I heard about the Labour councillors complaining the rugby wouldn't suit a bigger stadium etc... Probably another reason the Lib Dem council won't want to sell the KC right away - local elections in May. Imagine doing a deal for ãXXmillion and then 2 months later having to sit back and watch Labour waste it all, like last time - they spent millions on double glazing for houses earmarked for demolition)
Haha - the council said to me, the problem is that Walton St car park is the only slab of concrete in the city big enough to host the fair. They said many people have quoted East Park, but they said as it's grass, it's not viable as it would cost them in thousands of ã's worth of damage to grass and flower beds etc... So it's either the Allam's don't build on Walton St car park for the deal to go ahead, or perhaps they could offer to tarmac a large area somewhere else in the city? Personally, I think the Allam's should just offer to build the Sports Village on the wasteland next to the railway bridge, build a hotel on the South Stand car park, build a car park underneath the hotel and link the hotel/KC to the Sports Village via a second railway bridge over the tracks. I reckon the Lib Dems would sell if the deal is right - I think it's more a case of doing a deal but pi****g the least amount of people off.
Agree the Walton Street car park is a disgrace and the land should have been built on years ago - a valuable piece of land left dormant except for one cold wet week in October each year when an anachronistic travelling fair makes money for loads of romanies from Nottingham. The land isn't tarmacked just has thin tarmac roadways on what is a poorly gravelled area. It would make a great site for an olympic sized swmming pool or better still the site of a 5000 capacity arena that the city has been crying out for years (and which should have been built rather than the Bonus Electrical Arena that is neither nowt nor summat)
just listening to him on humberside....i dont know why , but he reminds me a bit of willy wonka ..crazy millionaire..going to buy everything in hull....wish hed buy LA,s and make a better job of it then the current effort..
They could always build the sports village in the park, or as already suggested the waste land near the bridges.
They're not going to be allowed to build on the park and there isn't enough room for an Olympic size swimming pool unless they use the Walton Street site.
**** that !! I don't want that shower of **** on my doorstep.Simple fact is crime and disorder goes through the roof during fair week. The only people that go to fair after dark are either naive or are chavved up toss pots looking for trouble. In my opionion Hull fair has had its day, **** it off once and for all. Who'd miss it ???
It wasn't a serious suggestion, it was an attempt at humour/scarcasm. If it does move, it's going to Bransholme, which should be good for the fair people too, there's more people to sell pegs to there.
I love the idea of a sports village. I don't see why the council would not want to sell, its not like the stadium brings them in a revenue anyway. The thing is, the Allams are willing to invest in the city and its facilities, its not too often we get to say that, so let them do it. I agree with what someone else said about using the money gained from selling the stadium to re invest in the sports village, perhaps in a way which a profit could be made. Perhaps some of the money could be used to invest in the Craven Park development or invested in some other sporting facility. The only problem I can see is, if the development includes most of Walton Steet car park then the Allam's would also have to secure some near by land for parking. I also think a Village would help develop the whole of Analby Road, as revenue is brought the area, supporting the extra football/rugby capacity and those using the other facilities. Hotels, shops and services would see the area as a potential hot spot and invest/move to the area. Perhaps the development could also feature the long discussed train stop? Perhaps the village could be called The Circle, I like the sound of The KC Stadium at The Circle People have also mentioned the council being worried about the future of Hull Fair, well its moved before, theres plenty other direlect land which could be used. However The Melton idea doesn't have as much potential in my opinion, it would infact do further damage to the city, away fans wouldn't even need to come into the city. I think council know this and thats why the Allams are trying to call their bluff. I hope the council do sell, i'd hate to miss out on such an opportunity.
I spoke with Assem Allam on the 9th of Feb. He rang me after I sent him a letter via email. Below is an edited version of the letter. May I begin by thanking the Allam family for all that they have done for Hull in recent times. Although I live and work in Southampton, my parents and sisters still live in Hull and even after nearly 40 years away I still call Hull home. I also travel up for just about every Hull City home match as I hold a season pass. I want to see Hull and the East Riding develop in a way that protects the future of its people with a sustainable industry: An industry that is in many ways, capable of riding out the peaks and troughs of economics. Providing, long term employment for as many as possible. Some time ago I asked several Hull City supporters if they would support the purchase of a portion of Hull City. The vehicle I had in mind was called Hull City Sporting Club Ltd (HCSCL). Modeled on the Barcelona Sporting Club, it would offer the professional and amateur sports clubs in the area a new community based financial lifeline. At that time, I viewed a 20% of Hull City shareholding of Hull City beyond the means of the community (without a capital figure it is pure guess work). The reaction was mixed with the general feeling that investors would not trust the regime that was in place at that time. We did not progress the idea. My ideal is to look beyond football and rugby league, HCSCL would not only support these popular (in Hull) professional sports, but to encourage and develop Rugby Union, Hockey, Basketball, Cricket, Swimming in fact every form of club sport. It is obvious that local councils will drop or cut back the finances available to fund leisure and even sports in schools. Now is the time to enable the people to have ownership and a sporting club is the vehicle. I have a greater objective, as I said that I want to see a new industry develop in the area, one that employs local people as Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Engineers, Designers, Builders, Managers and workers in sports industry locally based businesses. The response was positive. What many do not see is that far from taking something away from the people of Hull, the purchase could allow far more actual investment by the people of Hull, but not the Council. Lets not forget, the council did not use its own money to build the KC, it sold a far more valuable asset. If anyone would like to become more involved, just ask.
