I see this subject of where Gillingham FC will eventually relocate to is being discussed again http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/scally_calls_on_gills_fans_to_lobby_medway_planners_1_1336305 Is he planning to do an MK Dons on us? It's important to know . I got two more potential little fans on the way and I won't be taking them to see Gills if he is going to up sticks and bugger off. I do agree our council needs a kick up the backside and make sure the Gills stay in Gillingham. Thoughts?
Obviously I have the best interest of the Club at heart - but - Mr.Scally has said that he is constantly looking for investors for the Club - where are they ? The Club obviously needs other investors to progress with the plans for relocation - otherwise these plans would have been enacted upon before now. How long (if ever) will it be before we find sufficient investment ? Is is fair to expect another project to stop - just because we don't like it ? In the area where I live thare has been 12 supermarkets built in recent years ( more are planned !) Most are within 3 miles of each other. ( from one supermarket you can see 2 of the others - Tesco & Sainsbury, and , a 4th supermarket, Asda is only 400 yards from these ! ) yet they all thrive. Therefore I don't see it as a major problem if the Club is left with Mill Hill as the only viable site for relocation. I appreciate that it will be more difficult to encourage another supermarket chain to invest in the Mill Hill area just because there are others close by - but, in my experience , it is the fact that one supermarket has a monopoly that has caused other supermarkets to develop in the same area. I actually feel that the Mill Hill locality would provide better road links to the motorway ( without having to negotiate through one of the towns ) Mr.Scally needs to accept that Peel Holdings have beaten us to develop the site at Chatham Docks - and look to secure Mill Hill before we lose that one.
I have never been anti PS or anything like that and have always shown my vocal support towards him, mainly for bringing our club out of the dark ages. However, I honestly don't get it. We are asked to show our support and put pressure on the councillors but when did we last hear anything prior to the Peel Docks development about our future progress and interests, everything always appears in my eyes as not for discussion. The kind return of our ground being one example. Where did all the finances come from for this seasons signings another example. So our plans are within several miles of that development and the planned superstore if I am understanding it correctly. So what about Tesco's at the roundabout, what about the Savacentre also several miles away. Maybe we need to understand clearer why this development is a threat for the Gills, to enable us to better judge and get behind PS and support his call. There are to be properties and student accommodation down at the docks, how and why should we compete with that. I do not see how the interests conflict. What part of the plans do we oppose. I certainly do not want to see an MK Dons, I always pledged PS would retain my support as long as he never moved the club out of Medway and never changed the club name. So get behind him and support him you may say. Sadly I have never taken well to advice or requests without knowing the entire facts. I need time to think before deciding. Edit: It appears it is the supermarket we oppose from reading the article again, that just refers me back to my earlier comments in regards to Tesco and Savacentre. If there are to be properties built down at Peel Docks any supermarket down there supports the infrastructure of that area 2/3 miles away as in any location. Surely the same applies to a supermarket in the said location of a new Gills site, it is supported by the immediate area and if you are more attractive, customers from further a field. It is called competition.
Maybe it's a clever distraction to divert away our view from our league form Maybe he will get his own back on Charlton by moving next door to them !!!! If he does we could always watch our football at Whatman Way
Is he planning to do an MK Dons on us? It's important to know . I got two more potential little fans on the way and I won't be taking them to see Gills if he is going to up sticks and bugger off. I do agree our council needs a kick up the backside and make sure the Gills stay in Gillingham. Thoughts?[/QUOTE] Agreed. Although if he does may I suggest belfast as an option.
Scapegoats can be very convenient sometimes. Any 21st century ground location is bound to be led by transport faciliities meaning it has to be adjacent to trains, motorways, buses and parking. Gillingham may be hard to justify. Medway is not necessarily sacrosanct, north or east Kent might be and Ebbsfleet might suit many.
This is worth doing. These masterplans do look pretty feasible, I have to say it would be a step forward for the club and the facilities around the stadium will prevent a Darlington like scenario. The visualisation gives better understanding of what the cub is looking to deploy in comparison to the previous images we were shown. I really think this could aid in deterring local fans from travelling to London for matches as much.
