Cray will be at their new ground next season, leaving Bromley without anyone sharing. Sharing Hayes Lane wouldn't be ideal, but infinitely better than trekking to Tonbridge.

Bromley are being silly asking too much for the groundshare, they had Cray Wanderers there who wouldn't have that big a fan base. Welling would have a bigger fan base, so would generate more at the bar that Bromley would profit from, so the bar takings plus the rent from Welling would be really good income for Bromley and well worth encouraging.

But unfortunately they are only looking at the rent aspect, and not taking into account during the groundshare we would hardly have any income, so paying a very large rent is impractical.

I hope the uncertainty ends soon, as I get why the board are in limbo about repairing VPR, let's say it would cost £50K to fix (God knows what the real figure is) and changing rooms etc are repaired. But then the ground is knocked down to build the new facilities, so that £50K is wasted.

Jimmie wrote:

---

Breaking news from a local rival team, taking a break from their relegation battle, "Bus Stop FC apparently talking to Tonbridge Angels about a groundshare."

So we have rivals for the Tonbridge groundshare, there are us considering the Tonbridge option, and this mysterious Bus Stop FC.

---

 Who cares what Dirtford call us.

25% social housing?

I would read all that but dont have enough time left. With a document of that length and complexity local elected council members are probably more inclined to go with officers recommendations taking residents objections into account. I would think the planning board or committee or whatever Bexley has will have to spend a whole meeting on this application alone. I can see this getting passed as Westminster are looking to councils to allow more building in cities to save using green land in the shires. Compared to whats being planned elsewhere in South East London this development is low rise and low density. 

I can't believe they would go to the extent that they have in the application unless they were confident of getting it approved. The main obstacle standing in its way are our lodgers. The thing is if they have any ambitious of getting a ground of their own then they are never going to have a better time than this to convince the council to find them somewhere.

 

I also wonder whether the build could be structured so that E&B and possibly even us can return whilst they are completing the works to the flats. The Solar panels and other finishing works will be quite complex and will require a lot of specialised trades- and quite a bit of time. There is not much work required on the E&B side and I don't think the Park End or the 3g pitch will take long.

At the Wusa meeting last week we was told that the criteria move to another ground was that the capacity had to be at least 4000. And Tonbridge met that, yet in yesterday's programme it read that the capacity at Longmead stadium is 3,200. Which is right ???

The move to Tonbridge is very poorly considered when there was the far more local and practical option of temporarily playing at Bromley. Yes, the Bromley option would be more expensive than Tonbridge, but Tonbridge attendances will be low as few will make that trip, so Welling will lose lots of fans. Whereas Bromley is easy to get to for Welling fans, and the fan base will be retained. But Welling only think about which ground is cheaper to rent, and ignore every other consideration that matters to the fans that soon will stop attending.

I wonder what local clubs Welling fans will gravitate to during the years when Welling United in practical terms is just another Tonbridge based team. I may well start going to Cray Valley Paper Mills during the Tonbridge years, as they have several ex Welling players, is easy to get to, and I liked their spirit during their FA cup run this season.

The club is so moronic and short term in its lack of concern for the impact on the fans, owners making tens of millions of pounds from the development, yet going for Tonbridge and alienating fans, because Tonbridge is a few tens of thousands of pounds cheaper to rent than more local, fan friendly, options.

Cup games and friendlies presumably dont have the same ground capacity requirements as NLS games, to keep in touch with local Welling fans could friendly and cup games be played at a more local ground than bloody Tonbridge?

Well thats it settled then

twitter.com/paul_springett/status/1759251100710953410

I don't really know if I'm in support of the redevelopment plans as I don't understand what is 100% sitting behind it all, and how it works operationally and financially for welling united, this other academy thing, or the wider community. I get something needs to be done to the ground and I understand it'll need some creative and commercial approach.

I also don't really know if E&B are positive or negative leaseholders, or whether I agree / sympathise with their twitter stance.

What I do know is that we all have very little information.

