The same old story

[Cookie]

But didnt you swear blind it wasnt going to be rotated James.You were pretty adamant about it as I recall.

[jkmaskell]

I was adamant. I still dont think itll happen but Im hearing the rumour from more and more people. I still think it wont happen. I certainly hope they dont do it. The only reason behind changing the plans is that the club is struggling to find companies to support the development and the only one available wants the radical change. Ive heard a name as to who that company might be and Ive got to say, Im sceptical about how successful it could be.

 

If the plans are being changed as the rumours are saying, a new application will have to go through Council. I dont think an amendment will be suitable because the changes are so fundamental. It would be nice to have some update from the club saying what happening with the development and whether this rumour has any truth to it.

[teamster]

So why all the talk of starting the ground in Jan if they knew it couldn't go ahead Sounds fishy to me.

[Cookie]

JAMES. Just to clarify it. Are you saying,as you were before,despite rumours,that the pitch ISNT going to be turned completely round or are you now saying that these rumours arent rumours at all and that your sure-fire certainty that the pitch would NOT be turned round to the full degree is not as assured as you once said it was.I could quote you many posts when you said it was a sure-fire thing NOT to be moved completely around but I wont.We look to you for guidance on these matters and we take your word on things such as these as it is an area that you thrive in.

I agree that we should be getting something from the club on this. A little honesty and clarification wouldnt come amiss here, from them. Not through the media but through our forum or the main page.

[jkmaskell]

I dont know for sure if the pitch is being moved at all or if the pitch is being moved, by how much. The only people who know that are the management and the directors. We hear bits and pieces but its all hearsay. We know how Chinese Whispers go. A quote saying "A company is requesting a slight change to the plans" can become "the club is changing the plans for a company". I have said in this thread as well as others I was certain it wouldnt happen, and Im still sure in my mind that its just not realistic to change the plans.

 

I still dont think itll happen. Of course I could be very wrong and the club could be considering, nay actually coming up with new plans but then if Im wrong, its not a good thing for the club as the development will have been delayed by months. Would a company wait six months for the plans to be changed? I doubt it. Changing the plans would be a shot in the foot for the club IMO.

[seasidesteve]

is it righ they want to put a driving test center there if so surely this make things even more complicated

[jkmaskell]

Ive not heard that before SSS. I think thats a red herring. I dont think thats going to happen.

 

In fact the idea is stopped by Local Plan Policy SP1 which only allows open spaces to be developed on if in exceptional circumstances and is connected to outdoor sports and recreational activities. The Council wouldnt approve it in short.

[Boney Crisp]

Thanet Council wont build a driving test centre there. If MFC does go under then they will build houses there and that has been the councils plan no for about 5 years for MFC to go under as they have no ground and build houses to bring more money, which never goes back to the community it just goes straight into their wallets.

[jkmaskell]

See edited post above. Local Plan policies wouldnt allow residential housing on the site. It has to be connected to outdoor sports and recreational activities because the site is an open space. This policy is in the Draft Local Plan too so its staying put as a planning policy.

[Boney Crisp]

TDC will find a way to put houses on there you mark my words.

[seasidesteve]

i thought driving was a sport.

[jkmaskell]

After looking at the changes for the Use Classes from March last year a driving school would be in a different category from that of the sports stadium itself. A driving school I reckon would be a Class D1 as "provision of education" under the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 whilst the stadium would be a Class D2 as "Assembly and Leisure". About driving being a sport, D2 excludes motorsports. Both havent been changed since then.

 

One small thing is whether having a driving centre would be a material change to the overall development...which it probably would in this area due to traffic problems in the area. I would think it would require a return to Planning and maybe Full Council too as it would be a mixed use development.

 

Planning law's complex. If you want to get a job with lots of money, become a lawyer then specialise in Planning law!