Torquay United Fans Forum

[quote=goody2449 post_id=208051 time=1500369350 user_id=23903] [i][b]let's be honest.....[/b][/i][/quote]

[b]Yes let's be honest; a drum we have been banging on [i]BTPIR [/i]ever since we set up in business in 2010........[/b]

This site too has it's dissenters of the 'official line' which proclaimed that the club Thea Bristow extricated herself from was 'debt free' as Kelvin Thomas unsuccessfully attempted to convince us; or anyone remotely interested in buying it off her for that matter. Dave Phillips told us that 'GI would not be the new owners of the club' which tells us all we need to know about him and now Clarke Osborne foretells a new stadium, ready and waiting for United by 2020.

Little sign of that openness or honesty from the football club under it's [b]TWO[/b] different ownerships since then; nor from the [b]Herald Express[/b] and what the fans' forums have predicted to pass has indeed passed.

[b]Osborne would never have been making his claim about Plainmoor being safe until any new facility is ready and waiting if we hadn't kicked up holy shit on the forums[/b]

Were it not for genuine due diligence, investigation and research by those utilising social media; those who do not of it would be as naively in LaLa Land as those who don't ~ and sadly they make up far too big a percentage of the support to be comfortable about......thankfully, national media interest eventually went viral so that the whole world then knew about it and the Mayor had to act accordingly.

Dilligence, awareness and intense scrutiny are still required to ensure that sweeteners like shiny new kits, redesigned badges and websites, and promises of the academy being more than just a local development exercise do not cloud the issue over the long term security of the football club both within it's community and in it's secure and safe home being endangered by secretive local bureaucracy and possibly disingenuous 'investment'.

[b]If the football club really is in loving and caring hands, then fine; but at the moment it's a bit like opening the front door to the child minder and being faced with Jimmy Saville![/b]

A Freedom of Information request to the council planning department would reveal whether any pre-application enquiry has been made. Councils notify pre-application applicants that should a Freedom of Information request is made they have to disclose details. Even if they started 12 months ago, the time scale is just nonsense. 5 years minimum - more likely closer to 10 - if it ever happens.

How do we know that the process has not already started? maybe started when they first invested into the club, 12 months ago. lets be honest neither GI or the council have been transparent with the dealings with Plainmoor so far.

[quote=samuel post_id=208048 time=1500366594 user_id=23124] [i][b] I would say it is IMPOSSIBLE for a new ground to be built in three years. It is either a downright lie and they are trying to have people over or they are so out of touch with planning as to be unbelievably incompetent.[/b][/i]
[/quote]

Well it's definitely not the latter!

Well there we have it. A statement saying a stadium built in less than 3 years. This is indeed an important comment. You are all right to be sceptical. What with the new drainage/flood regulations that came out in April (the percolation tests alone would take over 12 months) building on made up ground, building on contaminated ground etc, you are closer to a decade before any new ground manifests itself. This is a huge mistake by the new owners. I would say it is IMPOSSIBLE for a new ground to be built in three years. It is either a downright lie and they are trying to have people over or they are so out of touch with planning as to be unbelievably incompetent.

[quote=Plainmoor78 post_id=208046 time=1500350394 user_id=23804][i][b]You are never going to build a new stadium in less than three years. [/b][/i] [/quote]

Osborne hasn't built a single stadium in over thirty years ~ ever; not one!

You are never going to build a new stadium in less than three years, what with planning permission and opposition from nimbys. GI couldn't even put a proper case before the council this month. Now Clarke Osbourne isn't stupid, so I wonder what the plan really is now.

[b]Remember these words; we only have two and a half years to go then............[/b]

[i]“Torbay as a community deserves a multi-purpose stadium capable of attracting new entertainment options, as well as becoming a new home for Torquay United, but I reiterate the point we have always made: nothing will happen to Plainmoor until a new stadium has been built and is ready for use by the football club.......we plan relocation to a new purpose-built stadium by 2020" [/i]
[b][size=150]~ Clarke Osborne: 17/07/2017[/size][/b]

[b].........now do you really believe that. Has a stadium ever been conceived, approved, built and opened within two and a half years? I leave you to figure that out.[/b]

The survey was mostly designed to achieve the answers that GI wanted and was often ambiguous.

Did they mean parking at the ground? (clearly a problem as TUFC do not own the few spaces that are there). If they meant street parking, then really not a problem.

Would it be better at a new stadium - indeed would there be room to have, say, 500 spaces? If it is to be at the Willows, street parking would be worse.

In my opinion, not a significant issue to justify a new stadium.

By the way, who on here would actually use a Park and Ride system - honest answers please!

According to the survey parking is a problem, only 16% saying it was good or very good. The Club's response is that it is outside of their control. I was suggesting some help with this issue in line with what others have posted on this forum.

In any case, if attendance can be increased significantly, what then?

Chris

[b][i]Take, for example, the issue of parking at/near the ground. It must be assumed that this impacts negatively on gates[/i][/b]

What issue or problem!? - has anyone not been able to find street parking within 5 - 10 minutes of the ground?

It was for Baker & Phillips ;-)

The thing is, some items in the report can be done as a quick fixes.

Take, for example, the issue of parking at/near the ground. It must be assumed that this impacts negatively on gates. So picking up on a suggestion in the Change at TUFC thread, arranging a Park and Ride car park, add a bus service and/or minibus and problem solved.

TUFC should be acting on issues like this now, maximise gates, extract as much money from unsuspecting fans as possible whilst they are waiting for kick off, and generally have a big blitz on revenue streams.

It's not rocket science.

Chris

[quote=LankyGull post_id=207867 time=1499950473 user_id=24120]
A very interesting read, I am impressed at the range of questions asked rather than just asking "Do we need a new stadium or not" which gives me hope that GI are in it for the long run and do want to run our club at a sustainable and professional level.

[b]I do believe they need to make better use of the facilities they have, limited as they are, such as the Gulls Nest. I don't feel it is publicised enough by the club that the Gulls Nest is open to fans before the game, I have only started going in there myself the early part of last season as a mate of mine told me, but not everyone will have that mate to tell them and would depend on the club informing them. [/b]

The articles on the website could do with being a bit more thorough, I feel the match previews are very much "this is who we are playing and when" and little else. Team news, opposition's form and injuries, promoting the Gulls Nest for a beer or coke before the game and also club news. Having a page dedicated to any upcoming events, information on TUFC in the community and their latest sessions or soccer camps. All these little things could help to bring people closer to the club.
[/quote]

This is vital. I was saying this every week last season!

It is interesting. Mainly given that there is a clear majority that do not want a new stadium or feel it is necessary to have a new stadium to have a Football League club.

We are told this will be used to formulate the 5 year plan, but given that the people who commissioned this research are property developers with a history of property development, I suspect that they will proceed with attempts to purchase the freehold of the stadium, whilst using this feedback as the basis for an overhaul of the club shop or catering/stewarding.