first in the country to benefit from this particular funding "pot". A Community Stadium used by GTFC would bring in numbers of visitors that would also frequent the satellite businesses and as such would be a massive step forward to the aims above and I suspect, is exactly why the council have done an about turn regarding the site.
From the clubs point of view though the reasons for moving are somewhat different. I have seen in black and white more times than I care to mention that GTFC need to leave Blundell Park to enhance the opportunities to make more income-as in seven days a week income. On the face of it I cannot understand how that would necessarily happen in a stadium that they do not own. I get completely that we could be allowed to play there for a peppercorn rent but in my mind there would be a lot of hard negotiation to be gone through to ensure that the club could generate for themselves enough extra income to make the move viable.If I was NELC I'd have my eyes on extra money for the Borough that could be made from having conferences/concerts etc. from the development-things which I presume the club would expect to get from Peaks Parkway in the outline plan. If anyone is in doubt about the level of effort that would have to go into such negotiations might I suggest talking to a Coventry fan whose club ended up with a deal that guaranteed them gate receipts only. All merchandise became the property of Coventry City council through the company set up to manage the stadium.
The club do I think hold some of the cards because I'm struggling to think of another body in NEL that could bring in the necessary extra visitors needed to underpin the development.
Despite the views of some on here I'm no closer to the club than the vast majority so I can say that my personal opinion is that the club would be stupid to disregard P.P. whilst there is a possibility of the development taking place but that they should actively engage with the Council to explore the benefits to the club of moving to Freemo because despite how dated and falling apart B.P. is at least the club own it. If there isn't a deal to be struck that makes a move more beneficial in terms of the ability to generate income then surely you'd be bound to ask-Why move?

Very well put Ian to tell you the truth I am not bothered where or how the stadium gets built,

I just want to see it before I pop my clogs.

Did any body else listen to talk sport this morning? Somewhere around 11ish. The Sunderland chairman brought a breath of fresh air to everything that his position should be. Was candid about two players not training, yet still having to pay their former clubs transfer fee's, even though they were nowhere near being fit enough to play first team, or reserve football.

Wouldn't it be refreshing to get this sort of transparency with our mercurial leaders

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Did any body else listen to talk sport this morning? Somewhere around 11ish. The Sunderland chairman brought a breath of fresh air to everything that his position should be. Was candid about two players not training, yet still having to pay their former clubs transfer fee's, even though they were nowhere near being fit enough to play first team, or reserve football.

Wouldn't it be refreshing to get this sort of transparency with our mercurial leaders

I didn't hear it but most chairmen in this day and age should be good communicators. Or at least someone at the club should be articulate. Obviously in our case that is Michael Jolley, who is very measured and extremely good with the media.

However there really ought to be a Chief Executive or chairman who can talk openly to the media giving an overview of what is going on. The Scunthorpe chairman always sounds forthright, positive if appropriate and quite open, whereas our spokespeople, Jolley apart, sound wooden and guarded all the time.

Fenty is not comfortable in media situations, often using the wrong words in the wrong context and tends to give a politicians answer to a straight forward question. As with so many things the club needs a new direction in the world of the media and getting information to the most important people of all - the long suffering fans.

I get the impression the fans have been put on the naughty step by the board?

‘You complain about our statements so that’s it, we are not going to communicate with you on ANYTHING’

It would be mildly amusing if it wasn’t so pathetic.

Seems the Trust are going in a similar direction

If people want to make a difference, you should complete the online consultation survey -

>>>>>>> https://towndeal.questionpro.eu

40 pages of insight, local knowledge and detailed information about what residents and visitors to the area actually want, and not a single word will be read by the people that matter. The survey will, at the very least, be seen by all local councillors and both MPs, if not prospective developers, key business and local stakeholders.

This might actually be the first meaningful input the fans could have in the entire process of moving ground, have we ever been consulted before at all? I can’t remember being consulted on either PP or Great Coates. The club ran three “consultation” events for PP, but as is typical, they weren’t really there for consultation and it was merely a presentation and a chance to nullify local opposition.

I can’t think of a single person who really wants it at PP, but this thread shows people are passionate about relocating to Freemo. When was the last time you can remember town fans so universally in agreement about anything? Even Op Promotion was treated with suspicion and cynicism for a while.

It’s clear the club aren’t, and never will be, interested in our views, so here’s your chance. There are probably more comments on here than NELC have ever had on any consultation like this before, a real push on our end might just get the ball rolling.

Quoted from ska face

If people want to make a difference, you should complete the online consultation survey -

>>>>>>> https://towndeal.questionpro.eu

40 pages of insight, local knowledge and detailed information about what residents and visitors to the area actually want, and not a single word will be read by the people that matter. The survey will, at the very least, be seen by all local councillors and both MPs, if not prospective developers, key business and local stakeholders.

This might actually be the first meaningful input the fans could have in the entire process of moving ground, have we ever been consulted before at all? I can’t remember being consulted on either PP or Great Coates. The club ran three “consultation” events for PP, but as is typical, they weren’t really there for consultation and it was merely a presentation and a chance to nullify local opposition.

I can’t think of a single person who really wants it at PP, but this thread shows people are passionate about relocating to Freemo. When was the last time you can remember town fans so universally in agreement about anything? Even Op Promotion was treated with suspicion and cynicism for a while.

It’s clear the club aren’t, and never will be, interested in our views, so here’s your chance. There are probably more comments on here than NELC have ever had on any consultation like this before, a real push on our end might just get the ball rolling.

This just might actually make people listen IF enough people get stuck in.

Quoted from ska face

When was the last time you can remember town fans so universally in agreement about anything?

Mike Newell being a fantastic appointment?

Unless I'm reading it incorrectly, as it stands, the Town Deal questionnaire doesn't include the Freeman Street area..

Quoted from Bigdog

Unless I'm reading it incorrectly, as it stands, the Town Deal questionnaire doesn't include the Freeman Street area..

It doesn't specifically but there are free comment boxes about what might improve the town centre so I have just stuck stuff in there about Garth Lane (which is referenced) or Freemo needing a major project to kickstart them such as a 12000 seater community stadium.

Encourage the others to respond to the survey.

What we need is a team that is winning games and going somewhere to get people up high looking and seeing what could be... no one is going to be interested in pushing the boat out for a team that is doing crap and looking at the non league trap door every year

Quoted from denni266

What we need is a team that is winning games and going somewhere to get people up high looking and seeing what could be... no one is going to be interested in pushing the boat out for a team that is doing crap and looking at the non league trap door every year

That's correct, no one with any sense would invest in a club that's at best treading water.
We have had past managers who have failed to grasp the nettle and sign,pick and play teams that excite and bring back dwindling support,
The notion if true that they are not backed by the board is a smoke screen and seemingly does not affect other so called smaller clubs from being successful, at the moment there seems to be the same pattern emerging of headless chicken football with poor results and in no way encourages investment in the club or ground

Good idea to put up that link ska. I've been receiving email updates on the local plan since it was first drafted in 2016. Just had a delve into one of the emails and found a pdf document with a little bit of info on Freeman Street and some details of the new ground proposals, which are towards the end of the file. There is nothing specific on it being built in Freemo but things may have changed since then.

It is Matter 6 Written Statement- N.E Linconshire Council.

https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/planning-and-development/planning-policy/the-local-plan/the-new-local-plan/local-plan-examination/#1490195112741-a0c8e935-df01

Quoted from ska face

If people want to make a difference, you should complete the online consultation survey -

>>>>>>> https://towndeal.questionpro.eu

40 pages of insight, local knowledge and detailed information about what residents and visitors to the area actually want, and not a single word will be read by the people that matter. The survey will, at the very least, be seen by all local councillors and both MPs, if not prospective developers, key business and local stakeholders.

This might actually be the first meaningful input the fans could have in the entire process of moving ground, have we ever been consulted before at all? I can’t remember being consulted on either PP or Great Coates. The club ran three “consultation” events for PP, but as is typical, they weren’t really there for consultation and it was merely a presentation and a chance to nullify local opposition.

I can’t think of a single person who really wants it at PP, but this thread shows people are passionate about relocating to Freemo. When was the last time you can remember town fans so universally in agreement about anything? Even Op Promotion was treated with suspicion and cynicism for a while.

It’s clear the club aren’t, and never will be, interested in our views, so here’s your chance. There are probably more comments on here than NELC have ever had on any consultation like this before, a real push on our end might just get the ball rolling.

Thanks I've completed the survey and entered comments about the Stadium being built in and around Freeman Street area. There wasn't a specific area for Freeman Street but I just entered the same comments into all boxes so hoping they'll get the point :-)

Quoted from Garth

That's correct, no one with any sense would invest in a club that's at best treading water.
We have had past managers who have failed to grasp the nettle and sign,pick and play teams that excite and bring back dwindling support,
The notion if true that they are not backed by the board is a smoke screen and seemingly does not affect other so called smaller clubs from being successful, at the moment there seems to be the same pattern emerging of headless chicken football with poor results and in no way encourages investment in the club or ground

I don't agree. The club as it stands is running within its means every season, been at it's lowest ebb for twenty years yet support has held firm. Is there potential to get greater crowds in a new stadium? Yes. Could greater income streams be created from being in a new stadium? Yes. Could the club do a lot better with better PR and improve its image? Yes. Could the team do better on the pitch with new investment and fresh ideas? Yes. Could the town sustain a top end League One club battling for promotion to the Championship? No doubt.

The best time to invest is when you see untapped potential not when the club is the best it can be. Investors look to add value. The sticking point is the perceived price and strings attached that JF is putting on the club..

Quoted from Bigdog

I don't agree. The club as it stands is running within its means every season, been at it's lowest ebb for twenty years yet support has held firm. Is there potential to get greater crowds in a new stadium? Yes. Could greater income streams be created from being in a new stadium? Yes. Could the club do a lot better with better PR and improve its image? Yes. Could the team do better on the pitch with new investment and fresh ideas? Yes. Could the town sustain a top end League One club battling for promotion to the Championship? No doubt.

The best time to invest is when you see untapped potential not when the club is the best it can be. Investors look to add value. The sticking point is the perceived price and strings attached that JF is putting on the club..

But all the points you raise demonstrate the fact that the club is " treading water " ie not advancing but remaining where it is. Yes, it could achieve all the things you mention but that is potential and not how things are at the moment. To say the club is a " sleeping giant " would be extreme hyperbole but with the right investment, vision and also a slice of luck the club could successfully prosper at a higher level in the FL pyramid.

Quoted from rancido

But all the points you raise demonstrate the fact that the club is " treading water " ie not advancing but remaining where it is. Yes, it could achieve all the things you mention but that is potential and not how things are at the moment. To say the club is a " sleeping giant " would be extreme hyperbole but with the right investment, vision and also a slice of luck the club could successfully prosper at a higher level in the FL pyramid.

The problem with treading water is if the majority of those around you are improving their lot, treading water becomes dropping down

What do Carlisle, Grimsby and Oldham all have in common?

Quoted from OAFCWOOWB

What do Carlisle, Grimsby and Oldham all have in common?

Northern towns with crap football teams?

It's possibly not the answer, but Ciba Geigy, Bovis and Eddie Stobart were my favourite 90's sponsors.

Forget Freeman Street area-it's already got plans for it and that doesn't include a community sports centre or football ground.-ask a Freeman

Quoted from OAFCWOOWB

What do Carlisle, Grimsby and Oldham all have in common?

Oldest stadiums in the League? Founded same year? Summat to do with being old anyway.

Quoted from OAFCWOOWB

What do Carlisle, Grimsby and Oldham all have in common?

All three clubs stadiums have the initials BP.

And it'll stay that way FOREVER

Quoted from Cloudy

I get the impression the fans have been put on the naughty step by the board?

‘You complain about our statements so that’s it, we are not going to communicate with you on ANYTHING’

It would be mildly amusing if it wasn’t so pathetic.

Seems the Trust are going in a similar direction

I think you’re right the club do appear to have put a media block on and I didn’t realise the trust still existed ...

The lack of comment from the club doesn't have to be for negative reasons. They've clearly built expectations with previous announcements that have fallen through, so may be keeping this one quiet whilst they negotiate.

Quoted from MarinerWY

The lack of comment from the club doesn't have to be for negative reasons. They've clearly built expectations with previous announcements that have fallen through, so may be keeping this one quiet whilst they negotiate.

Or get Extreme to negotiate on their behalf? The Councillor Wheatley interview certainly opened up the possibility for the club to do something - the problem may be that GTFC want to build something on their terms but not the council's, it certainly seems to me that the council hold the upper hand though.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Or get Extreme to negotiate on their behalf? The Councillor Wheatley interview certainly opened up the possibility for the club to do something - the problem may be that GTFC want to build something on their terms but not the council's, it certainly seems to me that the council hold the upper hand though.

Just remember Wheatley is a politician we have seen and heard from many of those across 3-4 different parties in the last 20 year`s and none of them have delivered anything to enhance the lives of the local taxpayer I can think of? A possible football ground with at least 5k voters is going to be a massive political gain for whoever gets those voters onside wherever it goes. The fans want Freemo The Council appears to want Freemo and the Town needs Freemo but GTFC need something that brings in long term financial gain.This is not an easy decision I would implore GTFC to get the fan`s involved NOW and answer is PP dead like it appears? If not does this apparent change within the Council and noise about Freemo peak any interest from GTFC like a lot of the fan`s think it should? Help us to help you GTFC .

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

I think you’re right the club do appear to have put a media block on and I didn’t realise the trust still existed ...

Poor comments about the MT in my opinion the few active MT people are heavily involved in sorting out a 140th celebration of the Football Club.That is something they can effect you know using up their own time unpaid like :-/

Quoted from MarinerWY

The lack of comment from the club doesn't have to be for negative reasons. They've clearly built expectations with previous announcements that have fallen through, so may be keeping this one quiet whilst they negotiate.

I understand we have approached P.M. T. May to do the negotiating. We were offered a new stadium for £40million so she tried to bargain them down on our behalf but finally settled for £80million even if they build the stadium with no stands or floodlights they will still get the full money

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Poor comments about the MT in my opinion the few active MT people are heavily involved in sorting out a 140th celebration of the Football Club.That is something they can effect you know using up their own time unpaid like :-/

Pity they dont do something more useful. The trust is full of self righteous hot air.

Quoted from realist

Pity they dont do something more useful. The trust is full of self righteous hot air.

And you are what?

Quoted from realist

Pity they dont do something more useful. The trust is full of self righteous hot air.

Well in my experience having met them face to face they are a very willing horse wanting to do the right thing but with very little horse power due to the lack of bodies willing to pull.Someone like yourself could probably sort out all outstanding issues over your morning coffee ;)

The thing about Peaks Parkway is that the fans are asking questions - which they're perfectly entitled to do - and the fact that the club isn't responding suggests one of two things:

It isn't happening, and the club is trying to work out how to deliver the news
The club still believes it's happening, but can't be bothered to give the fans a clear update that says as much

The truth is probably somewhere in between. I believe that the club thinks PP is still going ahead but they have nothing 'new' to add, from whenever they last updated us, so rather than open up the debate by highlighting how much time has passed since in the last update, and how little has been done in the meantime, they'd prefer to keep quiet.

That's not the right move in my opinion.

Basically, if the club comments on this topic, it'll only invite more questions than it can answer. If it's still going ahead at PP, why did Wheatley say what he said on the radio? Why did this rumour thread start in the first place? What's actually going on?

My opinion is that PP is dead, the club needs to accept this and start building bridges with local people, local communities and local councillors to find a solution that benefits as many people as possible.

I get the impression that these conversations haven't started and are unlikely to start as long as Fenty continues to believe - possibly out of desperation and sheer pigheadedness - that PP can still happen.

It’s just ridiculous to let something like this go on unaddressed for so long, as fans are being turned away from the idea of PP post by post, conversation by conversation. At this point, if the club turned around and said that PP WAS a goer, I’m not sure it would be greeted enthusiastically as the consensus is shifting further away from it every day. This forum is obviously not representative of all town fans, but is definitely a decent sounding board, and I can’t remember seeing a positive, optimistic post about PP in years. That should tell a story.

Even if there’s nothing to really say, at least acknowledge the issue that’s being debated in public (it was on Radio Humberside ffs) and don’t stick your head in the sand. It’s difficult to control the narrative if you’re not active in it. Again...pretty basic stuff that someone in Comms/PR could have sorted easily!

Quoted from ska face

It’s just ridiculous to let something like this go on unaddressed for so long, as fans are being turned away from the idea of PP post by post, conversation by conversation. At this point, if the club turned around and said that PP WAS a goer, I’m not sure it would be greeted enthusiastically as the consensus is shifting further away from it every day. This forum is obviously not representative of all town fans, but is definitely a decent sounding board, and I can’t remember seeing a positive, optimistic post about PP in years. That should tell a story.

Even if there’s nothing to really say, at least acknowledge the issue that’s being debated in public (it was on Radio Humberside ffs) and don’t stick your head in the sand. You can’t control the conversation if you don’t say anything. Again...pretty basic stuff that someone in Comms/PR could have sorted easily!

Exactly. This thread is getting longer and longer and shows no signs of going away any time soon.

The club need to address these questions otherwise the fans will continue to feel like they're being ignored, and that's not good. It's just one more thing to add to the lengthening list of things the club does (or doesn't do) that forces it and the fans further and further apart.

Quoted from RichMariner

The thing about Peaks Parkway is that the fans are asking questions - which they're perfectly entitled to do - and the fact that the club isn't responding suggests one of two things:

It isn't happening, and the club is trying to work out how to deliver the news
The club still believes it's happening, but can't be bothered to give the fans a clear update that says as much

The truth is probably somewhere in between. I believe that the club thinks PP is still going ahead but they have nothing 'new' to add, from whenever they last updated us, so rather than open up the debate by highlighting how much time has passed since in the last update, and how little has been done in the meantime, they'd prefer to keep quiet.

That's not the right move in my opinion.

Basically, if the club comments on this topic, it'll only invite more questions than it can answer. If it's still going ahead at PP, why did Wheatley say what he said on the radio? Why did this rumour thread start in the first place? What's actually going on?

My opinion is that PP is dead, the club needs to accept this and start building bridges with local people, local communities and local councillors to find a solution that benefits as many people as possible.

I get the impression that these conversations haven't started and are unlikely to start as long as Fenty continues to believe - possibly out of desperation and sheer pigheadedness - that PP can still happen.

I presume PP is dead as the club don't have the money needed. They never have had the money, they have got no investors to raise the money and were pinning their hopes on someone else funding it. I mean, really, who is going to do that on the promise that sometime in the future they might get profit from houses built on the site. How many houses would they need to build before making enough profit to even get the footings in for a new stadium?

If the club make a fool of me and announce next week it is going ahead I will take a hit, but it sounds pie in the sky the more you think about it.

Developers have land already banked that they could build houses on anyway haven't they that doesn't need them to finance a stadium.

Does anybody on here know what the profit margin is on a new house ?

Are we suppose to think that the profit from building 600 is going to pay for our new stadium,

I have no idea but there must be some one who knows.

There must be quite a decent profit, you only have to look at the profits of the big house builders and what they pay their CEO's in pay and bonuses.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Does anybody on here know what the profit margin is on a new house ?

Are we suppose to think that the profit from building 600 is going to pay for our new stadium,

Depends on how much the land is going to cost. If the lands is being 'given' to them by the council then there is a good amount to be made.

No idea of the profit margin (which would depend on the amount paid for the houses as well as the cost of building them) but simple arithmetic would indicate a £30k profit margin on each unit would lead to a return of £18 million.

If the council wants paying for the land (or if somebody else owns it), then obviously this amount would fall.

That's one thing which makes the Freeman Street site an additional issue - compulsory purchase of land wouldn't come cheap, not to mention the cost of razing and clearing the site. The packets of land earmarked for the Peak's Parkway site are already available I suppose?

