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Sports Hub!
Great news for Stanley Trust and the whole of Accrington in general!
Done unbelievable since they started in 2010. Getting the Stanley name into schools every day as well as involving people of all different ages and abilities, promoting the Stanley name! Two possible sites earmarked for £2m 'sports hub' in Accrington - Accrington Observer |
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Mr Fearon and his team are doing a fantastic job. Well done to all. Hope the funding comes through.
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Well done
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Can someone please remind an exile (me) where the Higham playing fields are?
Bells are ringing, but I can't lock on ........ I do know where the Wham is, though. |
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The Community Trust is arguably becoming a bigger entity than the Football Club now!
Seriously though, the CT is doing massive things in the community and isn't shouted about anywhere near enough. There are frequent comments on here about "getting into the schools" etc ... the picture that follows tells you what they have done in the last year |
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Will the Stanley Squad be able to use it as their Training Ground?
(Where do they train at the moment?) |
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Must admit that I didn't know much about the Stanley Trust until I went to the Supporters Club Presentation before Xmas - I was blown away hearing what they do. They are into ALL the schools, giving away Stanley Branded goodies to get the kids hooked. I really was amazed at everything they were involved with.
Would love the club to be able to make use of Old Accs pitches, that could make it a real extension of the club, with decent training & community facilities. |
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Petition started to keep Higham Playing Fields from becoming home to Accrington Stanley's new £2million sports hub (From Lancashire Telegraph)
A petition to stop it been built, some people really are a joke, don't the people of Accrington want to support the club? Don't they want the town to have facilities to help improve the town, this is a great project for the club and town and will hopefully encourage more young children too Stanley, suprised IT wernt the people near livingstone road complaining though they complains out everything else |
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I think the sports hub will be good for the area but not if it will mean a loss of freely accessible public land. Many of the users of Highams have no interest in football and use the area for other recreational activities. There is still not enough information about what land will be lost to the public. There is also concern about the funding and management of the facility. This is probably due to its ties to the club and the history of financial issues.
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I can understand people's reservations but at the moment as far as I'm aware, it's only at the stage of a feasibility study being carried out & I presume more detailed information will be available after that has been completed.
And yes, it's well known that Stanley have a somewhat chequered history with regard to it's finances although hopefully that is now behind us but the Community Trust including their finances is run completely separately to the club. |
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I notice that Accrington Cricket Club (adjacent to Highams) now have a football pitch laid out on their extensive playing field.
I think it's used for boys football. However, as cricket is a summer sport & footy a winter game, would it not be possible for Stanley to use this facility for training during winter? Naturally the wicket would have to be protected, but there's enough space for 2 full size soccer pitches, even allowing for the wicket section. I regularly walk past their ground & have never ever seen it flooded or waterlogged. |
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Not so much as case of not in my back yard as not in my dogs toilet. |
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the club need to give serious consideration to leaving the hydburn council boundary
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The crowds are poor enough without moving away from Accy unless you are looking for an Accy indyref cos they're the options for leaving Hyndburn :D |
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Is this not where the ladies play football? I understand there is some acrymony as they are being priced off their playing area. It has been suggested that the club want the land for a 4G pitch. If this is the case then this is unacceptable. Other people in this community have the right to play their sport at an affordable price. I think their is a lot more to this than meets the eye. As much as I support the club I fully support the retention of the playing fields for use by the community.
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The reason schools and others are turning to 4G pitches is precisely because they can be used so much more intensively than grass. But both have to be paid for by those using them. As soon as one 4G game ends, another can start. That's not always the case with grass.
I know there's been lots of work done there but, from my memories of using Highams, it was often a water-logged mud bath in the football season. In later years, I was disappointed to look over Highams from my parents' house to see just how few games were ever being played there. Every time there's a planning application there's a petition from the immediate neighbours who don't want 'their' view or environment to change. It's perfectly understandable human reaction, and we'd all sign it if the Hub was being built across the road from our house. But surely ladies teams are precisely the ones that the Community Trust could and would be seeking to foster on a 4G pitch. |
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The ladies play on the Livingstone Road ground (behind accy end). They used to ground share withe Accy Amateurs but the Ams left, leaving the ladies to pay the rent entirely on their own. They were offered new kits and use of the new facility but they still voted to remain at the ground paying the rent themselves.
Unless they can be shown the light there probably isnt a lot can be done. They have a lease and they don't want to relinquish it. Building anywhere else seems silly |
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Relocating to Cheshire might be a good idea. Who's there at the moment? Macclesfield? Surely we could plonk ourselves in the golden triangle of alderley/wilmsliw/knutsford. £500 for season tickets could fly out if we get it right. And yes, that means decent modern posh pies.
