Row breaks out over club's hopes for stadium at Old Oak Common A row has broken out between Queens Park Rangers and Tony Mendes, the Managing Director of Cargiant, over the club's plans to move to a new stadium at Old Oak Common. Mr Mendes, whose car dealership owns 45 acres of land at Hythe Road, within the Old Oak area and is a major local employer, describes QPR's plans as "speculative and presumptive" . The plans they would depend on the dealership, which is currently expanding, finding an alternative site and Mr Mendes say that so far, no alternative has been found. In a statement, he says: " We have been made aware of recent press reports regarding the regeneration of Old Oak Common, the site on which Cargiant sits. " Many of these reports, particularly those referring to the prospective relocation of Cargiant, are inaccurate and as a result we wish to clarify a number of issues. " The regeneration of Old Oak Common and in particular the land owned by Car Giant Ltd is a complex issue and may take significantly longer to finalise than some parties are anticipating. " Schemes that have been announced for this part of Old Oak Common, including a new stadium for QPR, are speculative and presumptuous. " Car Giant has not entered into any exclusivity agreement with QPR and remains totally unattached to any party in regards to the regeneration of the area or relocation site. âThe regeneration plans are dependent on the relocation of Car Giant, which will be a significant undertaking. " Cargiant is the largest business of its kind in the world. We have been located on our current site for 30 years and with over 750 local employees working across 45 acres, we play a vital part in the local community, both socially and economically." âThe company has worked progressively with the GLA, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the neighbouring local authorities in order to identify a workable local relocation site. âTo date no progress has been made in this regard but Car Giant are committed to continued dialogue with the GLA and local councils in order to meet this objective." Cargiant, who in the past has sponsored QPRâs shirts, is working with a team of experts to draw up its own regeneration proposals Tony Mendes says: " The company has worked progressively with the GLA, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the neighbouring local authorities in order to identify a workable local relocation site. " To date no progress has been made in this regard but Cargiant are committed to continued dialogue with the GLA and local councils in order to meet this objective." QPR meanwhile said last week: " The stadium and wider regeneration at Old Oak is a complex project and there will undoubtedly be many issues along the process, but everyone involved is working hard with the relevant authorities to move the plans forward. "We continue to make good progress and have the support of the authorities to delivering a stadium led regeneration. " We will keep supporters involved and will continue with consultations about the new stadiumâs design in due course. " QPR unveiled plans for a new 40,000 seater stadium in December last year. The stadium, which the clube hope will be ready in four year, is planned as part of a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area in West London. In December, club Chairman, Tony Fernandes, said: " Loftus Road is â and always will be â a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity. " With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayorâs and Hammersmith & Fulham Councilâs commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London." July 7, 2014 http://www.shepherdsbushw12.com/default.asp?section=info&page=qpr012.htm
This was discussed on here a few weeks back. I'd say it is just a businessman seeking the best possible deal for his shareholders.
I would imagine that ultimately Cargiant would be on the receiving end of a compulsory purchase order - backed by the local council and Boris. As it stands there will be a lot of help on offer with relocation, etc, but they could lose this if Mendes messes around too much. He is playing a very dangerous game.
Something which the article doesn't mention which I also read recently and would have a bearing on all this, is that the newly elected Labour administration of Hammersmith and Fulham have now come out in opposition to the MDC (Mayoral Development Corporation) to oversee the Old Oak redevelopment. This had previously been agreed between the Mayor's office, the GLA, and Ealing, Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham councils and would have enabled compulsory purchase orders to be put on the land and was set to fast track the whole project. It's all looking to be somewhat frustratingly back in the balance again.
Tell em we'll throw in free carpets, free dealer delivery and double the warranty if we can crunch it by weeks end.
This is from a couple of weeks ago: http://www.bdonline.co.uk/old-oak-regeneration-plan-goes-out-to-consultation/5069293.article "Boris Johnson has launched a consultation on plans for the mayor of London to be given overall responsibility for major regeneration plans at Old Oak Common and Park Royal, which are linked to the development of a new Crossrail and HS2 station."
Latest quote from boss of Cargiant: please log in to view this image "Swiss Tony" Mendes - Managing Director - Cargiant "Dealing with the Mayor and council about the regeneration of Old Oak Common ... is like making love to a beautiful woman. Feign interest, but try to tackle them early whilst they have their pants down and shaft them before they know what has happened and can see you for what you really are."