Quoted from Maringer

Depends on how much the land is going to cost. If the lands is being 'given' to them by the council then there is a good amount to be made.

No idea of the profit margin (which would depend on the amount paid for the houses as well as the cost of building them) but simple arithmetic would indicate a £30k profit margin on each unit would lead to a return of £18 million.

If the council wants paying for the land (or if somebody else owns it), then obviously this amount would fall.

That's one thing which makes the Freeman Street site an additional issue - compulsory purchase of land wouldn't come cheap, not to mention the cost of razing and clearing the site. The packets of land earmarked for the Peak's Parkway site are already available I suppose?

Thanks for that Maringer I am a bit out of date with margins now,

When I worked in the building trade you could get a new house for less than £5,000 :)

Bit of a rough calculation I did earlier, and I've made lots of assumptions but I reckon it would take thousands of houses to pay for the stadium. Anyone got knowledge of the market can update this:

Stadium cost £22m.
Guesstimated average selling price per housing unit £150k. Gross profit 33%. = £50k per house
Guess Developer contribution to stadium 10% of GP. = £5000
Therefore need 4,400 units to fund stadium
Approx area per unit 300sq metres allowing for bit of road, pavement, garden, garage, bins store
Total area needed 1.32m sq metres = 132 hectares or 326 acres.
Peaks Parkway plot is 22.7 hectares

Slide these assumptions up to £200k/ unit, 20% of GP contribution, and reduce space needed per unit to 200sq metres and it still needs 1650 houses on 33 hectares.

And I haven't even accounted for infrastructure costs. On the other hand I've assumed we'll have no debt on the stadium. If we had to find £7m ourselves as a club with the second scenario we'd only need 22.5 hectares so PP would be viable subject to being able to (a) borrow that amount and (b) service the debt.

Oh it's been over 6 years since it was announced that PP was being assessed as the site for a stadium.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Bit of a rough calculation I did earlier, and I've made lots of assumptions but I reckon it would take thousands of houses to pay for the stadium. Anyone got knowledge of the market can update this:

Stadium cost £22m.
Guesstimated average selling price per housing unit £150k. Gross profit 33%. = £50k per house
Guess Developer contribution to stadium 10% of GP. = £5000
Therefore need 4,400 units to fund stadium
Approx area per unit 300sq metres allowing for bit of road, pavement, garden, garage, bins store
Total area needed 1.32m sq metres = 132 hectares or 326 acres.
Peaks Parkway plot is 22.7 hectares

Slide these assumptions up to £200k/ unit, 20% of GP contribution, and reduce space needed per unit to 200sq metres and it still needs 1650 houses on 33 hectares.

And I haven't even accounted for infrastructure costs. On the other hand I've assumed we'll have no debt on the stadium. If we had to find £7m ourselves as a club with the second scenario we'd only need 22.5 hectares so PP would be viable subject to being able to (a) borrow that amount and (b) service the debt.

Oh it's been over 6 years since it was announced that PP was being assessed as the site for a stadium.

Its just not viable is it? Even the infrastructure alone would cost a fortune, and who is going to pay for that? The cost for Xtreme on top, massive (for us) borrowing and thousands of houses needed to get profit in before even thinking of a stadium.

I don't think I will ever see a new stadium. New, more dynamic and wealthy backers in conjunction with the council might bring it nearer but I guess that will be too late for the Freeman Street option, if indeed it is being talked about.

I don't know how much of the fans ticket monies have gone into the process so far, but what a bloody waste.

You’re right Lew, it’s all pie in the sky. We have to face it, without a miracle we will never get a new stadium, I feel.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Bit of a rough calculation I did earlier, and I've made lots of assumptions but I reckon it would take thousands of houses to pay for the stadium. Anyone got knowledge of the market can update this:

Stadium cost £22m.
Guesstimated average selling price per housing unit £150k. Gross profit 33%. = £50k per house
Guess Developer contribution to stadium 10% of GP. = £5000
Therefore need 4,400 units to fund stadium
Approx area per unit 300sq metres allowing for bit of road, pavement, garden, garage, bins store
Total area needed 1.32m sq metres = 132 hectares or 326 acres.
Peaks Parkway plot is 22.7 hectares

Slide these assumptions up to £200k/ unit, 20% of GP contribution, and reduce space needed per unit to 200sq metres and it still needs 1650 houses on 33 hectares.

And I haven't even accounted for infrastructure costs. On the other hand I've assumed we'll have no debt on the stadium. If we had to find £7m ourselves as a club with the second scenario we'd only need 22.5 hectares so PP would be viable subject to being able to (a) borrow that amount and (b) service the debt.

Oh it's been over 6 years since it was announced that PP was being assessed as the site for a stadium.

The Proposal if I remember right was to include offsite housing, The Council had offered extra land around the county including Immingham to build a mixture of affordable housing and 4 and 5 bedroom houses.
This land was to be given at a peppercorn rate and to be tied in with the planning processes for the stadium thus being part of the enabling development budget.

Quoted from realist

Pity they dont do something more useful. The trust is full of self righteous hot air.

That's the beauty of being a volunteer. You get to choose what you want to get involved in and I kind of like the fact that we want to celebrate the 140th anniversary of our great club

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Bit of a rough calculation I did earlier, and I've made lots of assumptions but I reckon it would take thousands of houses to pay for the stadium. Anyone got knowledge of the market can update this:

Stadium cost £22m.
Guesstimated average selling price per housing unit £150k. Gross profit 33%. = £50k per house
Guess Developer contribution to stadium 10% of GP. = £5000
Therefore need 4,400 units to fund stadium
Approx area per unit 300sq metres allowing for bit of road, pavement, garden, garage, bins store
Total area needed 1.32m sq metres = 132 hectares or 326 acres.
Peaks Parkway plot is 22.7 hectares

Slide these assumptions up to £200k/ unit, 20% of GP contribution, and reduce space needed per unit to 200sq metres and it still needs 1650 houses on 33 hectares.

And I haven't even accounted for infrastructure costs. On the other hand I've assumed we'll have no debt on the stadium. If we had to find £7m ourselves as a club with the second scenario we'd only need 22.5 hectares so PP would be viable subject to being able to (a) borrow that amount and (b) service the debt.

Oh it's been over 6 years since it was announced that PP was being assessed as the site for a stadium.

I seem to recall a statement in the GET that said the new houses wouldn't necessarily be at PP and that the Council would help the developers obtain " brown field " sites in NE Lincs to make the numbers up.

Quoted from rancido

I seem to recall a statement in the GET that said the new houses wouldn't necessarily be at PP and that the Council would help the developers obtain " brown field " sites in NE Lincs to make the numbers up.

The developers asked for more sites but didn't necessarily get them. Many of the available plots were already earmarked by other developers who were further along in the process.

Freeman street would take years of negotiations with the various pockets of landowners before it even got to looking at starting work all at a massive total cost. It will get regeneration money chucked at it in the near future but nothing on the scale of a new stadium .
If the council don't have the money to cut the grass they aren't going to be building the new Etihad anytime soon.

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

The Proposal if I remember right was to include offsite housing, The Council had offered extra land around the county including Immingham to build a mixture of affordable housing and 4 and 5 bedroom houses.
This land was to be given at a peppercorn rate and to be tied in with the planning processes for the stadium thus being part of the enabling development budget.

Offsite housing - think that was on the developer's wishlist once they started looking at things and realised the numbers didn't stack up for them. Never seen anything about land at Immo and elsewhere being offered by the council. Where was that reported?

Any better feel for the numbers Rob? Be interesting if we can build up a better estimate than my figures.

In tonight’s Evening Telegraph, within a story regarding the demolition of the flats off Freeman Street:

"The prospect of it being used for a new community stadium for Grimsby Town FC are still being discussed, though the size of the site is too compact for a modern 20,000-seater stadium and car park.

If a section of the east side of Freeman Street was included planners may have to look at the chances of it becoming a new home for The Mariners.

A large housing development is also being proposed.

A spokeswoman for LHP said: "At this stage there is no firm decision on what that may be but demolition and a cleared site presents a genuine opportunity for potential development which could revitalise and significantly change this historical but often forgotten area in the heart of Grimsby."

The article was placed under The GTFC section of the Telegraph website.
20,000 seater stadium??????

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Bit of a rough calculation I did earlier, and I've made lots of assumptions but I reckon it would take thousands of houses to pay for the stadium. Anyone got knowledge of the market can update this:

Stadium cost £22m.
Guesstimated average selling price per housing unit £150k. Gross profit 33%. = £50k per house
Guess Developer contribution to stadium 10% of GP. = £5000
Therefore need 4,400 units to fund stadium
Approx area per unit 300sq metres allowing for bit of road, pavement, garden, garage, bins store
Total area needed 1.32m sq metres = 132 hectares or 326 acres.
Peaks Parkway plot is 22.7 hectares

Slide these assumptions up to £200k/ unit, 20% of GP contribution, and reduce space needed per unit to 200sq metres and it still needs 1650 houses on 33 hectares.

And I haven't even accounted for infrastructure costs. On the other hand I've assumed we'll have no debt on the stadium. If we had to find £7m ourselves as a club with the second scenario we'd only need 22.5 hectares so PP would be viable subject to being able to (a) borrow that amount and (b) service the debt.

Oh it's been over 6 years since it was announced that PP was being assessed as the site for a stadium.

The Council and developers would be able to look for Housing infrastructure funding to support delivery of new homes so I don't see that element of cost being prohibitive for the development.

Told you! it’s going to happen have faith what else they gonna put there that’s gonna revitalise the area? Well apart from a super brothel.

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

The Council and developers would be able to look for Housing infrastructure funding to support delivery of new homes so I don't see that element of cost being prohibitive for the development.

Maybe so. It's still looking unfeasible unless you've got better info on the numbers.

I'd love someone with better knowledge than me to revise the numbers.

Quoted from Grim up north

Freeman street would take years of negotiations with the various pockets of landowners before it even got to looking at starting work all at a massive total cost. It will get regeneration money chucked at it in the near future but nothing on the scale of a new stadium .
If the council don't have the money to cut the grass they aren't going to be building the new Etihad anytime soon.

With something like this could the Council invoke a compulsory purchase order if they deemed it a must have?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Maybe so. It's still looking unfeasible unless you've got better info on the numbers.

I'd love someone with better knowledge than me to revise the numbers.

2+2=4

Why 20000?....isn't the vitality stsdium something like 12000 all seater and that's good enough for Bournemouth to sustain premier league football..
Surely if we down sized to say 12500 then the footprint of the stadium wouldn't be as large and allow for more scope in terms of parking, retail, housing etc..

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Why 20000?....isn't the vitality stsdium something like 12000 all seater and that's good enough for Bournemouth to sustain premier league football..
Surely if we down sized to say 12500 then the footprint of the stadium wouldn't be as large and allow for more scope in terms of parking, retail, housing etc..

20K is ridiculous IMO but wouldn't the extra capacity come from building up (like Man U) in which case the actual footprint would be unaffected?

Quoted from barralad

20K is ridiculous IMO but wouldn't the extra capacity come from building up (like Man U) in which case the actual footprint would be unaffected?

Gotta go out to build up, unless you enjoy hanging around for 90 mins

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Why 20000?....isn't the vitality stsdium something like 12000 all seater and that's good enough for Bournemouth to sustain premier league football..
Surely if we down sized to say 12500 then the footprint of the stadium wouldn't be as large and allow for more scope in terms of parking, retail, housing etc..

I think the initial plan was to build a 14,000 seat stadium with capability to expand to 20,000 but not sure if this is still the case.
I suppose we all dream of reaching the promised land and staying there.

Despite numerous artist's impressions, what capital projects have our dear council actually completed in the past 10 years apart from block paving the town centre and demolishing our bus station? They cannot even arrange to keep our dear little river Freshney clean and healthy.

Before the council start dreaming about freemo the grass verge outside my house is in desperate need of cutting

Please can we stop all this shite right now.

Grimsby Town are not going to have a new ground (a stadium is for greyhound racing and athletics) in my lifetime and the lifetime of many other posters

It's totally irrelevant where we the fans want it, it isn't going to happen. NELC do not want GTFC to have a new ground full stop, where it is is not the issue, they do not want it and will therefore do everything they can to prevent it

The money will never be in place anyway, the board and Fenty in particular are kidding themselves if they think it is achievable financially.

It will never happen so the sooner we and more importantly the board start worrying about results rather than a pipe dream the better, we are going to be at BP until it is condemmed and the rust finally topples the floodlights

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Bit of a rough calculation I did earlier, and I've made lots of assumptions but I reckon it would take thousands of houses to pay for the stadium. Anyone got knowledge of the market can update this:

Stadium cost £22m.
Guesstimated average selling price per housing unit £150k. Gross profit 33%. = £50k per house
Guess Developer contribution to stadium 10% of GP. = £5000
Therefore need 4,400 units to fund stadium
Approx area per unit 300sq metres allowing for bit of road, pavement, garden, garage, bins store
Total area needed 1.32m sq metres = 132 hectares or 326 acres.
Peaks Parkway plot is 22.7 hectares

Slide these assumptions up to £200k/ unit, 20% of GP contribution, and reduce space needed per unit to 200sq metres and it still needs 1650 houses on 33 hectares.

And I haven't even accounted for infrastructure costs. On the other hand I've assumed we'll have no debt on the stadium. If we had to find £7m ourselves as a club with the second scenario we'd only need 22.5 hectares so PP would be viable subject to being able to (a) borrow that amount and (b) service the debt.

Oh it's been over 6 years since it was announced that PP was being assessed as the site for a stadium.

Chesterfield's stadium was £11.5 million, perhaps that's a more realistic figure to base calculations on - https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/companies/gb-building-win-115m-chesterfield-fc-stadium-job/5205756.article

Quoted from Father Christmas

Before the council start dreaming about freemo the grass verge outside my house is in desperate need of cutting

WTF you feeding the reindeer Santa?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

WTF you feeding the reindeer Santa?

Happy pills, they’re working

Quoted from Roast Em Bobby

Chesterfield's stadium was £11.5 million, perhaps that's a more realistic figure to base calculations on - https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/companies/gb-building-win-115m-chesterfield-fc-stadium-job/5205756.article

I thought £22m was the number quoted in the announcements the other year about PP. but the only cost I can find is the £55m mentioned 2 years ago when Extreme came on board but that article mentioned other facilities as well.

£11.5m is obviously much more achievable. Chesterfield’s ground is for 10,000 people and our proposal was for 14,000 and there might be a bit of inflation to add since the Spireites announcement a decade ago.

But there must be a difference in scope to account for the remaining difference.

What did Donny’s and Rotherham’s grounds cost?

14K capacity is definitely too large - it would feel empty most weeks and kill the atmosphere. 12k is an absolute max for me, I would hav thought 10k would be sufficient, better for atmosphere and more affordable.

Donnys keepmoat is 15k and cost 20mill back in 2006 according to wikipedia.
Rotherhams new York stadium is 12k and cost 20 mill in 2012.
Probably get 10k for 20mill now!

Chesterfield proact cost 13mill for a 10.5k capacity in 2010 according to wikipedia.

Cumulative increase in the cost of living since 2010 is about 25%:

http://www.in2013dollars.com/2010-GBP-in-2018?amount=1

Theoretically, Chesterfield's stadium would cost over £16 million if built today, all else being equal.

Is that just the cost to build it and doesn't include the cost of the land it's built on?

Peaks Parkway would've been ideal with easy access for all in surroundings that are pleasing on the eye that could've involved facilities to keep the whole family there for the day with eateries /activities etc . Most towns have healthily increased in size over the last 40 years as differant areas are developed whilst this one has stagnated with a council scared to upset the applecart / now skint and residents frightened of progress or any type of change . The thing is had it gone ahead when it should've then any disturbance to local residents would've been minimal as it's 20odd times a year with a good few Tuesday nights .As it stands the Parkway will be developed in the coming years if they like it or not but will instead be more housing than previously planned.

Quoted from Grim up north

Peaks Parkway would've been ideal with easy access for all in surroundings that are pleasing on the eye that could've involved facilities to keep the whole family there for the day with eateries /activities etc . Most towns have healthily increased in size over the last 40 years as differant areas are developed whilst this one has stagnated with a council scared to upset the applecart / now skint and residents frightened of progress or any type of change . The thing is had it gone ahead when it should've then any disturbance to local residents would've been minimal as it's 20odd times a year with a good few Tuesday nights .As it stands the Parkway will be developed in the coming years if they like it or not but will instead be more housing than previously planned.

I bet most people would rather have even more housing than more housing and a football ground near them.

As for pleasing on the eye, a whacking great concrete and steel bowl of a football ground and housing estates would soon put paid to that.

The town's skint because it lost its main industry, and lots of public money in the austerity years. And the council's probably too scared to upset the applecart because the public won't exactly thank them for changing things in their backyard.

That's the hysterical type of talk that's helped prolong getting a spade in the ground. Li would hope we don't go down the concrete bowl approach and instead build something the town can look at with pride. We're talking a 14000 seater here not the new Wembley . The town needs to either set itself on the road to recovery or see it die with an ageing population as the youth have spread their wings to brighter things as its home town failed to provide anything to keep them in it.

Quoted from Grim up north

That's the hysterical type of talk that's helped prolong getting a spade in the ground. Li would hope we don't go down the concrete bowl approach and instead build something the town can look at with pride. We're talking a 14000 seater here not the new Wembley . The town needs to either set itself on the road to recovery or see it die with an ageing population as the youth have spread their wings to brighter things as its home town failed to provide anything to keep them in it.

Grimsby won't die, I can assure you of that. The population in general has not spread its wings either - it is as it as always been in that some will leave but the majority will stay. However, I do agree we need to build something for the town to be proud about.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Grimsby won't die, I can assure you of that. The population in general has not spread its wings either - it is as it as always been in that some will leave but the majority will stay. However, I do agree we need to build something for the town to be proud about.

Agreed in part Lew but we aren't doing anything to keep the brighter talent here. Everywhere has moved forward in the last three decades where Grimsby has stood still. The only crane seen in the sky in that period has built a premier inn and old people housing and that's shocking by any standard.

Quoted from Grim up north

That's the hysterical type of talk that's helped prolong getting a spade in the ground. Li would hope we don't go down the concrete bowl approach and instead build something the town can look at with pride. We're talking a 14000 seater here not the new Wembley . The town needs to either set itself on the road to recovery or see it die with an ageing population as the youth have spread their wings to brighter things as its home town failed to provide anything to keep them in it.

Hysterical?! I'm just pointing out what most people's reactions would be.

We would all hope that we could build something the town can look at with pride. The artist impressions for PP didn't really tick that box though did they?

Some questions for you:
What has been done to encourage councillors to take risks and support imaginative schemes?
What projects that the town can look on with pride have been rejected?
Has the football club come up with a planning application for a new ground yet that the council can actually consider?

As for the youth spreading their wings, well yeah, that's been going on a long time. Partly its a function of being too small to support large business HQs and not being a regional centre. That's always been the case. And then in the last 40 years we've seen any large businesses formerly based in GY disappear. Most of them are now headquartered elsewhere (and especially abroad) now. There are no trawler owners left employing lots of tradesmen building and maintaining their houses and supporting independent retailers like there used to be. Profits made in Grimsby are repatriated to shareholders all over the globe and not spent in the town like they used to be. And look at the attitude of ABP to the stadium location question and redevelopment of the Ice House. Problems that councils with the spending power of NE Lincs cannot overcome without massive outside help.

So while I agree, the town has got to 'go for it' and try to regenerate itself, slagging off a council with limited power to do much about it won't get you anywhere.

Do we even need 14,000 ? A decent safe standing terrace behind 2 ends and a couple of decent designed stands each side with boxes incorporated to generate extra income would do considering our average attendances over the last 50 years .
10,000 would do I reckon . Better to have a ground almost full with a good atmosphere than one that’s probably going to be half full at best considering we’re unlikely to get above L1 for the foreseeable future .