Although the image of the plan is shown at a weird angle so it was a bit hard to tell where the site was haha
I think it's next to the cemetery ( rather than feeling like we're in it ) But seriously - providing the finance and investing partners, other commercial enterprises are firmed up - this site looks to be as good as we'll be able to get - whilst staying in Medway. The transport links - very close to the M2 is pleasing. I would expect that if we need to lay on park & ride coaches, there would be sufficient choice of routes to the location without being congested in the town centres. I would be interested to read any detailed report from the Chairman - perhaps with more illustrations of the plans. brb - will you stop being helpful whilst I'm typing my thoughts. - Thanks for the better images - looks exciting.
http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10416~2742882,00.html Here is the link from the OS. With a couple of words from PS.
On closer looks at brb's link I've just seen that a new train station is within the design, meaning easier travel and policing for matches from that end, not to mention the coaches and park and ride may not be as necessary. The fast food retailer is questionable with McDonalds only being on the other side of the track but not doubt could prove profitable. As an architecture student and a gills fan this is a real culmination of loves haha
I think this sort of arrangement is the way foward, as part of a larger park. However the timing of construction would be important, Darlo had the same idea but built the ground before the other amenities (spelling?) and we know how that ended. But I look foward to watching the game after a workout at the gym and doing my weekly shop
all very exciting but seems like a massive waste of money if its only going to be a 15,000-18,000 seater stadium! even at the top end 18000, that is still only the 49th biggest stadium in england. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_stadiums_in_England if the leagues were bssed on stadium size then thats still only league 1!
It caters the attendance that we would receive from the local area (at best) without destroying the atmosphere surrounding the pitch. We aren't a club like Newcastle who have 50,000 fans at every match. The gate receipts increase would be massively beneficial to the club and the facilities around the stadium could harvest more far more revenue than we currently do at Priestfield. This should hopefully allow more investment into the team, youth etc. Plus it's not like it cannot be expanded if there ever was a significant increase in fan numbers.
Looking on the plans I see that there appears to be a couple of 'empty' areas - obviously with a view to be taken up by other enterprises - but I feel that if something could be provided for all year round family entertainment - and owned by Gillingham FC - the Club would receive all of the revenue. A venture that I would consider would be a ten pin bowling complex. Although I don't live in Gillingham, I believe that there is no such facility in the town.( can anyone confirm this ?) From the 'alleys' that I have attended, they seem to be well used - and can cater for smaller parties ( kids birthdays .) On a separate note there I see no problem with a fast food outlet on the site - after all, McD, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc already sit next to each other in plenty of places.
I think we need to be careful not to make assumptions about the plans or at the very least need to question them. The ground and BRC already offer food at what I personally deem as very expensive prices, are we really to believe that competition such as McDonalds, KFC etc will be allowed to set up in such close vicinity, via this fast food outlet shown on the plans on route to the ground, bearing in mind already the objection to the supermarket competition at the Docks. Also what about the parking, I can see parking on a Saturday for a supermarket is this also expected to accommodate a further proposed 15-18k capacity stadium? It appears we want to capture the fans via a halt right beside the stadium, will there be access walk ways to the ground to cater for locals, or will we all become a captured market via public transport links, another Millennium Dome? All looks good but also many basic supporter questions, because football is expensive enough and this project is not going to come free, I do not want to end up in another one of these cloned areas paying £4 a pint and £5 for a burger and what ever other ridiculous pre match prices come with these projects.
Gotta hand it to PS to come up with some answers when the pressure is on. 15-18k is the right size for a stadium in Medway . You can get in the PL on that basis and it wont be too big for Championship. Look we are never going to have 30-50k fans wanting to attend . The train station would be perfect for the people of Twydall as it is approx halfway between Gillingham and Rainham. Being near Yokosuka way will make it viable for many commuters in Medway. As for supermarkets shops etc who knows but someone will fill the space. Lets hope the stadium is not a bowl but a four sided tight affair a la a bigger Priestfield
