Slough Observer

[Reading Rebel]

Hopefully phase 2 of the ground will be finished before the 17/18 season starts so we might be able to invite big teams down for that and treat it as a sort of second/full opening of the stadium.

 

 

I think phase 2 is scheduled for completion in February.

[Reading Rebel]

It would be great to have a league team down to Arbour Park to play a few pre season friendlies. What I fail to understand is why the contract may be running late. if this is so, it means that SBC have no contracting negotiation skills, Finish the contract early, get extra bunce, finsih it on time get the contract price, finish it late the contractor pays the Council. case in point, paving in the high street, The finish price was higher than than the quoted price, and was very late. Bus Station quote £8M finish price £12M, opened 5 months late. new Library Quote £12M, final price about £20M despite being at the moment 5 months late

 

 

I'm sure I've read in the council blurb that a fixed price was negotiated for Arbour Park. 

 

As far as I'm aware the 16th August always been the completion date for phase 1 which in itself seems strange as the season starts on 6th August.

 

Reportedly the construction is ahead of schedule so maybe it will be completed within the time scale?

[Edinburgh Rebel]

Great news.  From reading posts on here/talking to fans, I wasn't sure if there would ever be a new ground in Slough.  I'm definitely going to try to make a home game next season.  I've only been to Slough once before although I've obviously been to quite a few Slough matches now in other towns..  Years ago when I was visiting London with my mum, we briefly went to Slough and saw the area she used to live in.  My mum used to live in Wellington Street (the street is still there but her house is gone now) and went to school in Queens Road (Thomas Gray Primary School which I believe is now Littledown School).  Looks like the school is very close to where the new ground will be.  She left in 1967.  It will be pretty cool to get off the train and walk up to the ground along the route my mum walked to school from her home 50 years ago.

 

Great to see this all happening because the fans deserve a new ground after all of these years loyally supporting the team in Windsor and Beaconsfield.  I hope that it will help increase attendances too.

 

At the same time, Hearts have announced plans for a new stand (we have three stands built in the 1990s and one remaining old stand) which will take our capacity up to 20,000+ and should be ready for the 2017/18 season.  Things looking very positive for the future for both clubs.

Edited April 16, 2016 by Edinburgh Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

Great news.  From reading posts on here/talking to fans, I wasn't sure if there would ever be a new ground in Slough.  I'm definitely going to try to make a home game next season.  I've only been to Slough once before although I've obviously been to quite a few Slough matches now in other towns..  Years ago when I was visiting London with my mum, we briefly went to Slough and saw the area she used to live in.  My mum used to live in Wellington Street (the street is still there but her house is gone now) and went to school in Queens Road (Thomas Gray Primary School which I believe is now Littledown School).  Looks like the school is very close to where the new ground will be.  She left in 1967.  It will be pretty cool to get off the train and walk up to the ground along the route my mum walked to school from her home 50 years ago.

 

Great to see this all happening because the fans deserve a new ground after all of these years loyally supporting the team in Windsor and Beaconsfield.  I hope that it will help increase attendances too.

 

At the same time, Hearts have announced plans for a new stand (we have three stands built in the 1990s and one remaining old stand) which will take our capacity up to 20,000+ and should be ready for the 2017/18 season.  Things looking very positive for the future for both clubs.

 

 

I think we're all excited about the new ground ER and as you say it'll be great for yourself to walk the same route as your Mum.

 

Great times ahead!

[David Carpenter]

RR - having been at the Planning Meeting when final approval was given (and see previous thread) I recall as you say that the price was fixed. With regard to duration of the programme allowance would have been made to include for normal inclement conditions. What relevance the comments in an earlier post had regarding the bus station etc. is tenuous although perhaps the forthcoming local elections may have had some bearing.

[Curtis]

David,

 

As you were at the final planning meeting, could you advise whether the completion date was always intended to be after the start of the new season?

 

Also, since you appear to have some experience of planning/project management, would it not be possible on a project like this to attempt to save 10 days (when there are still more than 100 days of the project left) in order to meet the 6th August season start date?

 

Or is this more about politics, and the Council not attempting to make allowances specifically for Slough Town FC, and in doing so making it clear this is a Community football stadium, not a Slough Town FC stadium?

 

Would you also be concerned about 16th August possibly being a best case date, and the completion date possibly slipping in to September or October?

[A Rebel and a Saint]

The intended opening date for phase one has always been mid August.

[David Carpenter]

Thank you Dan - that is my recollection and that of RR. My earlier post was in response to concerns about time being lost to inclement conditions for which allowance would have been made in the programming. As far as the programme slipping beyond the current predicted phase 1 completion date then of course we would all be concerned. However perhaps this would be more likely if the inclement allowance was overridden by abnormal conditions ( which are as per an earlier post of mine are tending towards becoming the normal) rather than political intrigue. Morgan Sindall Investments are a major player in the market and I think they are quite adept at programme control.

[Reading Rebel]

Of course because the price is fixed there is every incentive for Morgan Sindall to finish the project sooner rather than later.

Edited April 17, 2016 by Reading Rebel

[David Carpenter]

Precisely.

[Bournemouth rebel]

I have posted the schedule of arbour park to facebook

[Reading Rebel]

I have posted the schedule of arbour park to facebook

 

 

BR, have you put the schedule for Arbour Park on the Slough Town facebook page?