Good points Kingston but can you seriously say the council have shown any kind of support towards probably the only product that keeps this Town on the map.We have no idea at what stage the club and council have reached regards a stadium be it Great Coates / PP or whatever's been suggested over the last 30 years but the blame seems to always lay at the feet of the club with no one questioning the possibility that other factors could've prevented progress.Lots of Towns have lost the main sources of income and gone on to recover ,you have to move with the times and make the most of what we've got . Wind industry is taking off and the docks would've had plenty of money chucked at it if it was anywhere south of Watford , you have to fight for the cash. Maybe we need to head hunt the talent that has brought in development and cash for other areas as some seem to do pretty well despite location.

Of all the new stadiums I've been in recently Louth in the south the Rotherham one has stood out for a smallish stadium that gives the appearance on the outside of an impressive facility purely down to having a big main stand tapering out behind the goals . I guess the footprint will be the same if it's 12000 or 16000+ bit like other posters have said ,you don't want to create a monster that looks empty with 6000 in it. You also have to cater for the profit from 3000+ away fans if we progress up a division like Donny saw when we went there .

Quoted from toontown

14K capacity is definitely too large - it would feel empty most weeks and kill the atmosphere. 12k is an absolute max for me, I would hav thought 10k would be sufficient, better for atmosphere and more affordable.

Rubbish. 14k shows ambition and would be filled if the facilities were done right and of course the team performed and were successful. The area has the population and support, they just need the impetus to go. If it was 10k we may as well stay at BP and accept we're a club going nowhere.

Quoted from Grim up north

That's the hysterical type of talk that's helped prolong getting a spade in the ground. Li would hope we don't go down the concrete bowl approach and instead build something the town can look at with pride. We're talking a 14000 seater here not the new Wembley . The town needs to either set itself on the road to recovery or see it die with an ageing population as the youth have spread their wings to brighter things as its home town failed to provide anything to keep them in it.

I would argue we have a very healthy youth population that follow GTFC all around the country. I also think a twelve thousand stadium would easily fit in Freeman street area and pull in more footfall to existing local retailers and build new housing to develop the whole area.

We just need people that share the vision and want it to happen of course Freshney place will be against it as they have tried to stop Ramsdens old place being redeveloped.

About time this town realised there is more to offer than an unpopular shopping precinct nobody likes it does nothing for our history just another soulless shopping mall like a thousand others.

Bring back our identity stop hiding our past away, be proud of who we were/are ..... Dock Tower, Dock office with the clock tower, New GTFC stadium at the entrance to Great Grimsby in full view of everyone.

We are all mariners are we not?

Dogger, the reason we need to leave BP is nothing to do with capacity, the number of occasions that we have filled the ground completely in the last 10 years is what? Once? Twice? Zero? We are certainly not considering spending millions for the reason of increasing capacity as that would make no sense.

It is to make money on a more regular basis than BP can through 7 day usage, make more money on matchdays due to better facilities, encourage the people who do attend to attend more often, and yes to increase the numbers who do attend. It also helps to attract players, something BP does the opposite. It will also prevent a situation in which, if we stay at BP, we are in a ground that eventually has the main and/or osmond stands condemed as unsafe and we are down to a really reduced capacity and can't afford to exist.

When we were in the championship, playing great football and finishing mid-table a capacity of 10k would still have been sufficient. A 12k capacity would have fitted almost every league game attendance for what, 30 years or something? Can only think of Exeter and newcastle exceeding it off the top of my head. We have probably exceeded 12k as an average attendance about one season in half a century. There is no point in spending huge sums on empty seats that then increases running costs to the club as well, as well as reduce the atmosphere. Increasing the size (and therefore cost) makes it less likely to be built at all, and we desperately need a new ground.

Quoted from heppy88

The article was placed under The GTFC section of the Telegraph website.
20,000 seater stadium??????

Isnt that a minimum to enter the Premier League ? As we will be in the Championship in 5 seasons then may as well as well be prepared ;D

Quoted from Grim up north

Good points Kingston but can you seriously say the council have shown any kind of support towards probably the only product that keeps this Town on the map.We have no idea at what stage the club and council have reached regards a stadium be it Great Coates / PP or whatever's been suggested over the last 30 years but the blame seems to always lay at the feet of the club with no one questioning the possibility that other factors could've prevented progress.Lots of Towns have lost the main sources of income and gone on to recover ,you have to move with the times and make the most of what we've got . Wind industry is taking off and the docks would've had plenty of money chucked at it if it was anywhere south of Watford , you have to fight for the cash. Maybe we need to head hunt the talent that has brought in development and cash for other areas as some seem to do pretty well despite location.

I wouldn’t say the council have exactly helped. There’s always an element of nimbyism that hinders new ventures. It completely derailed the Great Coates proposal. And part politics can get in the way too. There could well be some point scoring going on with the latest pronouncements.

Lots of northern cities have been regenerated. I’m not saying the SE doesn’t get a disproportionate share though. Development on the docks is entirely at the whim of ABP. a firm that doesn’t give two hoots about GY beyond it being a source of profit. And that profit largely depends on trade passing through and not so much on the prosperity of the town. It’s scandalous the way the Ice House has been allowed to crumble.

I agree a more forward thinking council would help a lot. How do you get that though is a trickier question. They probably need to see a massive level of support for the Freeman St scheme. A really active movement in favour would demonstrate the voting potential (nothing persuades politicians in a relatively incorruptible democracy more than that).

The stadium doesn't need to have 20,000 seats, and it doesn't need to have a car park. This thinking is just 1990s Out-of-town Boxland mindset. Modern sports stadium design around the whole world has worked out that compact, city centre grounds situated near shops, pubs and restaurants, with public transport links, are the way forward.

If we're going to set those as parameters we'll never have a ground. A 12,000 capacity ground (9,000 seats and 3,000 safe standing places) with park and ride, and upgraded Docks/New Clee stations, would be perfect.

Of course it needs a flipping car park. If you're selling yourself as a conference venue during the week, you can't exactly say street parking only. Not to mention the fact that a lot of GTFC fans who live locally in all the local villages still need to drive to the gsme. Not to mention the further edges of Cleethorpes and Grimsby.

No doubt you could lay on buses for some of the fans but it's not going to be convenient for many of them.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

The stadium doesn't need to have 20,000 seats, and it doesn't need to have a car park. This thinking is just 1990s Out-of-town Boxland mindset. Modern sports stadium design around the whole world has worked out that compact, city centre grounds situated near shops, pubs and restaurants, with public transport links, are the way forward.

If we're going to set those as parameters we'll never have a ground. A 12,000 capacity ground (9,000 seats and 3,000 safe standing places) with park and ride, and upgraded Docks/New Clee stations, would be perfect.

It needs a footprint big enough to support a facility that will generate income on more than 25 days a year. Imagine asking someone to spend their cash on using the place without having the support facility of a car park.

It'll need a car park as the objective would be to lent out the Stadium for events to gain revenue.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

The stadium doesn't need to have 20,000 seats, and it doesn't need to have a car park. This thinking is just 1990s Out-of-town Boxland mindset. Modern sports stadium design around the whole world has worked out that compact, city centre grounds situated near shops, pubs and restaurants, with public transport links, are the way forward.

If we're going to set those as parameters we'll never have a ground. A 12,000 capacity ground (9,000 seats and 3,000 safe standing places) with park and ride, and upgraded Docks/New Clee stations, would be perfect.

This isn't a city and we don't have a city centre in the same way a city does. there aren't fantastic transport links and shops,pubs etc nearby. Freeman Street and the surrounding area is basically ghetto. We don't have people who think of the practical in this town and Councillors who only care about what the people who vote think and most of those don't give a crap if we even have a football club.

Instead of the practical you only consider nostalgia and feelings lol. People want to restore Freeman Street and the docks to it's former glory and have a stadium overlooked by the dock tower because this is Grimsby or whatever. It doesn't matter how practical it'd be for the town and how difficult transport to the stadium would be on a match day with traffic issues. The only good thing would be housing prices would increase in the area and all the scummy poor people and druggies would have to move out lol.

Quoted from Maringer

Of course it needs a flipping car park. If you're selling yourself as a conference venue during the week, you can't exactly say street parking only. Not to mention the fact that a lot of GTFC fans who live locally in all the local villages still need to drive to the gsme. Not to mention the further edges of Cleethorpes and Grimsby.

No doubt you could lay on buses for some of the fans but it's not going to be convenient for many of them.

Even so, the car park doesn't need to be huge to accomodate conferences. And the park and ride as suggested by the posted you quoted would deal with the local villages issue.

I think placing too much emphasis on parking will see us with a soulless out-of-town ground which was flawed thinking in the 90s let alone now. Individual car use is going to plummet as driverless cars become the norm which incidentally do not require parking. Mass transit (trains/trams) will remain the most efficient way to move people.

One of the only benefits of it taking 20-plus years to get something off the ground is that we can build something which is forward-thinking, and not redundant as so many stadiums will become in respect to their design & logistics.

Quoted from Maringer

Of course it needs a flipping car park. If you're selling yourself as a conference venue during the week, you can't exactly say street parking only. Not to mention the fact that a lot of GTFC fans who live locally in all the local villages still need to drive to the gsme. Not to mention the further edges of Cleethorpes and Grimsby.

No doubt you could lay on buses for some of the fans but it's not going to be convenient for many of them.

I think this is why PP ticks so many boxes .Safe Parking with exit one way for the support from Humberston/Waltham /Louth and outer villages , the other direction to ship coaches straight out to either A180 or rail station and North and South Weelsby rd for the mass of footfall and surrounding areas. It could have eateries and facilities to be used in pleasant surroundings all year round and maybe include cycle paths /developed walkways linking across from Scarto direction right towards Pennels Humberston rd.

Of course there needs to be a footprint that covers a 20k stadium or else what is the point of building it? Doesn't have to be an initial 20k, but to get into the Championship it will be a requirement in a few years time just as it is now for the Premier League. It will cost less than 10% extra to build that structure initially rather than build a smaller stadium and worry about the consequences later when the additional structural costs will be far far greater. And this talk about a 10k or 12k stadium being enough, again, what's the point? Just add the open corners back in at BP instead. This is the problem. Some fans can't see past the club's recent history. You build aspirationally for success not for what is perceived to be the status quo today. We should aspire long term to be playing the Bradfords, Sheffield Wednesdays, Sheff Utds, Barnsleys, Derbys etc. If we ever got to the Championship, and we had a decent team, there would be over 10k Town fans in the brand new facilities after a promotion winning season with demand for 3-4k away tickets at quite a lot of home games. We should build for that scenario, nothing less..

In my lifetime, this club has had over 20k home fans in a decrepit Blundell Park and countless games where home support is well into five figures. The people are there, they just need tempting back. A new stadium and a new board would go a long way to building some bridges and maybe then the people of NE Lincs could have a new re-invigorated pride in its local team again. A scruffy crumbling Blundell Park coupled with 17 years of a board treading water stinks of sterility. We have been tripping along at the very lowest of our potential, lower than I could have ever imagined growing up, we shouldn't forget that when we plan for a bright new future.

Here's a novel idea. Pedestrianise freeman street and maybe more, and create a team system for people to use. This could create a better park and ride imhi.

And, as mentioned, there's Grimsby docks and new clee stations already in place (though would probably need upgrading)

Quoted from MarinerWY

Even so, the car park doesn't need to be huge to accomodate conferences. And the park and ride as suggested by the posted you quoted would deal with the local villages issue.

I think placing too much emphasis on parking will see us with a soulless out-of-town ground which was flawed thinking in the 90s let alone now. Individual car use is going to plummet as driverless cars become the norm which incidentally do not require parking. Mass transit (trains/trams) will remain the most efficient way to move people.

One of the only benefits of it taking 20-plus years to get something off the ground is that we can build something which is forward-thinking, and not redundant as so many stadiums will become in respect to their design & logistics.

This. It would be criminal to build an out of town stadium relying on car ownership and having no impact on the town centre. We need this to work for the next 100 years.

Bigdog I agree with a lot of ur posts but not that one. 10% of 20 mill is rather a lot! Especially when the club doesn't have the 20 mill or even the 10%! Not something that can be just tossed in as 'well it'd foolish not to'. By all means build it so it's capacity can be increased if necessary, but don't build it atmosphere killingly excessively large.
Also, if it is necessary to have a 20k capacity already in the prem then how come Bournemouth are playing premiership football?

Quoted from Bigdog

Of course there needs to be a footprint that covers a 20k stadium or else what is the point of building it? Doesn't have to be an initial 20k, but to get into the Championship it will be a requirement in a few years time just as it is now for the Premier League. It will cost less than 10% extra to build that structure initially rather than build a smaller stadium and worry about the consequences later when the additional structural costs will be far far greater. And this talk about a 10k or 12k stadium being enough, again, what's the point? Just add the open corners back in at BP instead. This is the problem. Some fans can't see past the club's recent history. You build aspirationally for success not for what is perceived to be the status quo today. We should aspire long term to be playing the Bradfords, Sheffield Wednesdays, Sheff Utds, Barnsleys, Derbys etc. If we ever got to the Championship, and we had a decent team, there would be over 10k Town fans in the brand new facilities after a promotion winning season with demand for 3-4k away tickets at quite a lot of home games. We should build for that scenario, nothing less..

In my lifetime, this club has had over 20k home fans in a decrepit Blundell Park and countless games where home support is well into five figures. The people are there, they just need tempting back. A new stadium and a new board would go a long way to building some bridges and maybe then the people of NE Lincs could have a new re-invigorated pride in its local team again. A scruffy crumbling Blundell Park coupled with 17 years of a board treading water stinks of sterility. We have been tripping along at the very lowest of our potential, lower than I could have ever imagined growing up, we shouldn't forget that when we plan for a bright new future.

There's logic in that. Question will be over affordability.

Quoted from Grim up north

I think this is why PP ticks so many boxes .Safe Parking with exit one way for the support from Humberston/Waltham /Louth and outer villages , the other direction to ship coaches straight out to either A180 or rail station and North and South Weelsby rd for the mass of footfall and surrounding areas. It could have eateries and facilities to be used in pleasant surroundings all year round and maybe include cycle paths /developed walkways linking across from Scarto direction right towards Pennels Humberston rd.

What you'd be creating is a new town centre. Slap bang in green belt.

I can see the logic of PP if the vision is truly to create a new town centre which would be more central than the top end of Freeman Street. Freemo is dead as an area. You'd be undermining Top Town too if PP becomes the destination for leisure/dining.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Hysterical?! I'm just pointing out what most people's reactions would be.

We would all hope that we could build something the town can look at with pride. The artist impressions for PP didn't really tick that box though did they?

Some questions for you:
What has been done to encourage councillors to take risks and support imaginative schemes?
What projects that the town can look on with pride have been rejected?
Has the football club come up with a planning application for a new ground yet that the council can actually consider?

As for the youth spreading their wings, well yeah, that's been going on a long time. Partly its a function of being too small to support large business HQs and not being a regional centre. That's always been the case. And then in the last 40 years we've seen any large businesses formerly based in GY disappear. Most of them are now headquartered elsewhere (and especially abroad) now. There are no trawler owners left employing lots of tradesmen building and maintaining their houses and supporting independent retailers like there used to be. Profits made in Grimsby are repatriated to shareholders all over the globe and not spent in the town like they used to be. And look at the attitude of ABP to the stadium location question and redevelopment of the Ice House. Problems that councils with the spending power of NE Lincs cannot overcome without massive outside help.

So while I agree, the town has got to 'go for it' and try to regenerate itself, slagging off a council with limited power to do much about it won't get you anywhere.

To be fair the attitude of ABP is not just aimed at GTFC but anybody who wants to use their land. As far as The Ice Factory is concerned , their hands are tied due to the influence of English Heritage and the fact it is a listed building ( I think ).

This and many previous councils for our area have shown a very short sighted approach to most new developments.

We don't need a new stadium if we keep playing like this every week . Might as well move to Bradley pitches.

Now Clee Town have vacated the stadium at Bradley we could enquire as to the availability for when we are playing Dog and Duck FC in a couple of years.

we will never get a new stadium its been going on for years nobody wants to be involved or invest in the club whilst some of the board still there

Quoted from gtfcmd

we will never get a new stadium its been going on for years nobody wants to be involved or invest in the club whilst some of the board still there

NELC don't want to work with our custodian - it's that simple.

Freeking forget wasting money on a new ground,, Put some money in too a team, How many years have the so called board pretended to do anything for the club.. stop spending on false hope grounds we just dont need it for a non league outfit that is us

Quoted from Bigdog

Of course there needs to be a footprint that covers a 20k stadium or else what is the point of building it? Doesn't have to be an initial 20k, but to get into the Championship it will be a requirement in a few years time just as it is now for the Premier League. It will cost less than 10% extra to build that structure initially rather than build a smaller stadium and worry about the consequences later when the additional structural costs will be far far greater. And this talk about a 10k or 12k stadium being enough, again, what's the point? Just add the open corners back in at BP instead. This is the problem. Some fans can't see past the club's recent history. You build aspirationally for success not for what is perceived to be the status quo today. We should aspire long term to be playing the Bradfords, Sheffield Wednesdays, Sheff Utds, Barnsleys, Derbys etc. If we ever got to the Championship, and we had a decent team, there would be over 10k Town fans in the brand new facilities after a promotion winning season with demand for 3-4k away tickets at quite a lot of home games. We should build for that scenario, nothing less..

In my lifetime, this club has had over 20k home fans in a decrepit Blundell Park and countless games where home support is well into five figures. The people are there, they just need tempting back. A new stadium and a new board would go a long way to building some bridges and maybe then the people of NE Lincs could have a new re-invigorated pride in its local team again. A scruffy crumbling Blundell Park coupled with 17 years of a board treading water stinks of sterility. We have been tripping along at the very lowest of our potential, lower than I could have ever imagined growing up, we shouldn't forget that when we plan for a bright new future.

Absolutely bang on, no point in moving to a 10k stadium we might as well just pack it all in if that's the extent of our ambition. BP has a truly great vista, one of the best in the UK, let's only give it up for someti truly worthwhile.

Quoted from rancido

To be fair the attitude of ABP is not just aimed at GTFC but anybody who wants to use their land. As far as The Ice Factory is concerned , their hands are tied due to the influence of English Heritage and the fact it is a listed building ( I think ).

This and many previous councils for our area have shown a very short sighted approach to most new developments.

If it was for EH they'd probably have demolished it by now.

Quoted from Bigdog

Of course there needs to be a footprint that covers a 20k stadium or else what is the point of building it? Doesn't have to be an initial 20k, but to get into the Championship it will be a requirement in a few years time just as it is now for the Premier League. It will cost less than 10% extra to build that structure initially rather than build a smaller stadium and worry about the consequences later when the additional structural costs will be far far greater. And this talk about a 10k or 12k stadium being enough, again, what's the point? Just add the open corners back in at BP instead. This is the problem. Some fans can't see past the club's recent history. You build aspirationally for success not for what is perceived to be the status quo today. We should aspire long term to be playing the Bradfords, Sheffield Wednesdays, Sheff Utds, Barnsleys, Derbys etc. If we ever got to the Championship, and we had a decent team, there would be over 10k Town fans in the brand new facilities after a promotion winning season with demand for 3-4k away tickets at quite a lot of home games. We should build for that scenario, nothing less..

In my lifetime, this club has had over 20k home fans in a decrepit Blundell Park and countless games where home support is well into five figures. The people are there, they just need tempting back. A new stadium and a new board would go a long way to building some bridges and maybe then the people of NE Lincs could have a new re-invigorated pride in its local team again. A scruffy crumbling Blundell Park coupled with 17 years of a board treading water stinks of sterility. We have been tripping along at the very lowest of our potential, lower than I could have ever imagined growing up, we shouldn't forget that when we plan for a bright new future.

