Berkhamsted Comrades

[Rhodes]

An update from Berkhamsted FC on why the Club should remain at Broadwater:

The board of Berkhamsted FC have issued further reasons why the proposed move is opposed, including some history and posing a few relevant questions

Berko FC Offer Further Reasons For Opposition To Bourne End Move (pitchero.com)

[Rhodes]

The article from the Non League Paper on Sunday 3 January if anybody missed it:

[Rhodes]

On 30/12/2020 at 13:42, tringarmy said:

Berko FC petition in relation to their landlords selling Broadwater

https://www.change.org/p/dacorum-borough-council-berkhamsted-fc-savebroadwater

Supportive comments from signatories of the petition and seven examples, I wonder if they have been read by the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited, I doubt it however these are the very people the BSGCA are supposed to represent:

Supporter comments · Dacorum Borough Council: Berkhamsted FC - #SaveBroadwater · Change.org

1. It is a disgrace when this is being driven by a junior club in the town. Football must be based in the town it represents.

2. I remember playing there when I was a boy. It’s a local facility and should remain local.

3. I came from West London and grew up in Berko. I remember when there were just outdoor stands and not much else. The football club has been a central part of Berko life and has developed in this site from local support. And thats the nub of it....A town's football club and pitch should be IN the town. Local fans will not walk with their mates as far as Bourne End and have a couple of pints on the way back. Other users of the club's facilities will lose their base, too, not able to operate out of town. Furthermore, this site was obtained through public donation, so should remain as a public facility....It's almost like having a gift taken away by a mean parent.!

4. There won’t be any green spaces left in this beautiful town, if this carries on. 

5. There is a lot of history attached to this site, and it is a community facility - moving it to the green belt will not work.

6. Its the heart of the community.

7. We need to keep the football club accessible to all, not only to those with cars. Berkhamsted FC belongs IN Berkhamsted.

Edited January 24, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

9 hours ago, Rhodes said:

1. It is a disgrace when this is being driven by a junior club in the town. Football must be based in the town it represents.

Is this comment suggesting that Berkhamsted Raiders are involved, on their website on 28 December the Club state that 'the Raiders Trustees have agreed to take a neutral view on any planning debate in the town' so that would indicate otherwise, they go on to say that 'we will not take a Club view on where housing development should take place, that is a decision for Dacorum Borough Council following consultation with local residents':

Statement on Bulbourne Cross | Berkhamsted Raiders CFC: youth football at its best

Dacorum BC and football in Berkhamsted | Berkhamsted Raiders CFC: youth football at its best

[Rhodes]

Have there been any developments of late on the Broadwater situation out of interest, my guess is that the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) will want to move fast so as the unscrupulous Sussex based property developers Thakeham don't suddenly have a change of heart about their offer on the table which is a good one where the land is concerned, they clearly went fishing and reeled the gullible Paul Forster and his cronies in hook line and sinker as it certainly won't be what it says on the tin.

Edited January 28, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

An on-line article from yesterday which doesn't really tell us anything different other than the petition to save Broadwater now has over 4000 signatures, lets just hope common sense will prevail in the end and the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) come to their senses: 

FUTURE IN DOUBT? Berkhamsted FC continue battle to save Broadwater | My Local News (mynewsmag.co.uk)

Berkhamsted FC’s battle to save their football ground has continued with almost 4,000 supporters signing a petition to persuade the owners to stay at Broadwater, which is located on Lower Kings Road near the town centre

[Rhodes]

I'm surprised ArsenalFan hasn't been on to update us on the current position at Broadwater as he seems to know more than most, it seems to have gone quiet of late after all the activity just before Christmas and the elaborate webinar that BerkoRaiders said he sat through, hosted by the unscrupulous Sussex based developers Thakeham and the independent Chair of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA), Paul Forster. 'Independent' is certainly the operative word isn't it as Mr Forster is clearly all for the project going ahead with no thought whatsoever for the the people of Berkhamsted or a much loved Football Club who has played at Broadwater for over one hundred years.

