New Ground

[brighton_rebel]

Actually Sue that's a really good idea for people to write to their local councillors and leader of council.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Would we get responses from the Department for Education over the change of land classification? Or would that likely make things worse?

Leaving the whole school issue out of it we may need to start letter writing as you say to the council and the government.

Edited January 20, 2014 by A Rebel and a Saint

[readingrebel]

Have to disagree.

 

We don't know what's going on (if anything) behind the scenes so to do anything without first speaking to Steve Easterbrook could put the whole project at risk.

[Irishadrian]

readingrebel I agree with you but isn't it time that we had some sort of update from SE ? A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into the petition started in the Spring of last year but Ive not had an answer to the question Whats happened to it?

[readingrebel]

Irish, I think it was Martin that started the petition but I've no idea what happened to it.

 

If it was Martin perhaps he can answer your question.

Edited January 20, 2014 by readingrebel

[Sue]

Eddie trust me I would never suggest anything that I thought would hurt or damage the club or put Steve's hard work at risk

 

I just cant see any harm in people asking Roger, Rob  or any other council member how the ground is progressing just to remind them that we are still here.

[readingrebel]

Eddie trust me I would never suggest anything that I thought would hurt or damage the club or put Steve's hard work at risk

 

I just cant see any harm in people asking Roger, Rob  or any other council member how the ground is progressing just to remind them that we are still here.

 

Sue, my reply wasn't really aimed at you as I can't see a problem with writing/asking Roger, Rob etc.

 

I think it was ARAAS who mentioned writing to the Government which IMO could be potentially more damaging without knowing all the finer details of what's going on behind the scenes.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Just asking the question really, seeing as it's meant to be in their hands and not the council's, that's why I asked if it would be a good idea or not.

[Sue]

Sorry Eddie thought you meant my post, read you wrong.

 

(Not often I get it wrong I know)

[brighton_rebel]

Write to slough mp to ask what's happening

[HorshamRebel]

Don't forget that it is a COMMUNITY project for the whole of Slough population as well

[Sue]

Exactly, the football club is just part of the development, I believe there is to be a dance academy on the site as well. Both of these facillities will hopefully encourage young people into some sort of social activity which we lacking in the area. Not to mention the much needed houses.

 

I do think that as many people as possible should ask the question as to what is happening every time they see a counsellor.

[brighton_rebel]

Am happy to draft something with relevant points but i think after the Dave weekend we all know how fantastic the club is and what it means and what it can achieve given its own home

As Gary rightly says, the stadium will be for the whole community. I think people need to ask questions now to their local councillor and send a copy tp Rob Anderson and write to the MP

Be polite but ask what is the hold up and also what the club means to you.

[HorshamRebel]

Warren, the stadium AND all the surrounding parts will be for the community, such as the things Sue mentions.

 

If we say "stadium", people will only think about the football club regardless of how much else is there, so I think "Community project" is a better way of saying it

Edited January 21, 2014 by HorshamRebel

[Martin]

In terms of the petition, it attracted some publicity at the time but under the government rules it needs 100,000 signatures to be debated in parliament and  that was never a realistic outcome.

 

The next step really has to be down to the club and their partners including the council as they are really the only ones that know what is going on.

Edited January 21, 2014 by Martin

[brighton_rebel]

But a gentle 'whats happening' nudge from a resident cant do any harm

[Steve Easterbrook]

I have worked on this project for 6/7 years and can advise that I have never witnessed or experienced anything like it. Indeed for two of those years leading up to April 2012 I was pretty much working full time attending meeting after meeting, preparing business plan after business plan, assisting with public consultations, attending public consultations, attending feasibility meetings, reviewing noise assessments, floodlight assessments, flooding assessments, traffic assessments, etc etc. In fact in April 2012 everything was done. At all times I was working with council officials, St Joesphs school, leading experts in their fields and one of Slough Councils preferred housing partners. All that remained in April 2012 was submitting the final planning application which was already 70% complete. Indeed we were being congratulated by Officers of the Council and leading experts and informed ‘That’s it!’

 

As everyone knows the project design is not just for a football ground - indeed it is for much much more and would have hugely benefited everyone within Slough. The football club is infact only a tiny proportion of the development and indeed would be attended by and available to the community. This, we as a club led and indeed this is what we were asked to do.

 

In April 2012 the council stalled and instead of driving through, and for what ever reason, started further discussions with St Joseph school who are party to and benefit from the development. And then due to the passage of time the new free schools concept came along. I could go on and on and one day will perhaps write up a full account of what happened……..

 

In August this year I met with Lord Nash who is Secretary of State for Schools (as due to the amount of time this development is taking, a number of free schools had applied for premises in Slough which is now a further and new stumbling block). He was genuinely amazed when I outlined the development and the benefits to the community and he couldn’t understand why it hadn’t been completed in the past 6 years! However, he said unfortunately (after all the time taken) he now has various other things to take into account and he would let us have an answer by the end of September 2013. I was then informed end of October etc etc ………Local Council claim they have provided everything necessary for them to make a decision, central government informed me they were awaiting further info…. Unbelievable…..

 

The club are currently considering what to do next. On a personal note and as a volunteer dedicating almost 7 years to this community project, I must add I have regretfully lost all respect and confidence in Council and Government.

[lino]

You have done your best no doubt, is it a question of wait and see now.

There was talk about the council fighting any government interference to their plans, is this a no go now or are they simple waiting for the governments next move ?

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Thanks for your post Steve. It is a real shame to see that even you have lost confidence in the council and government. It just seems to be one nightmare after another with this project. Hopefully one day all your passion and commitment will be rewarded.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Disgusting all round. Feel for you Steve. There's so much in the borough that is a joke, and sure it won't change soon.