I might be misunderstanding you but I think the salient point is that Blundell Park hasn't allowed us to have a five figure crowd since the ground became all-seater. As such a 12000 seater new ground (with the option to build upwards rather than outwards) would give us another 20% capacity and would represent a decent start to the life of a new stadium. 10000 is no better than we have.
I have to disagree regarding the "potential" support out there. One of the things which has struck me whilst I've been looking at stats for this exhibition has been the generally low nature of crowd numbers. No-one would argue against the contention that the club have been extremely lucky over the past ten years or so to maintain the level of crowd that they have given the poor fare (generally) put in front of them. That argument falls down when you look at the average crowds in some of the Buckley years when (and I agree totally with the prevalent view on here at least) that we were priviliged to watch some fantastic "Pass and move" football. On one spectacular night we managed less than four thousand in a Division 2 match v Port Vale. I distinctly remember the debate at the time being about the tippy tappy football and lack of end product. (For the record Town walloped Vale 4-1 that night. Buckley had a way of sticking two fingers up to his detractors) .In our Division 2 days the crowds were often boosted by large away followings from some really big clubs such as Leicester, Leeds and the West Midlands sides. Out of the five figure gates that you can recall how many of them weren't one off cup ties or matches at the business end of promotion seasons? I would agree that we should be looking at a bigger ground for championship football but my preferred method would be to build on top of existing infrastructure. Over the past couple of seasons we've rejoiced in singing "Your grounds too big for you" at places as varied as MK, Coventry and most relevant Donny. Not sure I'd want us to join that less than illustrious band...it's all about opinion though.

Can't really expect ABP to give a monkeys about anything but the bottom line as they're owned by Americans, Canadians and Kuwaitis.

I think a 12,000 seater stadium with the potential to expand (if possible) by 50% ought to be enough for us. Need to get things right on the pitch first, of course.

Considering where we sit financially and in the EFL tonight I'd halt this thread now TBH.

Quoted from barralad

I might be misunderstanding you but I think the salient point is that Blundell Park hasn't allowed us to have a five figure crowd since the ground became all-seater. As such a 12000 seater new ground (with the option to build upwards rather than outwards) would give us another 20% capacity and would represent a decent start to the life of a new stadium. 10000 is no better than we have.
I have to disagree regarding the "potential" support out there. One of the things which has struck me whilst I've been looking at stats for this exhibition has been the generally low nature of crowd numbers. No-one would argue against the contention that the club have been extremely lucky over the past ten years or so to maintain the level of crowd that they have given the poor fare (generally) put in front of them. That argument falls down when you look at the average crowds in some of the Buckley years when (and I agree totally with the prevalent view on here at least) that we were priviliged to watch some fantastic "Pass and move" football. On one spectacular night we managed less than four thousand in a Division 2 match v Port Vale. I distinctly remember the debate at the time being about the tippy tappy football and lack of end product. (For the record Town walloped Vale 4-1 that night. Buckley had a way of sticking two fingers up to his detractors) .In our Division 2 days the crowds were often boosted by large away followings from some really big clubs such as Leicester, Leeds and the West Midlands sides. Out of the five figure gates that you can recall how many of them weren't one off cup ties or matches at the business end of promotion seasons? I would agree that we should be looking at a bigger ground for championship football but my preferred method would be to build on top of existing infrastructure. Over the past couple of seasons we've rejoiced in singing "Your grounds too big for you" at places as varied as MK, Coventry and most relevant Donny. Not sure I'd want us to join that less than illustrious band...it's all about opinion though.

The Buckley years coincided with massive drops in attendances throughout the leagues. Chelsea were getting no more than 15k at times, Sheff Utd less than 10k etc. The power of a new stadium and better facilities should not be underestimated if executed well in my opinion as long as the football being played is better than it is now. A boost in season ticket sales should improve budget and playing standards. We have a lot of floating fans that find a trip to BP uninspiring and are totally turned off by a JF driven club that's had no success in League football for at least two decades. Donny were a 2k at home club, Rotherham 4k, Reading 7k, Brighton 9k. You build the facilities, invest in the team, market it well and the fans will appear out of the woodwork..

I did say in my post about it being more cost effective by building the initial gross footprint and filling in if and when it was needed..

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Considering where we sit financially and in the EFL tonight I'd halt this thread now TBH.

C'mon Herts, don't spoil the fun of us all drifting off into the world of pipe dreams. Thinking about the present is far too painful..

Quoted from Bigdog

C'mon Herts, don't spoil the fun of us all drifting off into the world of pipe dreams. Thinking about the present is far too painful..

Fair enough............. I think when we move to utopia we should have a bust of our version of Herbert Chapman in the marble halls. We just need to find our Mr Chapman first.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Here's a novel idea. Pedestrianise freeman street and maybe more, and create a team system for people to use. This could create a better park and ride imhi.

And, as mentioned, there's Grimsby docks and new clee stations already in place (though would probably need upgrading)

And who would pay for that? Network rail wouldn't and wouldn't it be worth the cost plus the disruption to all the timetables of the services for 23 occasions a year. Posters keep mentioning these two stations but it is an absolute no-goer and they need to realise this.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Fair enough............. I think when we move to utopia we should have a bust of our version of Herbert Chapman in the marble halls. We just need to find our Mr Chapman first.

Our Mr Chapman is at Market Rasen feeding fourth rate racehorses.

Quoted from rancido

[/b]

And who would pay for that? Network rail wouldn't and wouldn't it be worth the cost plus the disruption to all the timetables of the services for 23 occasions a year. Posters keep mentioning these two stations but it is an absolute no-goer and they need to realise this.

That's what I was getting at. If, IF, the stadium plays a part of a grander design, as in it has a purpose during the week and not only on match day, then surely it would be worthwhile up grading (one definitely. Maybe both?)

But, it's all a load of bo11ocks anyway. We aren't getting a new ground. The club are probably keeping the charade going to take our attention away from how shite the club is being run

Quoted from Bigdog

The Buckley years coincided with massive drops in attendances throughout the leagues. Chelsea were getting no more than 15k at times, Sheff Utd less than 10k etc. The power of a new stadium and better facilities should not be underestimated if executed well in my opinion as long as the football being played is better than it is now. A boost in season ticket sales should improve budget and playing standards. We have a lot of floating fans that find a trip to BP uninspiring and are totally turned off by a JF driven club that's had no success in League football for at least two decades. Donny were a 2k at home club, Rotherham 4k, Reading 7k, Brighton 9k. You build the facilities, invest in the team, market it well and the fans will appear out of the woodwork..

I did say in my post about it being more cost effective by building the initial gross footprint and filling in if and when it was needed..

Maybe at first but post Italia 90 they started to pick up. We were getting good crowds in Divisions 4 and 3 but they plateaued after we reached the 2nd, while others started to climb. Unbelievable really given you'd be in a fairly packed BP and they'd announce a crowd under 7000.

Just to make it more depressing I have quick look on Lincs Echo website to see that the City Council, local large building companies like Lindum are working together having secured purchase of 200 acres of land to build 2000 new homes and new ground for Lincoln City.

To get any peace going to have to move home again as at the moment their rate of progression is leaving us for dead.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Here's a novel idea. Pedestrianise freeman street and maybe more, and create a team system for people to use. This could create a better park and ride imhi.

And, as mentioned, there's Grimsby docks and new clee stations already in place (though would probably need upgrading)

Drop a bomb on it. The last time I went down there it looked a right shithole.

Not sure we should be worrying about railway stations, how many fans actually travel by train these days that would require those to be upgraded?

Quoted from arryarryarry

Drop a bomb on it. The last time I went down there it looked a right shithole.

Not sure we should be worrying about railway stations, how many fans actually travel by train these days that would require those to be upgraded?

Yep, from Hainton Square to Riby Square, from the railway track to Albion Street, the whole lot..

Redevelop some of the iconic buildings within, create a new Freemo market. Anything else will be a fudge, and just filling in pockets will draw the new developments into being part of the sinkhole eventually..

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

That's what I was getting at. If, IF, the stadium plays a part of a grander design, as in it has a purpose during the week and not only on match day, then surely it would be worthwhile up grading (one definitely. Maybe both?)

But, it's all a load of bo11ocks anyway. We aren't getting a new ground. The club are probably keeping the charade going to take our attention away from how shite the club is being run

I seem to recall that Network Rail quoted a figure of around £1 million to upgrade Great Coates station in the eventuality of us getting a ground there. I don't think the cost would justify the benefit realised. You also haven't addressed the fact that both those stations aren't scheduled stops for either the Lincoln or Manchester services and I think it would be highly improbable that either Northern Rail or TPE would alter their timetables to incorporate these stops.

Quoted from rancido

I seem to recall that Network Rail quoted a figure of around £1 million to upgrade Great Coates station in the eventuality of us getting a ground there. I don't think the cost would justify the benefit realised. You also haven't addressed the fact that both those stations aren't scheduled stops for either the Lincoln or Manchester services and I think it would be highly improbable that either Northern Rail or TPE would alter their timetables to incorporate these stops.

As I understand it both New Clee and Grimsby Docks are only request stops on the Barton Line controlled by Northern Rail. The issue is that neither, structure-wise could cope with large footfall without substantial upgrading.

Quoted from rancido

I seem to recall that Network Rail quoted a figure of around £1 million to upgrade Great Coates station in the eventuality of us getting a ground there. I don't think the cost would justify the benefit realised. You also haven't addressed the fact that both those stations aren't scheduled stops for either the Lincoln or Manchester services and I think it would be highly improbable that either Northern Rail or TPE would alter their timetables to incorporate these stops.

Whereas at Peaks Parkway you'd have to completely rebuild the railway dug up years ago, and the 80 miles to the main line at Peterborough. Oh and build a station from scratch.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Whereas at Peaks Parkway you'd have to completely rebuild the railway dug up years ago, and the 80 miles to the main line at Peterborough. Oh and build a station from scratch.

Surely you jest -there is already a train line that could be extended from the Boating Lake

71% in favour of Freeman Street being used for the new ground so far.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-grimsby-town-stadium-shops-2012972

Quoted from psgmariner

71% in favour of Freeman Street being used for the new ground so far.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-grimsby-town-stadium-shops-2012972

Down to 68% now.

Classic GrimTel. Talks about the flats being there for 50 years, then talks about half a decade of memories.

There is a forum on Facebook called the North East Lincs discussion forum. Like this one it has its regular contributors. The same stuff from NELC was put up on there but reading the comments most want to see the close on a thousand dwellings lost when the flats/Comber Place came down replaced by affordable housing. I 'll admit to being very surprised by that and it appears that we might, should the need arise, have a bigger job than first thought selling the idea of a new stadium outside of the football community.

Quoted from barralad

There is a forum on Facebook called the North East Lincs discussion forum. Like this one it has its regular contributors. The same stuff from NELC was put up on there but reading the comments most want to see the close on a thousand dwellings lost when the flats/Comber Place came down replaced by affordable housing. I 'll admit to being very surprised by that and it appears that we might, should the need arise, have a bigger job than first thought selling the idea of a new stadium outside of the football community.

Why am I not surprised.

Nearly 24 hours and there's been no updates on this thread. Will it make it to 50 pages?

Telegraph reporting on this today but I wonder why haven’t they contacted the club for a response?

Trust have tweeted that an anouncement from Council and/or club will be made this week!!!

Quoted from Hagrid

bahh it wont happen

Bahh FreemoStad won’t happen
Bahh the council making a statement this week wont happen
Or bahh this thread won’t make 50 pages?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Bahh FreemoStad won’t happen
Bahh the council making a statement this week wont happen
Or bahh this thread won’t make 50 pages?

Bahh the top 2! 😅

Quoted from Hagrid

Bahh the top 2! 😅

Great so we’re on for a 50-pager then!

Another achievement for the board.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Great so we’re on for a 50-pager then!

Another achievement for the board.

You have contributed significantly to make this happen.

#operationfreemo

Posting for a friend......😉

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

#operationfreemo

Posting for a friend......😉

Fenty?

We have reached 50 pages and nearly 500 posts,

We need an answer soon please.

500 posts and we know no more than before the first one. Nobody knows anything-we are all guessing and each individual thinks they are right. It's just like "The Bodyguard "

Quoted from grimsby pete

We have reached 50 pages and nearly 500 posts,

We need an answer soon please.

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

42

Is that how many years till completion? :-/

140th anniversary tomorrow and also the pre-match press conference so it wouldn't surprise me if the statement comes tomorrow.

A 40,000 seater stadium - Stade de Freemo - to be opened in time for the 2022/23 season when we should be back in the second tier.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

140th anniversary tomorrow and also the pre-match press conference so it wouldn't surprise me if the statement comes tomorrow.

A 40,000 seater stadium - Stade de Freemo - to be opened in time for the 2022/23 season when we should be back in the second tier.

Will we have Comber Corner or the Thesiger Terrace?

Can I bring my flask?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Will we have Comber Corner or the Thesiger Terrace?

Home fans could sit behind the Garibaldi Goal too.

Don't forget the Strand Stand too!

Quoted from Gaffer58

Can I bring my flask?

If you pay!

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Home fans could sit behind the Garibaldi Goal too.

Don't forget the Strand Stand too!

Nearest to the docks has to be the Pontoon. :)

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Home fans could sit behind the Garibaldi Goal too.

Don't forget the Strand Stand too!

The home fans might be standing behind the goal ;)

Quoted from Mallyner

Nearest to the docks has to be the Pontoon. :)

I thought the opposite, The stand facing the docks should be the Ponny, with the Dock Tower as the main vista. We wouldn't want our guests staring at the beautiful monument instead of us.

It needs to be in the shape of a trawler pointing towards the Dock Tower. ;)

New stadium?

I'd settle for a few wins.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Home fans could sit behind the Garibaldi Goal too.

Don't forget the Strand Stand too!

The way we are defending maybe they should sit in front of the goal.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

You have contributed significantly to make this happen.

That's a very positive spin to put on it. Do you want to be the club's press officer?

We have aquired outline planning permission for a stadium on the moon. Elon Musk will be providing park and ride shuttles from the blue cross car park

Quoted from AdamHaddock

We have aquired outline planning permission for a stadium on the moon. Elon Musk will be providing park and ride shuttles from the blue cross car park

It'll be a excrement ground with no atmosphere.

In fact it'll be another shedload of Clangers.

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/statement--community-stadium/

It's never going to happen. The council will block every single proposal until the club rots itself out of existence. They'll just keep up this cycle of years of planning and then keeping the proposals held in endless meetings designed to make sure they go nowhere and never get any approval.

This is how a place like this is. No forward thinking, no development, just a bunch of old NIMBYs waiting to die while moaning about every attempt to create something in the town.

So PP is paused. Didn't we already know that? There's been zero news for months.

Quoted from Kris2

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/statement--community-stadium/

It's never going to happen. The council will block every single proposal until the club rots itself out of existence. They'll just keep up this cycle of years of planning and then keeping the proposals held in endless meetings designed to make sure they go nowhere and never get any approval.

This is how a place like this is. No forward thinking, no development, just a bunch of old NIMBYs waiting to die while moaning about every attempt to create something in the town.

Possibly correct but let's hope the council have recognised the discontent and have put a measure in place to enable the club to get on board with a more suitable location for all parties.

If the council didn't want to use PP and are keen to use another (#operationfreemo, just sayin') then we may see a bit more forward progress and co-operation between the parties.

Bit of a non-statement really. Looks that both the council and club have reacted to the speculation and demand for an update but want to keep their cards close to their chest for a bit longer.

I believe signs are already up for the removal of the former House of Holland block and Freeman Towers.

Sounds like a smack in the gob to team Fenty if you ask me....maybe the fact the town now has this regeneration grant the so called "enabling" project doesn't take on as much importance as it once did....new stadium, new revenue streams, new owners??....only asking the question not making a statement..

Statement tells us nothing we don't know. Last paragraph adds a bit of encouragement but we've heard it all before, I'll only ever believe it when I see work start on a new stadium.

Anyone know what's happened with those chancers at Extreme then? Are they still involved or does the 'pause' mean we've binned them off? (which would be a step in the right direction imo).

Quoted from Kris2

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/statement--community-stadium/

It's never going to happen. The council will block every single proposal until the club rots itself out of existence. They'll just keep up this cycle of years of planning and then keeping the proposals held in endless meetings designed to make sure they go nowhere and never get any approval.

This is how a place like this is. No forward thinking, no development, just a bunch of old NIMBYs waiting to die while moaning about every attempt to create something in the town.

I'm thinking you're a "glass half empty" kind of guy? 8)

PP was dead as soon as retail and construction tanked.

Freeman St it is then ,

I look forward to sitting in it to see our 1st game on my 140th birthday.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Freeman St it is then ,

I look forward to sitting in it to see our 1st game on my 140th birthday.

I think 2 years is optimistic?

On the one hand, we could say that once again we are starting from scratch and going back to the drawing board, which means yet another delay in the never ending saga of a new ground. Have we just wasted a load more time and money on PP?

Alternatively, we could say that if there is a possibility that a new ground could be incorporated into the Freemo area, it would be worth the extra wait.

I think most of us would rather see a ground in the East Marsh than stuck out at PP, but i never thought that area was an option until things changed and we got the grants from the Government. If there is even the remotest chance that we could have a new community stadium in this more favourable area, then we have to investigate every avenue to try and make it happen.

Quoted from marinerdazza

I think 2 years is optimistic?

;D ;D ;D

Quoted from grimsby pete

;D ;D ;D

;)

Unless they are going to flatten othet stuff in the area, freeman street isn't big enough. Pass the site every morning, and it looks nowhere big enough for what they want to build.

I think it sounds quite positive and I also suspect there is a bit more going on behind the scenes than we're being made aware of.

If the council and club are issuing a joint statement, it would be fair to presume they're at least singing off the same song sheet.

Few things I've been told this morning are that this is happening. Plans are in place and it's now a case of just completing the formalities, of which the review is part of that.

The plan is also far, far larger than just a case of building an identikit stadium and dropping it on the location of the former flat towers.

I am cautiously optimistic and I'm usually a glass half empty kind.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

I think it sounds quite positive and I also suspect there is a bit more going on behind the scenes than we're being made aware of.

Yeah, me too. Some parties are going to have had to swallow a lot of pride up to this point. So I think the news will be drip fed.

Quoted from MarinerMart

Unless they are going to flatten othet stuff in the area, freeman street isn't big enough. Pass the site every morning, and it looks nowhere big enough for what they want to build.

They're going to have to drop all that practice pitch balderdash, it's not necessary and was one of the weaknesses in the PP project.

Car parking will be much more important for both matches and other events on which the stadium will rely. Colchester is a soulless ground, out of town etc but the car parking for concerts and other events as well as matches is excellent

Quoted from Ipswin

They're going to have to drop all that practice pitch balderdash, it's not necessary and was one of the weaknesses in the PP project.

Car parking will be much more important for both matches and other events on which the stadium will rely. Colchester is a soulless ground, out of town etc but the car parking for concerts and other events as well as matches is excellent

Yes the car park is that big you are knacked getting trom the car to the stand.
(wheelchair)

Quoted from ginnywings

On the one hand, we could say that once again we are starting from scratch and going back to the drawing board, which means yet another delay in the never ending saga of a new ground. Have we just wasted a load more time and money on PP?

Alternatively, we could say that if there is a possibility that a new ground could be incorporated into the Freemo area, it would be worth the extra wait.

I think most of us would rather see a ground in the East Marsh than stuck out at PP, but i never thought that area was an option until things changed and we got the grants from the Government. If there is even the remotest chance that we could have a new community stadium in this more favourable area, then we have to investigate every avenue to try and make it happen.

As I said earlier in this marathon thread I believe that although obviously hugely important size most definitely isn't everything. The whole point of moving in the first place was to increase the ability of the club to generate more income. Whatever faults there are with B.P. the club own it. It is ludicrous to assume that if council money builds the new stadium it will just be handed over to GTFC. I've already seen on twitter comments from people concerned that giving up your own home and going rental will greatly weaken the clubs position. For my part I don't trust politicians of any colour to make important decisions about something as specialist as a football club. Whatever deal is reached it will IMO have to give massive security concessions and provide a way for the club to make more money. Otherwise what would be the point in moving.

