Hull City Council : Press releases Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Stephen Brady said: "We are extremely sad and disappointed to learn today that the decision has been made to go ahead with the installation of a 3G pitch at the Airco Arena, despite our stated major concerns about the impact on community users and the fact that we were having ongoing and productive discussions with both the Club and the Premier League about providing an acceptable alternative facility on the nearby hockey pitches. "Together with the City MPs, we have bent over backwards to support Hull City AFC in its bid to become a Category 2 Training Academy - including promising to expedite any planning or other permissions required to ensure they were able to meet the deadline set by the Premier League, which through our lobbying we also managed to get extended following the meeting between the Club and the Premier League Youth Development Team last Friday, as reported on Saturday. This is despite not being consulted on the Club's plans, including the impacts on the existing community users. "To our surprise, on Monday, we received a letter from the Club in relation to the hockey pitch proposal which made certain requests of the Council which could not possibly or legally be fulfilled, these were: a guarantee that the dome pitch would be granted planning consent (this would be a pre-determination and would be unlawful); a contribution of £425,000 from the Council to the £850,000 cost of providing the dome facility; the granting of business rates relief, for both the Airco Arena and the KC Stadium, for a period of 18-months (this is illegal). "On receipt of this letter, we advised the Club immediately that we could not meet these stipulations and why. We also restated our view that there was an alternative acceptable to the Club, the Premier League and which did not impact on community users. We are aware that the Premier League deadline is not until July, by when formal planning consent could be in place. "As owners of the KC Stadium and the Airco Arena we are now considering all of our options in light of the action that has been taken by the Club today. "In the meantime, we will continue to do everything in our power to support the existing community clubs to find alternative facilities in the City and our offer of working with the Club, the Premier League and our local MPs to provide the acceptable alternative, through the provision of a dome over the hockey pitches, remains on the table."
Doesnt it? In the meantime, we will continue to do everything in our power to support the existing community clubs to find alternative facilities in the City and our offer of working with the Club, the Premier League and our local MPs to provide the acceptable alternative, through the provision of a dome over the hockey pitches, remains on the table."
I think he means this bit "As owners of the KC Stadium and the Airco Arena we are now considering all of our options in light of the action that has been taken by the Club today." One option is to revoke the lease and another is to enforce the terms of the lease. It will be interesting to see how much stomach for a fight Hull City Council or Alan Johnson have. I can imagine Alan Johnson, after negotiating a fairly reasonable compromise, will be livid.
Maybe he didnt hear Brady say on RH injunccshuns cost a lot? Which is conveniently missing from that statement. Why would he be livid? How much of a **** do you think Johnson gives. He's done his bit of politicing and looks ok in the press. Thats all he's bothered about.
Writing to the Premier League doesn't cost any money. Revoking the lease doesn't cost any money unless Assem Allam takes them to court. He doesn't look good in the press though does he? He looks weak and ineffectual. Someone who has bent the knee to one of Labour's biggest individual donors. I thought from your early post you understood.
I thought you understood, he is far and beyond caring what folk think of him, as what he thinks of everyone else over-shadows everything in his world.
The council really baffle me. Everyone know's how the Allam's are going to act, if they'd have said that 'should the planning application fail then you can use the Airco then all this would be avoided.' The Allam's may be hugely detrimental but the Council are no better either.
Apologies, misread it; but I very much doubt there will be any anger or embarrassment, politicians, more than anyone, let this sort of thing wash over them. I would imagine Johnson, who is a shrewd character, would have had some inclination that this was a possibility. This is firmly in the court of HCC who have had a huge affront made to their civic dignity and authority. They worked together all over the weekend, they say, as the truck was being loaded with green stuff.
I've just had a squint on CI, and it reminded me of a question or two I keep meaning to ask. Anyone any idea what went wrong at Bishop Burton that meant the facilities have had to be fragmented? Are their any implications for the new arrangements at Bishop Burton? If they've fallen out over the 3G, I can't imagine the relationship on the rest being a bed of roses. Is that something the auditors may also pick up on?
I think at the last FWG they said something about needing it within a short timescale and BB not being able to allow that as they have processes etc that take time.
According to Angus Young (on twitter) the Council are considering submitting a formal complaint to the Premier League.
I think the fact they're considering it will have the Prem auditors checking there's ink in the red pens. I can't imagine they're not looking at other options they have too. They need to hide Geraghty's crayons though, just in case he decides to write it. .
The requirement for the 3G pitch must have been known in mid 2014 for the 2014/15 season. So why was nothing done?
