Council press release

[hartgeman]

the fate of the hartsdown park project is to be announced this week.

officials from thanet council, margate football club and their backers will meet on thursday.

a 28-period allowed for lawyers from both sides to negotiate a deal which would see the scheme go ahead expired on friday.

club officails say work must start by the end of march if the stadium is to be built to nationwide south standards in time for the new season.

otherwise, the club face demotion into the ryman league premier division.

thanet council leader sandy ezekiel said:"we have asked the club to come in on thursday.

"no decision has been made, becuse we don't know what the club's response is going to be.

"things are countinuing to happen. all we can do is hope for the best."

margate first announced plans to improve hartsdown park in october 2001. they were demoted from the nationwide confrance at the end of last season after a string of delays and two years of groundshare at dover.

at a cabinet meeting last month, the council agreed for solicitors from both parties to work towards agreements on leases and rent for the hartsdown park site.

club backer gary lever agreed to cover the councils costs.

[Guest]

Where did you find this? I can't find it on the council website.

[hartgeman]

its on the back page of todays local the thanet times.

[Cookie]

Not looking too good i.m.o.

Quote " No decision has been made, because we dont know what the clubs response is going to be".

That sounds very much to me like they HAVE made a decision. Either its for the worse or that they have come to another conclusion or offer or remedy.

It dosent sound too good to me but I have been wrong before.Lets hope my reading of their statement is wrong. Think we have to read between the lines here!

[Guest]

The club are to make a press release at 1500 today it will also be posted on the official web site.

[hartgeman]

to me it sound like the council want someting in the plans changed and if the club says yes they will move on but if the cllub say no it will all end.( but this is only speculation and i do not know the details although i wish i did.)

[hartgeman]

this is from kentonline:

Make or break week for Gate?

 

by Peter Barnett

THE long-running saga of the redevelopment of Margate Football Club’s Hartsdown Park stadium could be resolved by the end of this week.

 

The deadline for the latest round of negotiations between the district council, the club’s development project team and their funders, has run out.

 

Council leader Cllr Sandy Ezekiel said that a meeting is planned for this Thursday when the forward will be considered in the light of the findings.

 

The club wants to create a £10 million stadium and leisure facilities but the council has repeatedly insisted it needs to receive a detailed project and business plan together with confirmed sustainable funding before it continues negotiations.

 

Any comprehensive scheme will need full planning permission and Cllr Ezekiel said recently that the Government Office for the South East would probably be asked to consider the project.

[hartgeman]

saying that he would ask GOSE to loook at the plans is a good sign as that means that it would have the councils approval as gose wouln't see the plans unless the council passes the plans.

(lets hope thats what is happening)

[Cookie]

A "DECISION" must have been made and it must surely be one of two. (1) That the council have knocked us back or (2) That the council have a further solution to be put to the club. If it had been a "POSITIVE" decision in that we were given outright permission to build then surely the council would know what the clubs reaction would be..Elation!!

 

The clubs statement however gives us fans the BIGGEST boost we could get,providing the council dont try and scupper this also.!

 

All told we must be looking at a future after all but again am only seeing it from my eyes and others may see things different to me.

Dont like counting chickens as you know but the news from the club should put us into a good frame of mind.

 

Now for 3 points please "the gate" tonight!!!!

[Guest]

weve got it yessssssssssssssssssssssssss

Eyeballpaul

[MargateFan]

Look at the official website!