Quoted from Ipswin

They're going to have to drop all that practice pitch balderdash, it's not necessary and was one of the weaknesses in the PP project.

Car parking will be much more important for both matches and other events on which the stadium will rely. Colchester is a soulless ground, out of town etc but the car parking for concerts and other events as well as matches is excellent

Dependent on who owns the land it isn't beyond possible that the whole of the block from the Market up to Kent Street could be demolished which would provide another large chunk of land. From recent memory there is only Boots, Heron, William Hills and the Post Office open. All of those could be found units in the new development if needed.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Yes the car park is that big you are knacked getting trom the car to the stand.
(wheelchair)

Hopefully Town will allocate a number of spaces near to the stand for old farts like us Pete, after all by the time the new ground is built we will be at least 100+

Quoted from barralad

although obviously hugely important size most definitely isn't everything. .

Thank intercourse for that

I'd be out of work but at my age who cares lol

Dependent on who owns the land it isn't beyond possible that the whole of the block from the Market up to Kent Street could be demolished which would provide another large chunk of land. From recent memory there is only Boots, Heron, William Hills and the Post Office open. All of those could be found units in the new development if needed.[/quote]

Quoted from Ipswin

Hopefully Town will allocate a number of spaces near to the stand for old farts like us Pete, after all by the time the new ground is built we will be at least 100+

Cant see them allocating much needed spaces for people who would use it once every 10 years tbh ;)

For what they are worth here are some thoughts on the stadium plans

[url]http://d3d4football.com/grimsby-towns-window-of-opportunity/[/url]

I've built up as much cynicism as anyone else over the past four years of non-progression at Peaks Parkway. Promises of spades breaking ground at PP by February 2019 etc, but surely today has got to be on the face of it a good news day hasn't it?

Joint statement by club and council, regeneration money floating about, building after building being torn down on the West Marsh and Peaks Parkway on hold, a face saving term for dead in the water I guess.

I don't feel excited by any stretch, but I do feel a bit more positive.

The time for talking is over, it's time to deliver..

Still a load of Bollox, sodomist all progress made until the first brick is laid and i dont mean Ali G style.

Went up Freemo yesterday morning, 2 smack heads asleep in the old News kiosk lol.

Rip the Market down while were at it, pointless bloody thing been crap since the late 80s, agree that everything could be torn down easily but depends how greedy land owners get.

Lets look at the pro's and con's of a new stadium,

We own the ground outright.
I can not see anything else but a big debt hanging over the club for years to come as whatever other developments are included it will not be enough for us to be debt free,( con )

Owning the ground will give the oppotunity of 7 day income which would be used to have a better squad but some of it will be needed to pay off the debt, ( pro )

A community stadium.
No debt so whatever extra money we make will be to have a better stronger squad,
Hopefully we will pay a small peppercorn rent to play our football there and will be able to rent the stadium out ourself when the council do not want the facilities so will make a profit From those events.(pro )

Will be tied to the council so will not have 100% use of the stadium and other facilities ( training pitches ect )
Will have less income but that will be ofset by having no debt apart from our non chairmns loans
which means he stays on the board. (con )

There must be loads of other pro's and cons what are your thoughts ?

Quoted from monkeyboy

Rip the Market down while were at it, pointless bloody thing been crap since the late 80s, agree that everything could be torn down easily but depends how greedy land owners get.

It's actually improved beyond belief in the last decade or so. It's more vibrant now than for a long time and puts Top Town Market to shame.

However, something that is in operation 3 days a week can't be a hold-up for mass regeneration. Yes, it needs knocking down and the space utilised as part of the wider plans. But in someway shape or form it has to be considered as something that will need replacing. The landscape of the area will change but if regeneration is done correctly, there will still be demand for it just like there will be for the shops etc. that will remain and/or need moving.

What worries me is that people will insist the Pea Bung has to remain exactly as it is or something silly like that, which will massively hold up any progress.

Quoted from diehardmariner

It's actually improved beyond belief in the last decade or so. It's more vibrant now than for a long time and puts Top Town Market to shame.

However, something that is in operation 3 days a week can't be a hold-up for mass regeneration. Yes, it needs knocking down and the space utilised as part of the wider plans. But in someway shape or form it has to be considered as something that will need replacing. The landscape of the area will change but if regeneration is done correctly, there will still be demand for it just like there will be for the shops etc. that will remain and/or need moving.

What worries me is that people will insist the Pea Bung has to remain exactly as it is or something silly like that, which will massively hold up any progress.

Well yes they will say the chips dont taste the same even if they take the fryers with them lol. that could be part of the new ground, Pea bung chip shop and bar. how did it get the name pea bung?

Quoted from Chrisblor

Anyone know what's happened with those chancers at Extreme then? Are they still involved or does the 'pause' mean we've binned them off? (which would be a step in the right direction imo).

Agree! I wouldn’t trust them with lego.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Anyone know what's happened with those chancers at Extreme then? .

Well, they've delivered no more than words this far, so I expect they've been told to get the funk out.

Quoted from monkeyboy

Well yes they will say the chips dont taste the same even if they take the fryers with them lol. that could be part of the new ground, Pea bung chip shop and bar. how did it get the name pea bung?

No idea even the one who knows all ;) does not know,

I would take a guess and say, buy our fish + chips we will bung peas on it for free (Confused)

Quoted from marinerdazza

I think 2 years is optimistic?

2 years ? they have been yonks sifting through 147 applications for BARBERS shops down Freemo.

I appreciate that we have seen so many false dawns over a new stadium but i do find the negativity across all aspects of social media quite sad.
It is like peoples 'miserableness' is threatened, some seem to hope for a self fulfilling prophecy?

I'd love to see people actually back the scheme, make all councillors fully aware that this must happen, put pressure on the football club, do whatever we need to regenerate this Town and pull it, and the football club, out of the doldrums

UTM

The pea bung is reputidly the oldest surviving chippy in the world.

It gets its name from the days of the British Empire and before the word "bungalow" was part of the English language. British soldiers returning from India where the word for a single story building came from, used a shortened version of bungalow because they couldn't remember the full word, hence "bung".

Quoted from monkeyboy

Still a load of Bollox, sodomist all progress made until the first brick is laid and i dont mean Ali G style.

Went up Freemo yesterday morning, 2 smack heads asleep in the old News kiosk lol.

Rip the Market down while were at it, pointless bloody thing been crap since the late 80s, agree that everything could be torn down easily but depends how greedy landowners get.

Are you fecking real fremo market is still miles better than the top town I actually think the courtyard bistro is an improvement and the pea bung is still the best chippy around?

Its the crap buildings towards the docks an around Cotees that need flattening most are empty and run down the other half ain't so bad. The
smack heads will be moved away, The closeness to the A180 lends itself to making an easy back road from the new ground for away fans and there is a good public transport is good for locals. With a bit of forethought, this could be the massive boost in arm Freeman street as needed for years and with Ramsden site to be redeveloped as well this could be exciting times ahead just need the team to realise it's potential as well.

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Are you fecking real fremo market is still miles better than the top town I actually think the courtyard bistro is an improvement and the pea bung is still the best chippy around?

Its the crap buildings towards the docks an around Cotees that need flattening most are empty and run down the other half ain't so bad. The
smack heads will be moved away, The closeness to the A180 lends itself to making an easy back road from the new ground for away fans and there is a good public transport is good for locals. With a bit of forethought, this could be the massive boost in arm Freeman street as needed for years and with Ramsden site to be redeveloped as well this could be exciting times ahead just need the team to realise it's potential as well.

Ok fair point, lets rip top town market down then. mostly empty anyway now due to the council rates.

It's nice to hear something even if it's only confirmation of much that has been rumoured.

Are we to read anything into the absence of the words 'Extreme' and 'Leisure'?

The whole thing is a farce in keeping with the way GTFC is run - its been dragging on years …...I remember my daughter delivering leaflets in relation to the proposed Conoco Stadium when she was 14 - she is 32 now .

Quoted from mimma

The pea bung is reputidly the oldest surviving chippy in the world.

It gets its name from the days of the British Empire and before the word "bungalow" was part of the English language. British soldiers returning from India where the word for a single story building came from, used a shortened version of bungalow because they couldn't remember the full word, hence "bung".

What a load of CODSwallop-you sound more like me than me

Agree with cloudy about the misery and naysaying. To be fair I think it’s down to countless false dawns on both the ground and the regeneration of the town. It’s still infuriating though. This is amazing news for both the town and the football club. Get behind and help get it done. UTM.

Hopefully the local green energy company will get involved and we can at least sit on the Dong End if not the Dong Dome.

Well this new statement will keep us all on tenterhooks until about 2023, hen another new announcement will be made.

Quoted from mimma

The pea bung is reputidly the oldest surviving chippy in the world.

It gets its name from the days of the British Empire and before the word "bungalow" was part of the English language. British soldiers returning from India where the word for a single story building came from, used a shortened version of bungalow because they couldn't remember the full word, hence "bung".

It will be a world heritage site next 🙄

Quoted from golfer

What a load of CODSwallop-you sound more like me than me

Sorry to boil your p1ss but I haven't the imagination to cook up such a storry. I am merely quoting from a news storry I can remember on Callender I believe where they interviewed the owner who had researched where the name came from. I think he might know where the name came from.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Hopefully the local green energy company will get involved and we can at least sit on the Dong End if not the Dong Dome.

Too late for that. The company is now called Orsted, which doesn't have the same comical possibilities. :(

The story I hear is that new drawings are currently being prepared by an architect. Coupled with the lack of Extreme Leisure in the statement I think it is safe to assume they have been fired.

I said a few a month or so ago that I had heard that we were going to sign a Oxford Utd striker, plans were being drawn up for a 14,000 stadium down Freemo and a change of ownership Mr R...?

How true, not sure on the source, however we did a striker on loan from Oxford and now this news.

Quoted from The Yard Dog

I said a few a month or so ago that I had heard that we were going to sign a Oxford Utd striker, plans were being drawn up for a 14,000 stadium down Freemo and a change of ownership Mr R...?

How true, not sure on the source, however we did a striker on loan from Oxford and now this news.

You are wrong. We signed a free agent who last played for oxford

Quoted from The Yard Dog

I said a few a month or so ago that I had heard that we were going to sign a Oxford Utd striker, plans were being drawn up for a 14,000 stadium down Freemo and a change of ownership Mr R...?

How true, not sure on the source, however we did a striker on loan from Oxford and now this news.

Not sure who Mr R might be - just so long as it's not Mrs M

Correct me if I'm wrong but I would think any regeneration money would have a time limit for work to be started. I can't imagine the government letting the council sit on a pile of cash indefinitely so if it is going to happen it will be sooner rather than later.

Quoted from The Yard Dog

I said a few a month or so ago that I had heard that we were going to sign a Oxford Utd striker, plans were being drawn up for a 14,000 stadium down Freemo and a change of ownership Mr R...?

How true, not sure on the source, however we did a striker on loan from Oxford and now this news.

Mr Right 😃

Not sure if it's already been mentioned but if the new community stadium gets the green light I assume it will go ahead even if (God forbid) we got relegated back to the National League ?

Quoted from ginnywings

Too late for that. The company is now called Orsted, which doesn't have the same comical possibilities. :(

Is there any truth in the rumour that German wind power firm Fahrt are looking at investing now there's a gap in the rude name market?

Sounds a potentially positive announcement.

Quoted from barralad

As I said earlier in this marathon thread I believe that although obviously hugely important size most definitely isn't everything. The whole point of moving in the first place was to increase the ability of the club to generate more income. Whatever faults there are with B.P. the club own it. It is ludicrous to assume that if council money builds the new stadium it will just be handed over to GTFC. I've already seen on twitter comments from people concerned that giving up your own home and going rental will greatly weaken the clubs position. For my part I don't trust politicians of any colour to make important decisions about something as specialist as a football club. Whatever deal is reached it will IMO have to give massive security concessions and provide a way for the club to make more money. Otherwise what would be the point in moving.

Thank God we dont have a politician anywhere near our .. oh... :o

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Is there any truth in the rumour that German wind power firm Fahrt are looking at investing now there's a gap in the rude name market?

That's just hot air.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Is there any truth in the rumour that German wind power firm Fahrt are looking at investing now there's a gap in the rude name market?

Almost correct. It actually Ratsch-bumm Fahrt, after the merger. ;)

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Hopefully the local green energy company will get involved and we can at least sit on the Dong End if not the Dong Dome.

FFS thats made me cry with laughing....trouble is thats the sort of thing that could only happen here ;D

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Is there any truth in the rumour that German wind power firm Fahrt are looking at investing now there's a gap in the rude name market?

Well, there's bound to be a wind of change

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Is there any truth in the rumour that German wind power firm Fahrt are looking at investing now there's a gap in the rude name market?

All I know is most on here will be old Fahrts by the time the new stadium is built, some of us already are :)

It’s got to be good news really . PP would’ve been a soulless hole and we’d all have been wishing we were back at BP after about 5 minutes

If the council are hand in glove with the club it can only be good news.

So our situation will resemble hull city then in that the owner doesn’t own the ground ... well that’s worked well (wacko)

Somebody please tell them which way to point the floodlights

60 Pages about sodomist all thats really happened as yet. not bad going.

Imagine if there was actually something happening, 1000 pages.

If anything the whole situation just points to how inept both the local council and the clubs directors are.

Its embarrassing that we now seem to be reversing out of a situation...AGAIN... that the board have bloody mindedly backed despite it clearly being full of holes from the outset.

The man in the street has foreseen plenty of issues with this scheme from the outset , finance, unproven developer, scale, infrastructure, economic climate and yet 4yrs (?) on the penny has finally dropped and we appear to be starting afresh.

If i could be @rsed i would trawl through the archives to produce a proper timeline of quotes, promises and sound bites regards PP, the "sales video" of JF in the windy field, within 2 yrs , advanced discussions with the council, exciting , in the next two weeks ....and my personal favourite the 80% confidence (i think it was 80 ?) of JF in Extreme delivering.

I think the trust should table a vote of no confidence at the next opportunity.

Quoted from moosey_club

If anything the whole situation just points to how inept both the local council and the clubs directors are.

Its embarrassing that we now seem to be reversing out of a situation...AGAIN... that the board have bloody mindedly backed despite it clearly being full of holes from the outset.

The man in the street has foreseen plenty of issues with this scheme from the outset , finance, unproven developer, scale, infrastructure, economic climate and yet 4yrs (?) on the penny has finally dropped and we appear to be starting afresh.

If i could be @rsed i would trawl through the archives to produce a proper timeline of quotes, promises and sound bites regards PP, the "sales video" of JF in the windy field, within 2 yrs , advanced discussions with the council, exciting , in the next two weeks ....and my personal favourite the 80% confidence (i think it was 80 ?) of JF in Extreme delivering.

I think the trust should table a vote of no confidence at the next opportunity.

I think 'Shut up' said 80 & JF 70 - doesn't matter does it really, they're the immovable object but the council are now dictating terms - which is quite amusing really.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/lets-make-happen-council-leader-2026342

Love the virtual view in the telegraph with the dock tower in the background. I think at long last we have real plans are in motion.

Although I can’t help thinking the graphic make up of the stadium which looks awesome will be nothing like, a bit like a macdonalds Big Mac.

My favourite picture from that day on the windy field is the one of Ollie Palmer wearing a hat, a coat, a pair of gloves, several jumpers and a look of “what the intercourse am I doing here on a Sunday morning?”.

Quoted from moosey_club

If anything the whole situation just points to how inept both the local council and the clubs directors are.

Its embarrassing that we now seem to be reversing out of a situation...AGAIN... that the board have bloody mindedly backed despite it clearly being full of holes from the outset.

The man in the street has foreseen plenty of issues with this scheme from the outset , finance, unproven developer, scale, infrastructure, economic climate and yet 4yrs (?) on the penny has finally dropped and we appear to be starting afresh.

If i could be @rsed i would trawl through the archives to produce a proper timeline of quotes, promises and sound bites regards PP, the "sales video" of JF in the windy field, within 2 yrs , advanced discussions with the council, exciting , in the next two weeks ....and my personal favourite the 80% confidence (i think it was 80 ?) of JF in Extreme delivering.

I think the trust should table a vote of no confidence at the next opportunity.

The game changer has been the winning of the bid for the regeneration funding. Before that the council had no means of coming up with a project other than to offer the land. Definitely onwards and upwards now.

Quoted from barralad

The game changer has been the winning of the bid for the regeneration funding. Before that the council had no means of coming up with a project other than to offer the land. Definitely onwards and upwards now.

Genuine question as an exile, and given the number of times governments of every colour go back on promises, does anyone know if the council has seen any of this grant money yet, or if it is protected in anyway?

The only way I can see this going off the rails now is if the grant is retracted somehow.

Quoted from barralad

The game changer has been the winning of the bid for the regeneration funding. Before that the council had no means of coming up with a project other than to offer the land. Definitely onwards and upwards now.

So is the funding that is being talked about tied in with the David Ross consortium plans ?

Quoted from moosey_club

So is the funding that is being talked about tied in with the David Ross consortium plans ?

Government money

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-44727357

Quoted from marinerdazza

Genuine question as an exile, and given the number of times governments of every colour go back on promises, does anyone know if the council has seen any of this grant money yet, or if it is protected in anyway?

The only way I can see this going off the rails now is if the grant is retracted somehow.

You can never say absolutely that it will happen but the council need to put forward detailed plans at which time the money should start to come through.

Quoted from moosey_club

So is the funding that is being talked about tied in with the David Ross consortium plans ?

Have I missed something? What David Ross consortium plans? 🤔

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

Have I missed something? What David Ross consortium plans? 🤔

He is involved in the Great Grimsby Partnership (?) group that IIRC where behind the regeneration plan....paths from Riverhead to Kasbah, housing, business development etc through Riverhead /Alexandra Dock etc that required 37m from the government , which this funding was for wasn't it ?

Cant recall there being scope in that package to help GTFC fund a stadium ?

Quoted from moosey_club

He is involved in the Great Grimsby Partnership (?) group that IIRC where behind the regeneration plan....paths from Riverhead to Kasbah, housing, business development etc through Riverhead /Alexandra Dock etc that required 37m from the government , which this funding was for wasn't it ?

Cant recall there being scope in that package to help GTFC fund a stadium ?

It's all very confusing but I THINK Ross's consortium are involved in the separate pot of funding from the Coastal Communities fund-which includes the controversial changes to Sea View St in Cleethorpes.
This other funding is the so-called Town Deal for which Grimsby are the first receipients in the U.K. The Coastal Communities Fund has been running for a few years. I think the sum involved is a deal over 37 million but I don't think the money from C.C.F. is anywhere near that figure.
I am more than willing to be proven wrong on this tho.

The government money cannot be used to favour a particular business or company. It can only be used to help in regeneration of the area to make it more attractive to investors.

What I am trying to say is, this money cannot be used to fund the stadium but can be used to help with infrastructure, roads, streets and the like, to make it more accessible.

Let's hope that it's 3rd destination lucky and in my opinion the best.
How better to regenerate the part of town that needs it most
A plea to all the decision makers to make this happen.

Quoted from barralad

It's all very confusing but I THINK Ross's consortium are involved in the separate pot of funding from the Coastal Communities fund-which includes the controversial changes to Sea View St in Cleethorpes.
This other funding is the so-called Town Deal for which Grimsby are the first receipients in the U.K. The Coastal Communities Fund has been running for a few years. I think the sum involved is a deal over 37 million but I don't think the money from C.C.F. is anywhere near that figure.
I am more than willing to be proven wrong on this tho.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-great-again-ambitious-multi-231660

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million.
Published 5 July 2018

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million, the government announced today

Local Growth Minister, Jake Berry MP and Business Minister, Lord Henley, unveiled the new Stage 1 Town Deal partnership with the Greater Grimsby Project Board while visiting the Marine Operating Centre in Grimsby and seeing first-hand some of the transformative projects the Deal will help deliver.

