Would this be a viable alternative to redeveloping Holker Street

[Storf]

Looks like never the twain shall meet no matter what the circumstances.

[Jonty]

No not bored at all, Just trying to generate some healthy debate on the subject. It's always rubbished as too hard to do or "leave Holker Street and share with the rugby- no chance". As for the pitch issue. Modern pitch technology is revolutionising the amount of hammer pitches can take. See Widnes Vikings Desso I-pitch http://www.dessosports.com/sports/rugby ... vikings-uk

after the 10th time of mentioning all this it becomes boring not a healthy debate!

Yeah spot on contribution there. Really gives food for thought.

[finbar17]

Excellent post jonty. Of course our hearts will always be at holker street but I just don't see us being the Club we all want to be if we do stay. Reality tells us we should move for all manner of reasons capacity, parking and accesibility being the main 3 for me. But I also think moving might give the club the fresh start we never really got when casson took over. and by that I mean the club really needs reigniting in the eyes of alot of people in this town who quite simply just don't have the time of day for "the soccer" a shiny new stadium and or community sports complex would have that impact in my opinion. However. The eggchasers can do one umless we get one of them desso's.

[DaveC]

a few drawbacks with the Salthouse Mills location. The access road is utterly abysmal, and the foul stench coming from the waste water treatment works is enough to turn the hardiest of stomachs.

[finbar17]

When I read the evening Fails original article plans to road ammendments and upgrades are already in place. Access won't be an issue once any development starts on the site. As for the sewage smell jonty's pies best have a good strong whiff to block out that smell.

[spirit of 1990]

Not for me John.

I don't think Holker Street needs totally redeveloping to bring it up to a decent standard that would please supporters and make it functional for the FL....and keep the grounds "traditional" feel.

Pop side is pretty much ok, ideally that garage wouldn't be there allowing a full terrace but its no big problem.

HSE is an area that does need something doing, I'd like to see it all removed with new terracing and a roof, even if the roofed area only covers half of it.

The main stand (with some work on it) is fine, the walls at each end should be moved forward to match the closest edge of the stand to the pitch. Doing it this way would also allow (if ever needed) the stand to be extended at one or both ends if ever needed in the future.

I think there is so much that can be done with the Steelworks end and is the biggest wasted space at the moment. Imagine it knocked down and replaced with a hotel, proper function room, bar, conference facilities, reception, larger car park, shop. Huge potential in that area to bring money in over a full year and not just the football season.

The floodlights obviously need sorting one way or another.

I think that's about it still very costly, although a fraction of the cost of the original plans but a big saving on actually moving and building a new stadium.
I don't really think selling HS would raise too much money either as it would only be used for housing (selling to supermarket's is where the money is) and selling to housing development company won't raise too much cash....competition for that is right next door and a much bigger area that is far better for developing into an estate - surely an area that would please the town hall planners more than a mini housing estate shoved on a corner of a street.

Sorry, definitely a no from me.

[Jonty]

Ian this is not about bringing HS up to a decent standard with a make do. You could do that now, without delay, with football foundation stadium improvement grants . This is about providing a platform for the whole future of the football club for the next generation of fans. It's hard to balance the discussion because the club have not yet released any further detail on the scale of HS re-development or when. These are the sort of questions I'd like the Trust to be asking to be honest.

[spirit of 1990]

Ian this is not about bringing HS up to a decent standard with a make do. You could do that now, without delay, with football foundation stadium improvement grants . This is about providing a platform for the whole future of the football club for the next generation of fans. It's hard to balance the discussion because the club have not yet released any further detail on the scale of HS re-development or when. These are the sort of questions I'd like the Trust to be asking to be honest.

I think most would rather HS to be brought up to a decent standard John, I'm not talking about just make-do, it doesn't need £10-15m spending on a complete re-vamp - what I suggested wouldn't be far away from a very decent ground.
Like I say, how much do you honestly think that plot of land would be worth? I think it'd be an absolute fraction of the cost of re-locating.

Regarding the Trust asking about any potential re-development, I have asked myself as supporters have asked me to raise the question with the club - the answer is still the same as the last time I posted about it, or even when Austin replied once (Trust Q&A?) the club are still in negotiations with various landowners (Walmart being just one)

I'm as eager as you to find out more but that's the answer we get.

[blue nige]

after the 10th time of mentioning all this it becomes boring not a healthy debate!

Yeah spot on contribution there. Really gives food for thought.

I`m not knocking your ideas,it`s just that Paul Casson is stringing us along,at the forum he sort of laughed at fleetwood and said "we can do better than that",the thing is even if he hasdn`t got the money or doesn`t want to spend it,he could:

get the consultation group together

Show them his 3 optionns (from the architects)

Then group to decide best option.

This would at least show everyone something is at least planned!

I`m as frustrated as you but i feel nothing is going to happen in the short term,oh wait a minute 5 year plan (a stand every season!

[Jonty]

I'm not frustrated, just would like to hear some news as I'm sure we all would. Not dribs as and drabs of info and speculation. This is one of the biggest steps in the history of the club and it would be nice for fans to be engaged and have a proper update over the close season and bring us all up to date - Perhaps even another public forum?

[Hadrian]

How can you come up with three options until you are sure what land and access to it is available, bluenige?

While I am hopeful that supporters might be consulted on options (and, possibly more importantly, some of the details) I think we can be sure the owner will be taking the decisions.

[PRR]

The prospect of an exciting season on the pitch has got my willy slapping about like a plump Cumberland ring in a northwesterly gale. I'm sure we'll grow exponentially in the ground department with our progress on the pitch. That's good enough for me. No need to rush into a new soulless Minecraft stadium by numbers. Just be patient.

[glasgow_blue]

On other threads it's been mentioned about the Crossbar being out of the way and being in an awkward place. Salthouse mills is even more out the way. Stay and develop Holker St. Would be nice to hear of anything happening regarding the development (or not) though.

[walney rock]

We will still be having this debate in 5+ years time

[russell_anderson]

A new ground would cost a huge amount of money and I doubt if Paul Casson has the resources to build one. There will be no money from central or local government either in this economic climate so the chances of anything other than an improvement to Holker Street are approximately zero!