[Rhodes]

A nice messege and update from Berkhamsted FC Chairman Steve Davis:

Chairman’s Update – 8 Feb 2021 (pitchero.com)

In the continued absence of football, Berko FC chairman Steve Davis looks forward to restarting and provides a positive update on events at the club

[Rhodes]

This is really interesting stuff, a great insight into Broadwater going back historically and the thinking about the future of the Sports Ground and how it should always be used, namely for sport. Paul Forster, the 'independent' Chair of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) should take some time out of his day to read it:   

Comrades Confirm Historic Details Of Creation Of Broadwater Sports Ground (pitchero.com)

[Rhodes]

On 14/01/2021 at 15:27, Rhodes said:

It is still possible to comment, until Sunday 28 February, on the Dacorum Borough Council Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038 and here is the Consultation document. I see that the Chiltern Society have, unsurprisingly, grave concerns about the Plan and are hell bent against it, they currently have an open on-line meeting taking place which it is still possible to join (see third link):  

New Dacorum Local Plan (to 2038)

Draft Local Plan Update | Living Magazines (livingmags.info)

Home - Chiltern Society

It is just over a week now until the deadline for comments on the Dacorum Borough Council Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038 and the Consultation document. There's an interesting response here from Berkhamsted Town Council Planning Committee as well as all the Town and Parish Councils within Dacorum who have asked jointly for the Plan to be withdrawn suggesting that it is not fit for purpose which it clearly isn't:

draft-local-plan-btc-response-vfinal.pdf (berkhamstedtowncouncil.gov.uk)

tp-1821-draft-letter-to-dbc.pdf (berkhamstedtowncouncil.gov.uk)

[Rhodes]

A very interesting update on the Broadwater situation from Club Director and historian Grant Hastie, hopefully Paul Forster, the 'independent' Chair of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) will read it:

The Comrades - Reasons Why We Should Remain At Broadwater (pitchero.com)

In this article, following the one issued on 13 February, Grant questions whether the landlords have the legal or moral authority to sell the ground and highlights some potential obstacles to the proposed move.

[Rhodes]

I gather local residents received a card in the post recently from the unscrupulous Sussex based developers Thakenham, what a cheek:

Did you receive a card from Thakeham about their proposals for the Bulbourne Cross Development?

They seem determined to get these included in the new local plan. If adopted, we would be one step closer to the loss of virtually all Green Belt to the west of us.

After talking with representatives of Thakeham, we are even more convinced that this would not be good for our community.  We need you to voice your opinion.

Turn out the flyer that was delivered to you and get on with opposing!

BEVA Planning Group

Bourne End Herts News

Bourne End Herts News

[Rhodes]

Ollie United have announced a groundshare at Broadwater, the local Charity Club was set up in 2019 to help raise funds for Ollie Sweeney’s fight against Stage Four Neuroblastoma, a rare child cancer that attacks the young nerve cells which Ollie was sadly diagnosed with in early January 2019. Ollie was four years old yesterday (23 February) which coincided with the announcement of the groundshare, various events have already taken place at Broadwater and this is a wonderful gesture by the Club and Chairman Steve Davis to give Ollie United the opportunity to play their matches on the hallowed turf once normality is resumed:   

Ollie’s Appeal | Solving Kids' Cancer

Comrades Plan To Help Ollie Via Family Fun Day (pitchero.com)

[Rhodes]

On 14/01/2021 at 18:26, Rhodes said:

It is still possible to comment, until Sunday 28 February, on the Dacorum Borough Council Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038 and here is the Consultation document

New Dacorum Local Plan (to 2038)

I see that Berkhamsted FC have commented on the 'not fit for purpose' Dacorum Borough Council Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038, ahead of the deadline today:

Berkhamsted FC News Update – 28 February 2021 (pitchero.com)

We have made a submission on Dacorum’s draft local plan for housing, including comments from many supporters that signed our petition to stay at Broadwater. We do not wish to be kicked out of town to Bourne End.