The Stage 1 Town Deal marks the beginning of a stronger relationship between central government and local partners to support the regeneration of Greater Grimsby.

The Deal will give Grimsby major investment to improve key roads and establish Enterprise Zones which will attract and support businesses to the area increasing further investment and employment. One example of this is Ørsted, who are building the UK’s largest operations base for offshore wind at Grimsby’s Royal Dock providing a total of 350 jobs for local people.

The new Stage 1 Town Deal recognises the government’s commitment in the Industrial Strategy white paper to work hand-in-hand with local communities which have strong local partnerships, ambition, and a commitment to regenerate their areas. It will provide:

    £2 million more to the area from the government’s local growth fund¹ to support major road improvements to Moody Lane and Woad Lane that connect to key South Humber Industrial Investment Programme Enterprise Zone sites

    a further £65 million of investment already being provided by North East Lincolnshire council (£35 million) and government (£30 million) to support the regeneration plans for Greater Grimsby

    government expertise and support including through Homes England and Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone initiative to help develop the housing and town centre with a focus on heritage-led regeneration and the development of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme sites

These interventions will help accelerate the delivery of jobs and new homes set out in the council’s adopted local plan (PDF, 3.15 MB), which set out ambitious targets for 8,800 jobs and over 9,700 new homes by 2032.

The Greater Grimsby Project Board, under the leadership of David Ross and North East Lincolnshire council, brought together local MPs, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and leaders from the public and private sectors to develop a vision for Greater Grimsby’s future which successfully secured the Town Deal announced today.

Great piece on look north tonight about the new stadium seems Freeman Street in growing momentum as the favourite site.

This is all very positive and there seems, at last, a massive will from everybody to make this happen. The article on the telegraph even mention ABP being in favour, so it must now be regarded as a cornerstone of the Town Deal if all major stakeholders of the overarching scheme have been in conversation about it. But what about those pesky Freemen? How much of a part do they have in all this?

I do not want to put a downer on the new stadium but I am not getting my hopes up till I see the frame work being started, I do hope it’s in the next few years as town have ambition of championship football in the next 5 years

Just a question for Rob.....over 600 posts now on this thread, is this anywhere near a record for The Fishy ?

Quoted from promotion plaice

Just a question for Rob.....over 600 posts now on this thread, is this anywhere near a record for The Fishy ?

Think the operation promotion thread was at least twice as long, possibly more. Think there have been one or two others as well that are longer than this one.

With some hopefully positive news regarding a new stadium on the East Marsh I was wondering what will become of Blundell Park.
I presume the land will be sold for housing.
If so, with JF having his loans secured against BP, does that mean he gets the money the land makes and walks off into the sunset or will he take the money and stay on the board until he gets the rest he feels he is owed.

Quoted from mimma

The government money cannot be used to favour a particular business or company. It can only be used to help in regeneration of the area to make it more attractive to investors.

What I am trying to say is, this money cannot be used to fund the stadium but can be used to help with infrastructure, roads, streets and the like, to make it more accessible.

Which is what I was saying yesterday. They may however be able to build a stadium if they build it to own it as an infrastructure project if they can show that the investment in it will act as a catalyst to bringing other investment in together with new jobs etc. This is why for me there are lots of unanswered (not surprising given the newness of all this) questions about what GTFC can hope to get from it in terms of extra revenue.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Just a question for Rob.....over 600 posts now on this thread, is this anywhere near a record for The Fishy ?

Not even in the top ten! If you go to the forum homepage and scroll down and click on “view extensive statistics” you can see the top ten threads and posters. There is definitely a visible correlation between the two.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Just a question for Rob.....over 600 posts now on this thread, is this anywhere near a record for The Fishy ?

If we keep it going until the building work starts on the new stadium it will be .

Quoted from grimsby pete

If we keep it going until the building work starts on the new stadium it will be .

Don't be silly Pete, by the time building work starts 75% of posters on here will be dead

Quoted from barralad

Which is what I was saying yesterday. They may however be able to build a stadium if they build it to own it as an infrastructure project if they can show that the investment in it will act as a catalyst to bringing other investment in together with new jobs etc. This is why for me there are lots of unanswered (not surprising given the newness of all this) questions about what GTFC can hope to get from it in terms of extra revenue.

So have I missed something.

Does that now mean that the Conoco/Great Coates plan is now definitely not going ahead ?? !!!

Quoted from Ipswin

Don't be silly Pete, by the time building work starts 75% of posters on here will be dead

We might all be😉

By the time the new stadium gets the go ahead I reckon technology will have given us give us the ability to get transported by beam to home games, same as Star Trek.......beam me up Scotty

Quoted from moosey_club

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-great-again-ambitious-multi-231660

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million.
Published 5 July 2018

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million, the government announced today

Local Growth Minister, Jake Berry MP and Business Minister, Lord Henley, unveiled the new Stage 1 Town Deal partnership with the Greater Grimsby Project Board while visiting the Marine Operating Centre in Grimsby and seeing first-hand some of the transformative projects the Deal will help deliver.

The Stage 1 Town Deal marks the beginning of a stronger relationship between central government and local partners to support the regeneration of Greater Grimsby.

The Deal will give Grimsby major investment to improve key roads and establish Enterprise Zones which will attract and support businesses to the area increasing further investment and employment. One example of this is Ørsted, who are building the UK’s largest operations base for offshore wind at Grimsby’s Royal Dock providing a total of 350 jobs for local people.

The new Stage 1 Town Deal recognises the government’s commitment in the Industrial Strategy white paper to work hand-in-hand with local communities which have strong local partnerships, ambition, and a commitment to regenerate their areas. It will provide:

    £2 million more to the area from the government’s local growth fund¹ to support major road improvements to Moody Lane and Woad Lane that connect to key South Humber Industrial Investment Programme Enterprise Zone sites

    a further £65 million of investment already being provided by North East Lincolnshire council (£35 million) and government (£30 million) to support the regeneration plans for Greater Grimsby

    government expertise and support including through Homes England and Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone initiative to help develop the housing and town centre with a focus on heritage-led regeneration and the development of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme sites

These interventions will help accelerate the delivery of jobs and new homes set out in the council’s adopted local plan (PDF, 3.15 MB), which set out ambitious targets for 8,800 jobs and over 9,700 new homes by 2032.

The Greater Grimsby Project Board, under the leadership of David Ross and North East Lincolnshire Council, brought together local MPs, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and leaders from the public and private sectors to develop a vision for Greater Grimsby’s future which successfully secured the Town Deal announced today.

Wouldn't it be great if all these groups could forget political allegiances and differences and join together for the greater good of this town? There are many sites like former Scatho baths, Western school that have yet to be developed but things are happening Birdseye, The old leaking boot site, old lynsey school? to build new homes and in the school's case new use.

Perhaps things could be changing for the better and a for once the false dawn realised.

Quoted from Grim74

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/lets-make-happen-council-leader-2026342

Love the virtual view in the telegraph with the dock tower in the background. I think at long last we have real plans are in motion.

Although I can’t help thinking the graphic make up of the stadium which looks awesome will be nothing like, a bit like a macdonalds Big Mac.

Erm, didn't we have that back in 1995 when Bill Carr anounced the new ground would be at Great Coates.

Quoted from moosey_club

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-great-again-ambitious-multi-231660

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million.
Published 5 July 2018

Over 8,800 new jobs and nearly 10,000 new homes will be delivered in Greater Grimsby thanks to a new, ground-breaking Stage 1 Town Deal worth £67 million, the government announced today

Local Growth Minister, Jake Berry MP and Business Minister, Lord Henley, unveiled the new Stage 1 Town Deal partnership with the Greater Grimsby Project Board while visiting the Marine Operating Centre in Grimsby and seeing first-hand some of the transformative projects the Deal will help deliver.

The Stage 1 Town Deal marks the beginning of a stronger relationship between central government and local partners to support the regeneration of Greater Grimsby.

The Deal will give Grimsby major investment to improve key roads and establish Enterprise Zones which will attract and support businesses to the area increasing further investment and employment. One example of this is Ørsted, who are building the UK’s largest operations base for offshore wind at Grimsby’s Royal Dock providing a total of 350 jobs for local people.

The new Stage 1 Town Deal recognises the government’s commitment in the Industrial Strategy white paper to work hand-in-hand with local communities which have strong local partnerships, ambition, and a commitment to regenerate their areas. It will provide:

    £2 million more to the area from the government’s local growth fund¹ to support major road improvements to Moody Lane and Woad Lane that connect to key South Humber Industrial Investment Programme Enterprise Zone sites

    a further £65 million of investment already being provided by North East Lincolnshire council (£35 million) and government (£30 million) to support the regeneration plans for Greater Grimsby

    government expertise and support including through Homes England and Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone initiative to help develop the housing and town centre with a focus on heritage-led regeneration and the development of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme sites

These interventions will help accelerate the delivery of jobs and new homes set out in the council’s adopted local plan (PDF, 3.15 MB), which set out ambitious targets for 8,800 jobs and over 9,700 new homes by 2032.

The Greater Grimsby Project Board, under the leadership of David Ross and North East Lincolnshire council, brought together local MPs, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and leaders from the public and private sectors to develop a vision for Greater Grimsby’s future which successfully secured the Town Deal announced today.

Thanks for this...so it is one pot of money. Not being Ross's biggest fan I looked up the nature of this plan. What surprised me was that (and I'd forgotten it) there is already an outline plan for the regeneration of Freemo involving houses/retail blocks open spaces and even a new school. This has got a deal of support out there and the council could have another problem image wise if they try to change that. I also didn't realise that £35m of the investment money is being provided by the council making it IMO even more unlikely that GTFC will be "given" any ownership rights on the basis that it is ultimately council tax payers money...

Quoted from barralad

Thanks for this...so it is one pot of money. Not being Ross's biggest fan I looked up the nature of this plan. What surprised me was that (and I'd forgotten it) there is already an outline plan for the regeneration of Freemo involving houses/retail blocks open spaces and even a new school. This has got a deal of support out there and the council could have another problem image wise if they try to change that. I also didn't realise that £35m of the investment money is being provided by the council making it IMO even more unlikely that GTFC will be "given" any ownership rights on the basis that it is ultimately council tax payers money...

Yep, in effect only £30m of the money is coming from central government. The £35m from the council will just be a loan that central government is now letting them take out! A drop in the Ocean compared to the £365m a week Boris, Gove and Farage promised.

The sums talked about don't sound a massive amount of money. If the new stadium is to come out of that pot it only leaves £40-45m for the other things.

Isn't there also a plan to relocate all the council offices to one new site in the Freemo area or did I read that wrong? Presumably the cost of that will be ring-fenced and largely funded by sale of existing sites and savings in operating costs.

Fenty has spoken after months of much appreciated silence.

Just read in the Telewag that Fenty is not as keen on Freemo as us lot and that all 'sites are still under consideration' including Peakes Parkway

Just need to exhume Great Coates and we're back 20 years - again!

Apparently he doesn't want the club to 'stick its head in the sand' !

Isn't that what its been doing for the last fifteen years?

No chance of a new ground this century, it'll never happen

Quoted from Civvy at last

So have I missed something.

Does that now mean that the Conoco/Great Coates plan is now definitely not going ahead ?? !!!

I still have my hat to wear at the opening :)

Let’s not forget that John Fenty is a Tory, so has absolutely ZERO interest in anything that will benefit the town, fans and community over his own personal gain.

That much should be clear from the way he’s run the club in the last 15 years.

I see JF was against the knocking down of the high rise flats!

What planet is he on?

Quoted from Cloudy

I see JF was against the knocking down of the high rise flats!

What planet is he on?

I've given up trying to understand how his mind works. A new stadium down Freemo might just be what we need to attract outside investment to put an end to his appalling tenure.

Quoted from Vance Warner

I've given up trying to understand how his mind works. A new stadium down Freemo might just be what we need to attract outside investment to put an end to his appalling tenure.

I think you’ve just answered your own question !

Quoted from barralad

Thanks for this...so it is one pot of money. Not being Ross's biggest fan I looked up the nature of this plan. What surprised me was that (and I'd forgotten it) there is already an outline plan for the regeneration of Freemo involving houses/retail blocks open spaces and even a new school. This has got a deal of support out there and the council could have another problem image wise if they try to change that. I also didn't realise that £35m of the investment money is being provided by the council making it IMO even more unlikely that GTFC will be "given" any ownership rights on the basis that it is ultimately council tax payers money...

When they announced the GGP plans i giggled to myself, over 9000 new homes , 8000 jobs ...67m ...... 9000 homes for who ?There are new build sites now that cant sell out. There just isnt the demand for that scale of housing.
Where the hell are 8000 jobs coming from ?? I work for a decent sized engineering company in the town we work nationally, in europe, and occassionally globally, turning over 15 - 20m a year...we employ around 180 staff and that has built up over 40 yrs of trading...8000 jobs is a HUGE amount, Courtaulds and the like employed what 500 - 1000 people...are we going to draw 10 companies of that size ? Create another 80 companies like the one i work for ? or 800 companies employing 10 people each ?
Pie in the sky numbers.

I am sure something will get done, infrastructure to existing trading estates etc that will improve things for existing businesses, no doubt why ABP will be happy to support, upgrading routes to their land will benefit them, if funding gets released for the kasbah, yet again good for ABP.

Potential for anything beyond that i am a sceptical.

Quoted from Ipswin

Fenty has spoken after months of much appreciated silence.

Just read in the Telewag that Fenty is not as keen on Freemo as us lot and that all 'sites are still under consideration' including Peakes Parkway

Just need to exhume Great Coates and we're back 20 years - again!

Apparently he doesn't want the club to 'stick its head in the sand' !

Isn't that what its been doing for the last fifteen years?

No chance of a new ground this century, it'll never happen

There is no chance of a new stadium with Mr. Fenty in charge for a whole variety of reasons.

I wonder what the situation would be if indeed the council do have the vision, the money and the expertise (unlikely I know but leave that to one side) to build the stadium at Freeman St. as part of a regeneration plan and Fenty refuses to co-operate?

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

There is no chance of a new stadium with Mr. Fenty in charge for a whole variety of reasons.

I wonder what the situation would be if indeed the council do have the vision, the money and the expertise (unlikely I know but leave that to one side) to build the stadium at Freeman St. as part of a regeneration plan and Fenty refuses to co-operate?

Surely even the NELC wouldn't be stupid enough to build a community stadium without a football club to move into it, I think eventually Fenty would have to go with it as the council could ensure it doesn't get the go-ahead anywhere else other than where they want it.

That said I don't see the regeneration plans for Freeman Street allowing such a huge amount of the available space to be taken up by a football ground they rent out for 23 matches a year and a few evening soirees run by the Trust. It would have to rely massively on music concerts and non-football related events.

Colchester is a 'community' stadium and they seem to manage very well with their local council as their landlords but it's on a green field site well out of town. Great Coates was always the best location, space and access wise

Quoted from Ipswin

Don't be silly Pete, by the time building work starts 75% of posters on here will be dead

How old are Grimsby Town directors-just asking.

Quoted from Cloudy

I see JF was against the knocking down of the high rise flats!

What planet is he on?

Sadly, the same one as us.

Would the capacity be like 12,000 seated stadium or more or less does anyone know, personally think it would be ridiculous If we do a capacity of like 20,000 seater stadium

I've just read the interview and it served as a timely reminder why he shouldn't speak to the press.

His gripe with Freemo is that the council would be in control of the project not the club and that it will be the council who would take the plaudits. I find it unbelievable that he feels the flats should have stayed - well, if you liked them that much, move your family in! I've spent long enough in those flats to know that what LHP (Shoreline) have done is entirely the right thing.

Come on John - get off your own bandwagon and work WITH (key word) the council and deliver what the majority want. We can all do this if we pull TOGETHER (another key word).

Just quite why Fenty wanted the flats to stay absolutely beggars belief, it seems to me he is anti Freeman street from the off and is getting his reasons and excuses in straight away 😡

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was the idiocy of the 'bedroom tax' that did for the flats? Might be mistaken but I thought that the additional bedroom in the flats made them too expensive for many.

This option would;

limit potential profit for the club from any enabling developments
limit potential profit for landowners who would be selling to enable PP to go ahead (there are rumours about close connections with the current land owners and certain members of our board)
limit future profit for the club as we would probably not be able to pocket all income
probably wouldnt allow for 2m worth of loans to be recouped

That is why JF doesnt want to get involved...and i can understand that, i really can. Being a tenant only in such a scheme is a vulnerable position to be in. ........however........when you dont have a pot to p1ss in because you havnt got the money to do it yourself and you have proved for over 20yrs you cant do it yourself .... then maybe it is time to swallow a bit of pride, act with dignity and at least look at the potential gift horse....even if not fully in the mouth yet.

C'mon JF ....What if we promise to name any new approach road Fenty Way ? :)

Quoted from Maringer

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was the idiocy of the 'bedroom tax' that did for the flats? Might be mistaken but I thought that the additional bedroom in the flats made them too expensive for many.

The flats were fcked....needed too much investment to bring them fully upto standards as opposed to the potential payback given their limited life expectancy. Not viable.

If John Fenty had any balls he’d give up his safe seat in Humberston and New Waltham and stand for election in the East Marsh or West Marsh. Never happen..why? Because he’s not what he thinks he is. He’s a power crazy egotistical plonker who can’t stand anyone who doesn’t do/say/agree with his thoughts and opinions. He’s running the club into the ground week by week, shattering its long term reputation, the supporters have been treat like crap, any opportunity of progression has come and gone. He’s all about his own status, always has been - always will be. A new ground won’t happen under his tenure as he wants full control, and adulation thereafter. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee - that lot down the A46 have left us standing - not only off the pitch but mainly off it.

I can see where Fenty is coming from regarding the flats I thought they were an iconic part of the landscape giving serving much need accommodation. Anyone slagging the flats off as a place to live is just a snob. I’ve been in many many of the flats and some of them were very well looked after, I even went in one that was interior designed and was beautiful inside. There were some were you would wipe your feet on the out but that speaks more about the people than the actual flats. And as for the views anywhere from 9 floors up were amazing the kind of view you’d pay a few hundred thousand for at the point in Cleethorpes at least.

Don’t get me wrong I’m all for the demolishment if it means quality re-generation because I’d hate to see the flats replaced with loads of these cheap social housing new builds.

Quoted from Grim74

I can see where Fenty is coming from regarding the flats I thought they were an iconic part of the landscape giving serving much need accommodation. Anyone slagging the flats off as a place to live is just a snob. I’ve been in many many of the flats and some of them were very well looked after, I even went in one that was interior designed and was beautiful inside. There were some were you would wipe your feet on the out but that speaks more about the people than the actual flats. And as for the views anywhere from 9 floors up were amazing the kind of view you’d pay a few hundred thousand for at the point in Cleethorpes at least.

Don’t get me wrong I’m all for the demolishment if it means quality re-generation because I’d hate to see the flats replaced with loads of these cheap social housing new builds.

Quite literally a Grenfell waiting to happen. It wasnt that long ago that the flats were considered for external cladding as a solution to fight just one of the problems the flats had..damp/condensation. Having been in and worked in just about every single one of those flats i agree they were a decent size, decent layout and the majority were well kept inside, Nelson Hse as an old folks block with carpets throughout and communal lounges was a decent concept and loved by those living there.
However the lack of gardens and single bedroom sizes to half the flats meant that the demand was limited, restrictions on letting policy were also lifted and eventually the standard of tenant went downhill making some of the blocks pretty much drug ghetto's.

