brb Re parking - How large is the grounds of the existing training facilities ? On the map, it suggests a very large area. There is also an area for possble extension (why?) Could we not build a double tier car park on some of the existing land - at its' southern end ( adjacent to the rail line ?) I am sure that a couple of thousand cars could be accomodated - and the neighbours wouldn't object ( they're 6' under ) If the plan is to scale I have doubts that the footprint for the proposed site of a superstore is big enough - especially as it will need to compete with Tesco. If a new store is not to be as big as Tesco, we may not be able to attract investment in this aspect.
alwaysright - dspite driving past it many times in a car, I do not know the answer to your question. IF, that land was to be used for additional parking, you would require the additional cost of a walkway because that is a busy duel carriageway. I've been trying to work out if my ageing legs will carry me from our current parking space and the Cricketers if I don't like the complex. Mind you by the time this is built I will probably have a mobility scooter anyway - lol
brb The images, if drawn to (almost) scale suggest that the existing training ground must be the size of at least 8 football pitches ( probably nearer to 10 ) - surely the Club only need the space of about 2 ! - leaving a lot of unused land, (for parking) from which some income can be derived in the inevitable parking charges. As for access across the road - tunnel or a bridge wouldn't be that expensive ( rope swing for the more adventurous )
What would be the nearest pub? The Dew drop? I've just realised that Scally has said that the land owner is warm to the idea....does that mean we'd be leasing the land?
The plans look very good BUT where will the money come from. I hope he has some very rich Dubai friends as he now lives there. Love to see it happen but cannot really see it though.
Some of the land not for sale according to KentOnline... http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/april/28/stadium_row.aspx? There are certainly some words in there echoing my thoughts.
There are many factors to consider, but the main one is that the present business model, i.e. basing Gills at Priestfield, is unlikely to allow the club to move forward and improve in the way that the Chairman would like, and let's face it he has put a huge amount of time and energy (and probably money) into the club over the period of his tenure. I honestly believe that he does have the interests of the club at heart, if for no other reason than unless he can take the club forward he's never going to be able to offload it at a respectable price. Therefore a new stadium is central for the future. We've all heard about the possibilities, still being bandied about as veiled threats, that he will take the club elsewhere if a suitable location can't be found locally, and as a last reort I can see that happening, but at least he's come up with 2 proposals to keep the club in the Medway towns. The Chatham docks one does rather look dead in the water (pun intended), and in any case I think that from a logistical point of view the Mill Hill idea would in fact work better. The concept of having training facilities so near to the ground makes a lot of sense, and the location is probably as close to the present ground as could be realistically possible, thus maintaining a sense of connection with the town. As far as the finances and the general planning goes, I'm quite happy to leave that to the club, although I wouldn't mind a smallish wager that the council will be requested to stump up something; after all the plans do call it a 'community stadium'. There are now several new medium sized facilities around the country, and I'm sure that architects and planners are a lot more knowledgable now tha 20 years ago, and so I'm reasonably confident that if this does go ahead we'll end up with something respectable. I agree with previous posters that the proposed size is probably about right for us, certainly up to Championship level on the basis that we haven't been above that level for over 100 years. It's also possible to design a ground that would allow for a relatively simple expansion and increase in capacity in the future should it become necessary. Of course there are always concerns about food, drink and car parking. However as there are no car parks at Priestfield anything will be an improvement on that score. I must admit I don't have a recollection of the actual area - I vaguely remember Twydall, but Yokohama Way didn't even exist when I left the area - but think it would be a bit of a hike from the Cricketers. Nevertheless, as a worst case scenario you could always get refreshed in Gillingham and then get the train to the ground. Finally, let's not forget that PS is a very shrewd negotiator. There has been talk of a new stadium for years, but now there is something on paper and in the public domain. Things are beginning to move forwards. Whether we will actually end up at Mill Hill is still very much open to question, but this is if nothing else a declaration of intent from PS that he wants things to start to happen.
I think this petition is relatively backwards thinking, I won't chat about the stadium itself because it's been well covered but looking at the plans there is still a substantial amount of green space surrounding it. In the end it will come down to what is most profitable for the area (through housing created at Priestfield/ this site and jobs) I think the council will swing it regardless. It would be a hammerblow to the town and the surrounding area if the club left the locality. Good hostage PS.
Although I fall on the side of to stay at Priestfield. I agree with what you say gillslad69. This is to be foreseen with any planning applications,the 'not in my back yard' syndrome, which can be for a multitude of reasons. Development is happening in everyone's back yard and we do not like it but those who vote for the relevant politicians of the day that make these decisions also have to live by that vote when it turns up on their doorstep. I hate all the extra housing joining villages and towns and the supermarkets that kill our High Street but no one has ever listened and those developments are going to continue and are continuing (with an ever increasing population). At least Football does offer something to a community even if it is not of a particular individuals interest.