Edited February 28, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 28/02/2021 at 20:33, Rhodes said:

I see that Berkhamsted FC have commented on the 'not fit for purpose' Dacorum Borough Council Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038, ahead of the deadline today:

Here are some of the other submissions received by Dacorum Borough Council to their 'not fit for purpose' Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038:
https://www.berkhamstedraiders.com/raiders-response-to-dacorum-local-plan/

210218-Dacorum-Local-Plan-Chiltern-Society-Response.pdf

North Church Parish Council

Steve Draft Local Plan 2020-2038 Reg 18 V2 (littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk)

Joint-letter-to-DBC-v1.0.pdf (littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk)

[Rhodes]

It has all gone quiet on the Western Front hasn't it where the gullible and naive Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) and the unscrupulous Sussex based developers Thakeham are concerned, can we read anything into that: 

Berkhamsted Sports Grounds Charitable Association: Supporting sport in Berkhamsted (bsgca.org)

[Rhodes]

Some actual football news to report from Broadwater for a change, sadly Berkhamsted Comrades joint bosses Steven Hutchins and Kevin Godbold have resigned with immediate effect:

Berkhamsted FC has accepted the resignations of reserve team manager Steven Hutchins and his assistant Kevin Godbold

The club would like to thank Steven and Kevin for their excellent work with Berkhamsted Comrades FC, with the team having had a successful 2020/21 campaign in the Spartan South Midlands League Division 2 until lockdown ended the season.

Everyone at Berkhamsted FC wishes Steven and Kevin good luck in their future football careers.

Tommy Muckell will remain in his assistant manager position, and the position of manager of Berkhamsted Comrades FC will be the subject of a future announcement.

Management Changes For The Reserves (pitchero.com)

[Rhodes]

On 11/03/2021 at 17:34, Rhodes said:

It has all gone quiet on the Western Front hasn't it where the gullible and naive Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) and the unscrupulous Sussex based developers Thakeham are concerned, can we read anything into that: 

Berkhamsted Sports Grounds Charitable Association: Supporting sport in Berkhamsted (bsgca.org)

I see that former Tring Athletic Chairman, and current Chairman of the Dacorum Sports Network, Howard Wells is part of this video produced by the unscrupulous Sussex based developers Thakeham. It is very disappointing that Mr Wells is involved in pulling the rug from under Berkhamsted FC and their Chairman Steve Davis as I would have imagined they are friends who go back a long way, both went to Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted albeit not at the same time:

Bulbourne Cross

Edited March 30, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

I see that at the Berkhamsted Town Council Annual Town Meeting on Thursday 18 March a member of the public attending virtually brought up the subject of Broadwater during a brief Open Forum at the end of the meeting:

Broadwater was bought for public use, so that football could be played on the site indefinitely. It should not be developed on.

Requested write formally to Town Clerk for lobby of site as asset of community value.

BERKHAMSTED TOWN COUNCIL

[Arsenal fan]

On 05/04/2021 at 17:47, Rhodes said:

I see that at the Berkhamsted Town Council Annual Town Meeting on Thursday 18 March a member of the public attending virtually brought up the subject of Broadwater during a brief Open Forum at the end of the meeting:

Broadwater was bought for public use, so that football could be played on the site indefinitely. It should not be developed on.

Requested write formally to Town Clerk for lobby of site as asset of community value.

BERKHAMSTED TOWN COUNCIL

Interesting.....very interesting as Barry Davies used to say of a good F.Lee goal!

Local politicians listening to residents-might catch on. Could be worrying for Thakeham, Berkhamsted Raiders and the Broadwater landowners. A 3,700 strong petition contains a lot of electors for a small town. Keep Broadwater for Southern League football.