Quoted from marinerjase

If John Fenty had any balls he’d give up his safe seat in Humberston and New Waltham and stand for election in the East Marsh or West Marsh. Never happen..why? Because he’s not what he thinks he is. He’s a power crazy egotistical plonker who can’t stand anyone who doesn’t do/say/agree with his thoughts and opinions. He’s running the club into the ground week by week, shattering its long term reputation, the supporters have been treat like crap, any opportunity of progression has come and gone. He’s all about his own status, always has been - always will be. A new ground won’t happen under his tenure as he wants full control, and adulation thereafter. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee - that lot down the A46 have left us standing - not only off the pitch but mainly off it.

Thats my post of the week!

Took the kids to the indoor skate park yesterday and the owner was telling me that they’d had some one in all ready, asking them to sign a petition against a future football stadium. Got to be a Lib Dem with shares in the pea bung!

Surely the pea bung along with all the other drinkeries and eateries in the area will make a mint on match days.

I might be wrong but I’d of thought that the pea bung was one of the few businesses that already does well down there. It always looks busy at the weekend anyway and the times I’ve been over the last year I’ve always had to wait for a table.

Good read from Nigel Lowther with regards to this on the telegraph website.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/the-stadium-no-brainer-everybody-2034491.amp

Got shot down in flames when I commented on this topic on another thread. This process is already a way down the line and the ground will be built on the flats. The East Marsh is one of the most deprived wards in the country never mind the county and is awash with funding to support the project. Most importantly there is a strong will within NELC

I love the idea of a mixture of business incubation units, small retail, conference and residential all being built into the stadium itself. This would create a living 24/7/365 facility, which is in itself a thriving community. How exciting and refreshing to see what sounds like a 21st century development!

Quoted from smokey111

Got shot down in flames when I commented on this topic on another thread. This process is already a way down the line and the ground will be built on the flats. The East Marsh is one of the most deprived wards in the country never mind the county and is awash with funding to support the project. Most importantly there is a strong will within NELC

It's all a lovely dream bud, how on earth does the 70s throwback get his money back if he has no hold on the club??....until the one man gets his coin back or is involved in a back street deal( sorry, I meant enabling project) then we ain't going nowhere and that's nowhere fast I'm afraid...

Quoted from smokey111

Got shot down in flames when I commented on this topic on another thread. This process is already a way down the line and the ground will be built on the flats. The East Marsh is one of the most deprived wards in the country never mind the county and is awash with funding to support the project. Most importantly there is a strong will within NELC

But surely that would take agreement from the board of GTFC?

NELC can't just build a ground and expect GTFC to move there. For this to be the definite project you are suggesting, would imply that GTFC have already agreed to it. That's not the impression we got from the statements last week.

To be honest, I haven't trawled through the previous 7658 pages of the thread. Just relaying my understanding of the current situation.

The Bevan/Pontoon Stand
The Thesiger/Garribaldi Main Stand
The Nelson/Tennyson Family Stand
The Albion away supporters Stand
McMenemies to be incorporated in the plans
The world famous Pea Bung Chippy serving home and away fans alike, situated under the Family Stand
In recogniotion of JF'S contribution: The John Fenty banqueting suite
And a busque outside the new ground to celebrate the man who gave us some of our finest and greatest moments in football. Alan Buckley.
Bob, can we fix it? Can we make Grimsby GREAT again?

Why on earth should anything be named after John Fenty.
He has overseen the biggest downturn in the history of GTFC.
There are many people who have been associated with GTFC that are far more deserving.

Quoted from Cambs Mariner

Why on earth should anything be named after John Fenty.
He has overseen the biggest downturn in the history of GTFC.
There are many people who have been associated with GTFC that are far more deserving.

Bill Shankly, Dudley Ramsden, Alan Buckley, Lawrie Mcmenemy, and.....Mighty Mariner....
Could have a big wooden spoon carved as an effigy of JF.....

Naming the gents in the Main Stand after him would seem fair.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Naming the gents in the Main Stand after him would seem fair.

That would be fair; if we had a pot to urine in!

Quoted from Mariner_09

Naming the gents in the Main Stand after him would seem fair.

He would insist on a mirror being installed.

Quoted from wuffing

The Bevan/Pontoon Stand
The Thesiger/Garribaldi Main Stand
The Nelson/Tennyson Family Stand
The Albion away supporters Stand
McMenemies to be incorporated in the plans
The world famous Pea Bung Chippy serving home and away fans alike, situated under the Family Stand
In recogniotion of JF'S contribution: The John Fenty banqueting suite
And a busque outside the new ground to celebrate the man who gave us some of our finest and greatest moments in football. Alan Buckley.
Bob, can we fix it? Can we make Grimsby GREAT again?

Daydreaming for a moment or two (after all its all we have left) there could be the Lew Chatterley stand, the Ron Rafferty stand, the Pat Glover stand and the Dong stand.

Alan Buckley should indeed have a bust outside ala Brian Clough, the stadium should be shaped like a trawler, the dugouts like the bridge of a boat with the captain (manager) yelling full steam ahead.

There would be pictures of the Town greats on the outside of the stadium, fish and chips inside and outside the stadium and the backdrop of the dock tower would be lit up when we were playing. Above all we would hear what the stadium announcer was saying and we would have ball boys between the ages of 10 and 15 who knew what to do.

Sadly, after years of discussions these plans will be dropped in favour of the next best thing to to capture our heritage - a sardine can designed by a five year old with a photo of Fenty on the outside in his full John Shuttleworth gear.

So the Town Deal secures £30m of govt money on top of £35m from NELC to regenerate the area in line with the govt’s industrial strategy - which will be focusing heavily on the renewables industry, business & enterprise generation hubs and heritage projects. Makes you wonder...where does the stadium come into that? How much will the club be expected to contribute and how much control will we have in the design of it?

Interesting times ahead.

Fenty out.

Whether we like it or not...a contribution has been made. Now is not the time to be negative, we ALL need to be on board and piling into JF at this stage of the game may see him dig his heels in further. This is a great chance, a once in our lifetime chance. In a couple of years we could be swilling ale in the all-new Mariners Trust bar alongside you-know-who laughing and joking about what a numpty he's been, but he'd had his eyes opened by all of the positivism and surge of feeling of the regeneration and how all the town came together to make it happen.
If it dies, well then fair game.
Crosses for me, all those red crosses for me
Bye bye baby bye bye
Don't cry poster don't cry
Gonna walk out the door
If it reaches twenty four..... ;D

He has definitely contributed.
Not in the way he will want to be remembered though.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Naming the gents in the Main Stand after him would seem fair.

Bit too much for me.

However, I suppose ‘The John Fenty’ cubicle would be acceptable.

It would be the one with no bog roll and a broken light bulb. It wouldn’t flush properly so more often than not would be full of sh1t. 😉

Quoted from Cambs Mariner

He would insist on a mirror being installed.

Only in the ladies surely? We all know how they like to make themselves presentable in this day and age. Much like the lady officials who are the equals of male officials, we're a diverse business representing all facets of the community going forward.....

Have you put creases in my jeans again love? You know I don't like creases in my jeans when I wear my roll-neck sweater and sports jacket.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Daydreaming for a moment or two (after all its all we have left) there could be the Lew Chatterley stand, the Ron Rafferty stand, the Pat Glover stand and the Dong stand.

Alan Buckley should indeed have a bust outside ala Brian Clough, the stadium should be shaped like a trawler, the dugouts like the bridge of a boat with the captain (manager) yelling full steam ahead.

There would be pictures of the Town greats on the outside of the stadium, fish and chips inside and outside the stadium and the backdrop of the dock tower would be lit up when we were playing. Above all we would hear what the stadium announcer was saying and we would have ball boys between the ages of 10 and 15 who knew what to do.

Sadly, after years of discussions these plans will be dropped in favour of the next best thing to to capture our heritage - a sardine can designed by a five year old with a photo of Fenty on the outside in his full John Shuttleworth gear.

How about "the loyal & long suffering supporters" stand?

On the other side we could have the Fenty stand but only for about half of the length of the pitch as we we'll always be sold short.

One end could be the "whit's end", that's over subscribed already as most of us are already there.

Finally the remaining stand could be named the Bell End ........in honour of the gang of four who currently preside over the current debacle.

The bar could be named "over the bar" just like our shooting at the moment and the statue outside will of course be Sir Alan, not even our current regime could get that wrong, could they?

Quoted from Civvy at last

Bit too much for me.

However, I suppose ‘The John Fenty’ cubicle would be acceptable.

It would be the one with no bog roll and a broken light bulb. It wouldn’t flush properly so more often than not would be full of sh1t. 😉

Well done for 'flagging' that up!

Wonder if Mariners Trust will pay for a seat?

If Fenty is getting in the way ,, The council with all that money to spend could just buy him out and put an executive in charge of the club ;)

Quoted from denni266

If Fenty is getting in the way ,, The council with all that money to spend could just buy him out and put an executive in charge of the club ;)

What and place the club in the hands of more narcissists and nut jobs? Four (well 3 and an invisible one) is bad enough.

Quoted from Civvy at last

Bit too much for me.

However, I suppose ‘The John Fenty’ cubicle would be acceptable.

It would be the one with no bog roll and a broken light bulb. It wouldn’t flush properly so more often than not would be full of sh1t. 😉

We will have to have bog roll so we could have his picture on every sheet.

https://www.humberbusiness.com/news/first-glimpse-at-office-complex-set/story-10286-detail/story

This matches up with everything else I have been told. 100% convinced it is happening. Such an amazing opportunity.

Yeah it’s not often a rumour on here turn out to be true.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

What and place the club in the hands of more narcissists and nut jobs? Four (well 3 and an invisible one) is bad enough.

I do see Mr Ross is very involved, could this be another reason Mr Fenty does not like the idea? a man with enough money to get town into Europe if he so wished!

Who knows with a brand spanking new ground in place he could well be interested.

P.S For a statue dont the person normally be required to be deceased?

Quoted from monkeyboy

I do see Mr Ross is very involved, could this be another reason Mr Fenty does not like the idea? a man with enough money to get town into Europe if he so wished!

Who knows with a brand spanking new ground in place he could well be interested.

P.S For a statue dont the person normally be required to be deceased?

or to have achieved something?

Quoted from monkeyboy

I do see Mr Ross is very involved, could this be another reason Mr Fenty does not like the idea? a man with enough money to get town into Europe if he so wished!

Who knows with a brand spanking new ground in place he could well be interested.

P.S For a statue dont the person normally be required to be deceased?

We all will be by the time the bloody thing is built!

Quoted from Cambs Mariner

Why on earth should anything be named after John Fenty.
He has overseen the biggest downturn in the history of GTFC.
There are many people who have been associated with GTFC that are far more deserving.

How about naming the bogs, The John Fenty shitters, with his face on the inside of the door so as you sit down he is gurning at you, helping your bowel movements.

Or have some posh Bidets and call them Fentys fountains, probably would have a cash for a splash system in place tho.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Yep, in effect only £30m of the money is coming from central government. The £35m from the council will just be a loan that central government is now letting them take out! A drop in the Ocean compared to the £365m a week Boris, Gove and Farage promised.

The sums talked about don't sound a massive amount of money. If the new stadium is to come out of that pot it only leaves £40-45m for the other things.

Isn't there also a plan to relocate all the council offices to one new site in the Freemo area or did I read that wrong? Presumably the cost of that will be ring-fenced and largely funded by sale of existing sites and savings in operating costs.

WTF has the Brexit campaign leading up to the EU referendum gor to do with the money for a Grimsby Regeneration plan. Also, to put the record straight the figure of £350 million was never promised for anything - just check out the slogans.

Quoted from rancido

WTF has the Brexit campaign leading up to the EU referendum gor to do with the money for a Grimsby Regeneration plan. Also, to put the record straight the figure of £350 million was never promised for anything - just check out the slogans.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-repeats-false-350-11181716

Quoted from psgmariner

https://www.humberbusiness.com/news/first-glimpse-at-office-complex-set/story-10286-detail/story

This matches up with everything else I have been told. 100% convinced it is happening. Such an amazing opportunity.

The only problem i have with this is.....its the Freeman who are forging ahead with this one.....then the council will have a look at doing something.....then Shoreline have their land....the GGP have their interest......its not exactly joined up is it ?....thats before you even take into account JF's statement last week which didnt seem too enthuiastic about Freeman St.

I have the fear that all of the above will just look at their pocket of land and do what they want as individuals. and we end up with a total mish mash.

There maybe a master plan involving all parties but just doesnt seem like it at the moment.

Quoted from moosey_club

The only problem i have with this is.....its the Freeman who are forging ahead with this one.....then the council will have a look at doing something.....then Shoreline have their land....the GGP have their interest......its not exactly joined up is it ?....thats before you even take into account JF's statement last week which didnt seem too enthuiastic about Freeman St.

I have the fear that all of the above will just look at their pocket of land and do what they want as individuals. and we end up with a total mish mash.

There maybe a master plan involving all parties but just doesnt seem like it at the moment.

Who's being Baldrick?

Quoted from rancido

WTF has the Brexit campaign leading up to the EU referendum gor to do with the money for a Grimsby Regeneration plan. Also, to put the record straight the figure of £350 million was never promised for anything - just check out the slogans.

It's got everything to do with it. Why else do you think a Conservative government is prepared to spend the money and let councils get further into debt? Two things that they've said no two for the previous 40 years.

The slogans were clear in what they wanted people to believe. Technically not a lie but in fact they were trying to con people into believing there'd be lots of cash to spend.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

It's got everything to do with it. Why else do you think a Conservative government is prepared to spend the money and let councils get further into debt? Two things that they've said no two for the previous 40 years.

The slogans were clear in what they wanted people to believe. Technically not a lie but in fact they were trying to con people into believing there'd be lots of cash to spend.

I''m surprised you aren't blaming our poor form on Brexit.

Quoted from arryarryarry

I''m surprised you aren't blaming our poor form on Brexit.

Don’t be daft. We didn’t need to shoot ourselves in that foot. We already had someone who did that for us.

And surely you can see that I’m actually crediting Brexit with the Tories’ u-turn on spending money in places like Grimsby.

Not too difficult a concept is it, that someone who is very anti something can actually concede that there are some positives to the other option?

Remember David Camoron promising to regenerate Grimsby when he visited us Said we had been neglected since the collapse of the fishing and other big companies.

WELL NOVARTIS IS CLOSING (400 JOBS) AND WE ARE STILL FECKING WAITING !!!!! (anger3)(anger3)(anger3)

I don't buy into the political spin being put on this, but we are entitled to our own opinions. I am more concerned about Novartis closing and associated job losses. This town is dying a slow death. I hope a well thought out regeneration plan can help reverse things

It was on Cameron's watch that the vote for Brexit was given he started all this shat.

Welll it took longer than I thought. But eventually the sad fukkers that have to bring politics into everything have hijacked the thread. Perhaps throw in a comment about racism, or hooligans of the past and we can once again go completely off topic.

Thanks for that. :-/

If the council take over the club obviously they will be responsible for the debts including benign loans-one way of J.S.F. getting his money back-please close the door on way out.

Wonder how long the feel good factor at the new stadium would last ? Wouldn't be long before it was kicking off down freemo given our huge numbers of hoolies, and don't get me started on the vile racism we'd hear more of, with the bigger crowds attracted.

Is this okay civvy? (thumbup2)(thumbup2))(thumbup2) ;D

Quoted from moosey_club

The only problem i have with this is.....its the Freeman who are forging ahead with this one.....then the council will have a look at doing something.....then Shoreline have their land....the GGP have their interest......its not exactly joined up is it ?....thats before you even take into account JF's statement last week which didnt seem too enthuiastic about Freeman St.

I have the fear that all of the above will just look at their pocket of land and do what they want as individuals. and we end up with a total mish mash.

There maybe a master plan involving all parties but just doesnt seem like it at the moment.

Pretty sure meetings will have been going on behind the scenes involving all parties. Most of the land belongs to LHP who took over from Shoreline. The Freemans plans can easily be seen as part of a co-ordinated effort.

Quoted from forza ivano

Wonder how long the feel good factor at the new stadium would last ? Wouldn't be long before it was kicking off down freemo given our huge numbers of hoolies, and don't get me started on the vile racism we'd hear more of, with the bigger crowds attracted.

Is this okay civvy? (thumbup2)(thumbup2))(thumbup2) ;D

Not too bad 😉.

However, I do think that a no deal Brexit would invariably lead to an increase in hooligans due to starving factions using the match as cover to ‘steam’ Freemo market for food. Probably targeting the bent bananas which will be back due to EU restrictions being lifted. 😄 🍌

Quoted from Civvy at last

Not too bad 😉.

However, I do think that a no deal Brexit would invariably lead to an increase in hooligans due to starving factions using the match as cover to ‘steam’ Freemo market for food. Probably targeting the bent bananas which will be back due to EU restrictions being lifted. 😄 🍌

we're hardly going to be starving civvy. Not with all that chlorinated chicken, liquid cheese, the gentically mutilated ( i mean modfied) crops plus the beef stuffed full of steroids and hormones that the yanks are so kindly going to give us

Quoted from forza ivano

we're hardly going to be starving civvy. Not with all that chlorinated chicken, liquid cheese, the gentically mutilated ( i mean modfied) crops plus the beef stuffed full of steroids and hormones that the yanks are so kindly going to give us

Yeah but there will no way of us getting it. I’m sure I read in the daily Mirror that once we leave the EU, not a single plane will be able to enter or exit the Uk. And the queues at the ferry ports will be 14 years at least. Not to mention the obvious computer crashes, road chaos, and of course the torrential rain that Brexit will also cause. Kin Hell mate I reckon we’ll need to use the new ground for a shelter. 😄

Quoted from Civvy at last

Yeah but there will no way of us getting it. I’m sure I read in the daily Mirror that once we leave the EU, not a single plane will be able to enter or exit the Uk. And the queues at the ferry ports will be 14 years at least. Not to mention the obvious computer crashes, road chaos, and of course the torrential rain that Brexit will also cause. Kin Hell mate I reckon we’ll need to use the new ground for a shelter. 😄

of course it'll get in. Under our new role as Trump's ultimate lap dog we're assured of a trans atlantic route. looking forwarding to changing from a vassal state to the 51st state!

and of course we will be able to survive on fish as we won't have any pesky foreigners in our new all British 250 mile territorial waters ;)

Quoted from barralad

Pretty sure meetings will have been going on behind the scenes involving all parties. Most of the land belongs to LHP who took over from Shoreline. The Freemans plans can easily be seen as part of a co-ordinated effort.

Well....we will see.

The day the tramline linking top town, Freemo and the Kasbah is opened i will join you for a ride and buy you a pint at one of the continental stye cafe's overlooking Fish Dock No 1 before taking in the works of Banksy, Hirst and Monet at the Ice Factory Gallery and then onwards to our Championship game at the FentyRossNELCFreeman Arena.

Quoted from forza ivano

and of course we will be able to survive on fish as we won't have any pesky foreigners in our new all British 250 mile territorial waters ;)

Which will still be full of Spanish French and Belgian trawlers but all flying the Red Duster and British registered in Milton Keynes with just one Brit in the crew to make it all legit who then land their catch in Ostend or Santander

Quoted from moosey_club

Well....we will see.

The day the tramline linking top town, Freemo and the Kasbah is opened i will join you for a ride and buy you a pint at one of the continental stye cafe's overlooking Fish Dock No 1 before taking in the works of Banksy, Hirst and Monet at the Ice Factory Gallery and then onwards to our Championship game at the FentyRossNELCFreeman Arena.

Not familiar with the works of Hirst. Did he do the well known ‘Man cups ear’ sculptor along with his version of ‘ The Moaning Lisa’ if you got to see his exhibition would you consider yourself spoilt ? 😉

Quoted from Civvy at last

Not familiar with the works of Hirst. Did he do the well known ‘Man cups ear’ sculptor along with his version of ‘ The Moaning Lisa’ if you got to see his exhibition would you consider yourself spoilt ? 😉

Let's hope the French new wave artist Jayesse Fenntee is featured - his iconic artwork 'Le Drapeau Deconstruit' is a modern day masterpiece ;)

Quoted from forza ivano

Let's hope the French new wave artist Jayesse Fenntee is featured - his iconic artwork 'Le Drapeau Deconstruit' is a modern day masterpiece ;)

I prefer the post-modernist 'Le Flamme en le tampon en le Thermos'. Very surreal.