Wouldn't it be nice if both owners / directors of both clubs had an evening presenting to fans and other stakeholders about what all this means, why, how, when etc. Wouldn't it be nice to hear about their passion for non-league football and the great community asset we both are. Wouldn't it be nice to support each other being the best clubs we can be by benefitting from mutual rewards and ideas.

The absence of any of this, and the public airing this is starting to generate means its heading for the gutter - whether plans are agreed or not.

There is no box to type this on Statutory Planning Application Portals, and nor would it mean anything.

Bryan Kings KNee wrote:

---

Well thats it settled then

twitter.com/paul_springett/status/1759251100710953410

---

 My train of thought there are only going to be one group of winners and thats the lawyers. Willing to bet this ends up in court before a single ball is kicked in PVR next season. 

Eastbourne Wing wrote:

---

Sorry, my point was - I understand the plans, but I don't know whether I support them based on not knowing what it means to Welling Utd, and therefore wish directors (custodians) would come out and talk to (life-long) fans.

Planning apps are based on design, loss of light, traffic, noise, contamination etc

 

Think someone read your post. See attached.

I agree with him. Apart from the Charlton pre-season friendly, I've never seen the E&B catering facilities open this season apart from what appeared to be a private event (birthday / hen-do).

 

I've also not seen the E&B gates open during the game apart from perhaps the final 10 minutes or so to allow a second exit from the ground. In fact I had to leave part way through the second half of one game and was redirected to the main entrance by the stewards at the E&B gate.

 

E&B have their flaws (toilets etc) but I can't say that I agree with you here Jimmie.

-- Edited by Wingsfan on Tuesday 20th of February 2024 01:54:35 PM

Under the previous ownership of E&B (the ones who sold Parkview) the bar and catering did open. I believe once MG took over WUFC an agreement was made and E&B paid a fee to the club in return for opening their bar. I agree I have not seen the E&B bar or catering open this season or indeed since they got new ownership. 

I will agree about the gates being constantly open. I have often not just seen them open throughout the day but open outwards blocking the pavement. That is a hazard to disabled, blind and partially sighted people plus those with buggies and young children. A couple of times I have returned the gate to the closed position having found it open. 

There are strange lights coming from the cricket ground side of the stadium. Either aliens have landed or the lavatory lights are finally on

@paul_springett: There is not a game where we have opened for the welling game. Except one pre season friendly so yes this is garbage. The gates are manned by the stewards - they arent padlocked as this is a safety exit route so thats out of our control for your games.

Me: Paul, I watch Welling matches from the Erith side of the ground, and repeatedly seen the Erith bar open on Welling match days. So I'm sorry, you are either lying, or mistaken, to deny this has repeatedly happened. People can decide for themselves which of these is the case.

Paul Springett: Well unless someone is opening the bar on your match days and being deceitful to myself and the club and letting themselves in somehow to sell drinks then I have a problem. Not under my leadership. Ill have to change the locks if this is the case

Me: Welling hold a meeting Wednesday 29 February 7.45pm in the Welling bar for the club and developers to give fans a ground development update. It would be useful for you to attend to hear first hand fans experiences of E&B groundshare approach and to hear your own plans.

Erith Bar or catering outlet has not been open at Welling matches since the new ownership of Erith, except maybe for Charlton game

I've suggested to Paul Springett it would be handy if he were at the Wednesday ground development talk so he could share his views on the development plans, as at the moment there is no joined up thinking between Welling, the fans or E&B.

The This season/ last season question is a bit of a red herring from Paul, it shouldn't happen/ have happened at all.

Talking like this is so helpful in seeing things from new angles, it has made me consider, making up figures, but which show the point, lets say someone far away like Tonbridge offers us ground share for £25K and a more local team asks £100K, the obvious answer seems to be take the cheaper option, but then there are hidden benefits to the more local option, one sells more tickets locally which generates money, retains more fans ready for the move back, have continuity in the community that is lost if moving far away for a couple of years, so in practical terms it isn't the £75K difference it appears at first sight, but is much closer once other factors are considered. I am not sure the other factors have been considered in this decision.

Wallop wrote:

---

25% social housing?

---

 0% social housing according to plan.