Quoted from Ipswin

Which will still be full of Spanish French and Belgian trawlers but all flying the Red Duster and British registered in Milton Keynes with just one Brit in the crew to make it all legit who then land their catch in Ostend or Santander

Oh they’ll land their catch at Santander alright.
You can bank on it !!

John Fenty Unplugged - The Car Park Recordings is a big fave of mine (wink)

Quoted from Civvy at last

Not familiar with the works of Hirst. Did he do the well known ‘Man cups ear’ sculptor along with his version of ‘ The Moaning Lisa’ if you got to see his exhibition would you consider yourself spoilt ? 😉

He was a renowned advocate of form in his works. He was often heard muttering in his studio about the need to 'keep us shape'.

My favourite work is ' la se debarrasser de l'homme chauve avec le bouchon bleu'.

Quoted from friskneymariner

My favourite work is ' la se debarrasser de l'homme chauve avec le bouchon bleu'.

French bloke just signed for Hartlepools for £250K used to play for Notre Dame but got the hump and asked for transfer.

Quoted from golfer

French bloke just signed for Hartlepools for £250K used to play for Notre Dame but got the hump and asked for transfer.

I used to know some of the lads who played for Notre Dame, bit of a feeder club for Forest.

Quoted from arryarryarry

I used to know some of the lads who played for Notre Dame, bit of a feeder club for Forest.

My mate went from Notre Dame to Spurs early 1960's

Quoted from golfer

My mate went from Notre Dame to Spurs early 1960's

The only mates you have from the 60's are still in your pocket and haven't seen the light of day since then, as I heard you prefer the sock.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/gEUgq9A.jpg[/img]

Quoted from Marinerz93

The only mates you have from the 60's are still in your pocket and haven't seen the light of day since then, as I heard you prefer the sock.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/gEUgq9A.jpg[/img]

Ah, so that's why socks get cheesy.

The firm I work for recently been contracted to some of the work going on around where flats were and the lad who been there just revealed he heard a rumour from the gaffer there... He stated many buildings around that area all going to be pulled down -The Mariners Pub, Holland House, the old cinema and others with it highly likely new GTFC Stadium to be built there.

Apparently Shoreline own whichever part he was working on but are looking to sell -and it highly likely to go to the council for a Community Stadium.

Perhaps no new tidbits here over what is already known but I just thought it interesting that the gaffer's of the demolition crews have it on good info that they are flattening the site in preparation for a new stadium all being well.

A little bit of insider info I thought, so thought I'd share. (thumbup)

What about the market. Wont that be in the way?

And the central Hall down Duncombe Street

Quoted from Davec

And the central Hall down Duncombe Street

Think that’ll be fine aaron me lad

Quoted from Hagrid

Think that’ll be fine aaron me lad

Its almost directly behind the cinema, certianly connected to the building the cinema was in

Suspect they mean the old Tower Cinema on Kent Street? No?

Quoted from NorthseaMariner

Suspect they mean the old Tower Cinema on Kent Street? No?

Hmmmm i work for the company that owns it lol

So with that additional demolition does that create a large enough footprint for the stadium a multi storey and circulation space or would more again be required?

Dont need a new ground for where we are heading

What about King George or Hardy's rec.

'Build it and they will come', that's my mantra for the day. Who they are I'm not sure but a new stadium would be more attractive than our present rack knackered stadium.

https://twitter.com/stevebeasant/status/1057029545881157632

Quoted from Bigdog

https://twitter.com/stevebeasant/status/1057029545881157632

If I was going to attend (which I'm not) I would now say it is my preferred site for our new stadium for what it's worth.

Quoted from promotion plaice

If I was going to attend (which I'm not) I would now say it is my preferred site for our new stadium for what it's worth.

Think the meeting is more about local residents of the East Marsh. I think it is important to try and get them onside early in the process to allay fears although doubt anyone from the club will be involved?
I bang on about engagement, something the football club don’t seem to give a toss about and one,amongst many, reasons why previous sites have come to nothing.
Cllr Beasant will only be onsite if his voters support it so getting their feelings, hopefully allaying their concerns early is a good thing imo

I think Beasant is against it isn't he?

When it appeared in the report/study of the 16(?) possible sites that were reviewed, he commented on Freeman Street being in there by saying he didn't want it on his ward because - and this is the best bit - it would being anti-social behaviour to the East Marsh.

That's what we're dealing with.

Will the clubs representatives be there to ally fears......Seems a test to whether the regime actually support this development or not.

What stadium are we talking about ?

Quoted from NorthseaMariner

Suspect they mean the old Tower Cinema on Kent Street? No?

I think the tower could be a listed building

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

Will the clubs representatives be there to ally fears......Seems a test to whether the regime actually support this development or not.

I'd be gobsmacked if any of the club directors were to speak to the meeting but would be delighted to be wrong

I've been asked to go by Steve as an East Marsh resident and Grimsby Town fan which I will do. Expecting it to be predictable rather than interesting.

I don’t feel there is much of an appetite for this project from the powers that be

Quoted from crusty ole pie

I don’t feel there is much of an appetite for this project from the powers that be

They have been more interested with Toll Bar Roundabout. :)

Quoted from Mallyner

They have been more interested with Toll Bar Roundabout. :)

Behave, that's far too small for a new stadium ;)

cant we tell everyone we are building an out door mosque with grass in the centre, should get planning permission. :-/

Quoted from promotion plaice

If I was going to attend (which I'm not) I would now say it is my preferred site for our new stadium for what it's worth.

I agree PP, we need the council\goverment cash to help build a project for Freeman Street including a new stadium. The company (sorry name escapes me) that is project managing the new stadium i think have turned there attentions to something else, which is clearly having an impact to the Peakes Parkway project.

Sadly I don’t think anyone is really pushing the stadium project anymore as everyone knows it will never happen. But we can live in hope I suppose.

I don't think anyone from the club has been officially invited to this meeting which does supprise me if true

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

I don't think anyone from the club has been officially invited to this meeting which does supprise me if true

Probably because it’s a decent opportunity to see what the residents want from a publicly-funded regeneration project in their community, rather than being lectured to as an afterthought.

Fenty and co should be kept as far away from this as possible.

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

I don't think anyone from the club has been officially invited to this meeting which does supprise me if true

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest - the likes of Steve Beasant are, shall we say, ambivalent to the wishes of Mr Fenty.

Quoted from Rob_in_Grimsby

I don't think anyone from the club has been officially invited to this meeting which does supprise me if true

Nor should they have been!

A meeting for residents to discuss THEIR hopes and needs for regeneration. The last thing they need is a Fenty telling them how it is going to be. His attitude and manner antagonised residents of Park Ward from day one.
I for one hope he stays well away for the time being to give the scheme any chance of coming to fruition

Board members, as well as MJ & AL, were at the Youth Team game last night anyway.

Quoted from Tommy

Board members, as well as MJ & AL, were at the Youth Team game last night anyway.

All board members?

I think this thread should be made a sticky, possibly change the name now. We need to bang the drum constantly.

Quoted from Cloudy

All board members?

No, not that I'm aware anyway. JF and PD were definitely at the game though.

No good them being there as every time someone says something the board dont like all we will hear is SHUT UP :P

Quoted from denni266

No good them being there as every time someone says something the board dont like all we will hear is SHUT UP :P

Shut up! :)

Nigel Lowther on RH tonight told Burnsy that he's been told PP is dead in the water. Would be nice to hear that verified.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Nigel Lowther on RH tonight told Burnsy that he's been told PP is dead in the water. Would be nice to hear that verified.

I heard the same recently from a Cllr

How about Waltham airfield (again).....our training facility is already next door and I don't think we'd have a problem with the nimby's now 8)

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/fears-over-traveller-site-plan-2147091

I can confirm 100% that Peakes Parkway proposals are dead and will not be progressed. I cannot tell you how I know as it will compromise my day job and position, but I do know from my job that NEL Council not now progressing this.

The future is now focused on the regeneration of east marsh and the Kasbah area of the docks and this may include the development of a new ground in the next 5 years if private investment can be found.

That’s about the gist of it.

We are are long way away from firm plans and only at the scoping stage.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Nigel Lowther on RH tonight told Burnsy that he's been told PP is dead in the water. Would be nice to hear that verified.

Dead in the water !! Its nearly finished isnt it ?? Playing there within 2 years and Championship footy within 5 ;)

Quoted from moosey_club

Dead in the water !! Its nearly finished isnt it ?? Playing there within 2 years and Championship footy within 5 ;)

We're more likely to be in the Championship than a new stadium and both are Foinavon jobs

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We're more likely to be in the Championship than a new stadium and both are Foinavon jobs

Never heard that expression before OC. Learn something new every day. (thumbup)

This stadium lark is becoming a political football , a council issue to distract from their clue!ess running of this town it's basically public filibustering .

The way I see it.

There is virtually no hope of ever getting a new stadium.

Town will continue to play at Blundell Park in a stadium requiring ever increasing costs for very poor facilities.

We will continue being gradually less competitive in the financial sense, compared to the new money clubs until the club folds.

The outlook for the club,I think, looks very grim I’m afraid.

Delighted that the plans appear to be heading towards the East Marsh rather than the Peaks Parkway that no-one wanted.

About time that the club said something though. The silence is making them look a combination of stupid and arrogant.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Delighted that the plans appear to be heading towards the East Marsh rather than the Peaks Parkway that no-one wanted.

About time that the club said something though. The silence is making them look a combination of stupid and arrogant.

What's worse is that they have said something. Blamed lack of political will for their own failure re Peaks Parkway. That'll get the discussions re East Marsh off to a positive and congenial start then..

Quoted from NorthseaMariner

We will continue being gradually less competitive in the financial sense, compared to the new money clubs until the club folds.

The outlook for the club,I think, looks very grim I’m afraid.

I use this example all the time but look at Accrington. Definitely not a new club, definitely not rolling in finances. Just well run.

Quoted from Bigdog

What's worse is that they have said something. Blamed lack of political will for their own failure re Peaks Parkway. That'll get the discussions re East Marsh off to a positive and congenial start then..

Agreed. What I meant was say something of substance.

Well Freeman street is obviously the only game in town now so they had better get behind it. They should come out with something positive and throw their weight behind it ASAP.

Quoted from diehardmariner

The silence is making them look a combination of stupid and arrogant.

And that would be so so unfair wouldn’t it ;)

Another nail in the GTFC coffin. Nothing club, going nowhere.

Mediocre, relegation football, in a cold dilapidated ground. Think it's time to find something more entertaining and rewarding to do on a Saturday afternoon. Nigh on 2 decades of sh1te is long enough.

Well done to all involved.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I use this example all the time but look at Accrington. Definitely not a new club, definitely not rolling in finances. Just well run.

Fair point diehard.

Quoted from ginnywings

Another nail in the GTFC coffin. Nothing club, going nowhere.

Mediocre, relegation football, in a cold dilapidated ground. Think it's time to find something more entertaining and rewarding to do on a Saturday afternoon. Nigh on 2 decades of sh1te is long enough.

Well done to all involved.

The fans are the only good thing about the club.. And apparently we are spoilt..
(icon_rolleyes)

Quoted from ginnywings

Another nail in the GTFC coffin. Nothing club, going nowhere.

Mediocre, relegation football, in a cold dilapidated ground. Think it's time to find something more entertaining and rewarding to do on a Saturday afternoon. Nigh on 2 decades of sh1te is long enough.

Well done to all involved.

Come on, Ginny. Don’t give up so quickly. If we make the third round of the FA Cup for the next 20 years we might be able to upgrade Cheapside by adding another portacabin.

Having had the morning to think on this, my mood has changed somewhat.

I'm still pleased that Peaks Parkway has fallen off the radar.  It was a stupid idea in a location that no-one really wanted, I would be confident in saying that most support for it was because of the belief that it was there or nowhere.  I'm still pleased that redevelopment of the East Marsh/Freeman Street area is gathering momentum.  I firmly believe regenerating that area will do so much for the wider NE Lincs region.

But I'm now fuming at the clubs attitude to this.  Just dismissing the failure of the project down to a lack of political will is quite simply trying to steer away from the fact that it was a bad idea with an even worse plan for execution.

To try and hide it in the middle of the announcement regards club accounts and ongoing investment in Blundell Park makes it even worse. Why is it we are only getting any sort of announcement now, considering that the investment in BP has happened over the summer months? Why does the club feel we're so unimportant we don't need to know something so crucial?

It is you who progressed with this idea, John.  It is you who wanted to get into bed with Extreme, a company with no credentials for delivery.  It's you who have sat at the top of the table and failed to come to a working agreement with numerous councils.   It's you who failed in your role as custodian of this club, our club not yours.  It's you who is holding this club back when it is chomping at the bit to push forward.

It is time for you to go.  Publicly name your terms and give others the opportunity to move this club forward.  The lines around making sure it's appropriate investment don't wash.  You have failed to secure any real investment in the club during your tenure, you have proceeded to send this club into an ongoing decline so what makes you qualified to determine who leads the club?

Go, just go before you do any more damage.

Smokers arms has been sold and opened up apparently the Mariners is following suit in preparation for the football trade created by the new stadium or in the hope of a new stadium ?

Quoted from Bigdog

What's worse is that they have said something. Blamed lack of political will for their own failure re Peaks Parkway. That'll get the discussions re East Marsh off to a positive and congenial start then..

You read it wrong-try harder next time.

Quoted from golfer

You read it wrong-try harder next time.

Pretty flippant comment to be honest - much like the 'lack of political will' comment. The people who write these statements ought to remember that the major shareholder is a politician.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Pretty flippant comment to be honest - much like the 'lack of political will' comment. The people who write these statements ought to remember that the major shareholder is a politician.

Never see Fenty as a ‘politician’. A local councillor perhaps, but never a politician. I would use a much more descriptive word

The progress made by the Club on key issues (or rather the lack of it) makes the take-over bid mentioned at the Fans Forum look more attractive to fans In hindsight.

Quoted from Cloudy

Never see Fenty as a ‘politician’. A local councillor perhaps, but never a politician. I would use a much more descriptive word

But the statement mentions the 'lack of political will' surely referring to NE Lincs Council of which he is part!!

Quoted from golfer

You read it wrong-try harder next time.

Quoted Text

As part of ongoing discussions with NELC regarding relocation to a new community stadium situated at Peaks Parkway, the club were asked to reconsider other potential sites due to there being no political backing for this option.

Agreed, I don't read it as a dig at anybody. It says there is no political backing for that site. I thought we already knew that...

Was it the council who pushed this site in the first place? I never thought it was a good location and can't imagine the club chose that without being pushed towards it as the path of least resistance.

=government grants !

I don’t get the despondency of the news that PP is finished. It’s the best news I’ve heard in ages . I’d rather gamble on the new stadium being part of the fremmo regeneration plan and it failing than having to go to some tin pot shack on PP for the next 100 years .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I don’t get the despondency of the news that PP is finished. It’s the best news I’ve heard in ages . I’d rather gamble on the new stadium being part of the fremmo regeneration plan and it failing than having to go to some tin pot shack on PP for the next 100 years .

Totally agree, let's wait for a proper regeneration opportunity rather than stick a stadium in the middle of nowhere

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Totally agree, let's wait for a proper regeneration opportunity rather than stick a stadium in the middle of nowhere

We're good at that.

Quoted from chaos33

Aren't we!

Well. we've waited long enough. Let's hope the people who are now looking to put some energy into this are more successful than GTFC & Extreme.

when PP was cited as a goer I posted in support of Freemo and got slammed for being an unrealistic naysayer. Never thought pp would amount to anything other than a soulless out of town identikit stadium so I'm glad it's dead in the water. Gtfc deserve something with character, that recognises heritage and revitalised the town.

Every time the new stadium issue crops up the powers that be begin with a out pouring of enthusiasm instilling some hope then all of the sudden the waters become mudded followed by a smoke and mirrors campaign then it moves on to another location leaveing the previous site as though it never occurred ,

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I’d rather gamble on the new stadium being part of the fremmo regeneration plan and it failing than having to go to some tin pot shack on PP for the next 100 years .

Any new stadium, if eventually built, will be a 'tin pot shack' of a design to some degree as its the cheapest option and we're not rolling in cash. No swooping arches or fancy cladding for the likes of an impoverished lower league club. It wouldn't make sense. However, that doesn't matter, as long as the stadium is fit for purpose, of a suitable size (possibly with potential for expansion to some degree) and the interior and access is well-designed with good viewing lines. Most importantly, the site needs to have leisure and community facilities originally mooted as part of the Peaks Parkway design. Having all weather pitches available isn't likely to be a goer due to the relative lack of space, but we need something else for the wider community to be able to use and not just a stadium and car park crammed in there.

I don't think the original Peaks Parkway plan was too bad as it looked a reasonable location to me. I certainly wouldn't describe it as out of town because it was pretty close for most fans in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. I can't help feel that some of the vitriol heading the way of PP is due to the individuals at the club who were backing it to the hilt and seem reluctant to let it go. If the deal had been signed and PP was being built in a few years, I'd have been happy with it.

That doesn't mean that a Freeman Street site wouldn't be better if actually feasible because anything which can reverse the decline of a large chunk of the town centre has to be good for everyone in N.E. Lincs. Just worth remembering that there is a reason why so few new stadia are built in the centre of urban areas and instead use green field or brown field sites. That reason is the sheer expense and difficulty of such a project. I'm still very sceptical that the numbers will ever add up with a Freeman Street site, but then I thought the same about PP. Would be nice to be proven incorrect one way or the other.

Good post. The cost of Freemo will be prohibitive. It's o.k. ducks farting in the bath BUT-----

It's amazing that after nearly 800 posts on this we have not had any proper explanation from the club.
For the decision to be announced in a hidden way in the notification of the accounts is simply not good enough.
I am both a shareholder, customer and supporter of the club/business and had this been a proper business I would be calling for the resignation of the Chairman if we had one.

John and Co. If you can't do the job properly please step aside and let someone do it who has the skills and experience to make a decent fist of the job.

Quoted from Maringer

Any new stadium, if eventually built, will be a 'tin pot shack' of a design to some degree as its the cheapest option and we're not rolling in cash. No swooping arches or fancy cladding for the likes of an impoverished lower league club. It wouldn't make sense. However, that doesn't matter, as long as the stadium is fit for purpose, of a suitable size (possibly with potential for expansion to some degree) and the interior and access is well-designed with good viewing lines. Most importantly, the site needs to have leisure and community facilities originally mooted as part of the Peaks Parkway design. Having all weather pitches available isn't likely to be a goer due to the relative lack of space, but we need something else for the wider community to be able to use and not just a stadium and car park crammed in there.

I don't think the original Peaks Parkway plan was too bad as it looked a reasonable location to me. I certainly wouldn't describe it as out of town because it was pretty close for most fans in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. I can't help feel that some of the vitriol heading the way of PP is due to the individuals at the club who were backing it to the hilt and seem reluctant to let it go. If the deal had been signed and PP was being built in a few years, I'd have been happy with it.

That doesn't mean that a Freeman Street site wouldn't be better if actually feasible because anything which can reverse the decline of a large chunk of the town centre has to be good for everyone in N.E. Lincs. Just worth remembering that there is a reason why so few new stadia are built in the centre of urban areas and instead use green field or brown field sites. That reason is the sheer expense and difficulty of such a project. I'm still very sceptical that the numbers will ever add up with a Freeman Street site, but then I thought the same about PP. Would be nice to be proven incorrect one way or the other.

Yeah I agree in the main with this . I’m not expecting some fancy stadium design, just something that’s not just rolled off the same ikea shelf that delivers a decent atmosphere. 2 ends with safe standing terraces would make me happy