It would also serve as a massive thumbs up to the locals that never go, plus a lot of BBC staff live there and could be our new wave of celeb fans. Imagine sitting next to Holly Willoughby (in your heated seat) rather than boring old bumble? I'd miss the long drive to Accrington of course, and the bonus of seeing my parents, but being back in time for final score would be some small compensation. |
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the borough of hydburn is not that big (geographically)
there is no reason the club couldn't retain its name and just be outside the borough working in partnership with a council that appreciates the profile a football league club brings. Time to ditch hydburn council once and for all |
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Let's not get ahead of things. It wasn't the Borough Council which organised the petition. One local Councillor, who understandably feels the need to back the more vociferous of his electorate, does not equate to the Council being obstructive.
I suppose Stanley could ask Blackburn or Burnley if they'd like another league club, ask Ribble Valley if it has some spare land in the AONB, or beg those cash-rich neighbours in Rossendale to find a couple of hectares of flat land. Let's wait and see what decision is taken, if it comes to that. |
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Sounds like a good thing for various reasons obviously living across the road from Highams I would prefer it to go on Livingston Road :D. We lost the use of Highams for nearly 2 years recently whilst all the levelling was going on and recently we've had a new housing estate built at the back of us so I think most people round Thorneyholme area are probably a bit wary of anything else happening.
Like I said it sounds like it should be of value to the town I suppose people just don't want it on their doorstep :rolleyes: |
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While the cost of using playing fields and sports facilities are all rising thanks to councils budget reductions. The fields used by the ladies which has seen a dramatic rent rise should not automatically be given over to the Stanley trust. This is public space as well and we have to respect that. As for the usual bad comments about residents around livingstone rd. complaining I would also suggest that people living across from the crown have put up with inconvenience at every match and would have every right to complain about the traffic nuisance. The point is they have not. Stanley has to get on with it's neighbours and in general we do. A feasibility study will only come back with a yes answer because the land is currently being used for the same purpose. The big worry would be an environmental impact study. I am convinced that with the right people negotiating with the current users could achieve an acceptable compromise for all parties. Good will can move these obstacles but I fear some arrogance maybe the stumbling block. |
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It's just Council speak for ignoring Cllr Malcolm Pritchard and still looking into the possible use of Highams as they decided before. Of course the Council want to look into it because they want to offload their land onto someone else to reduce Council costs.
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and we'll be happy to conduct our civic duty ...
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https://democracy.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/...binet.pdf?T=10
Council report for sports hub, it seems the club already lead the livingstone road playing fields but would have to give up the lease for the community trust to build on it |
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Not true, the land is leased to Accrington Football and Sports Club - which isnt Accrington Stanley. THEY must voluntarily surrender the lease before consideration can be given to the venue. AFSC have, I believe, been offered a number of incentives to do this but after a vote opted to decline. I also believe that said vote was not taken in under the truest of conditions as those who knew of the multiple incentives had not delivered the full picture to everyone involved. This led to a number of resignations. How much is true, and to what extent, I dont know but that is the prelude as to why the Trust have had to look at other less suitable venues |
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The trust should be looking at land not currently in use so they will be creating more sports provision not just altering what is currently available and making it less accessible to the public
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£2m sounds a lot of money, but I bet it isnt if they have to start repurposing land to be fit for purpose
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You can build a 4G pitch on top of almost anything, you don't need to waste currently available green space for that |
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I can't see that happening as the Trust will need to make money to cover costs so I hope that's tied into the contract with the council |
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A 3G/4G means there is a facility to use all year round when the weather turns bad! I can understand people's argument that it's using green land but most times I pass Highams it's either empty or very few people on it apart from dog walkers and Playing Fields are designed for sports to be played!...Just my opinion! |
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You should try parking on Thorneyholme on Saturday and Sunday mornings its packed and most nights during the week kids are having training sessions on there. It does seem to have become a kids football ground with smaller pitches etc but its still used by adults for cricket and rugby. Its probably used more than King Georges, White Ash and Bullough Park I would say.
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And the winner is Highams no surprise really it's in the Observer today, better plant a few horse chestnuts at the front as well :rolleyes:
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Backing from the "local residents" too...
Laneside Residents Association Support Higham?s Sports Hub Plans | Accrington Stanley Community Trust |
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Seems to have been disused in the 20yrs I have lived locally. Was away from area for previous 10yrs, but when we lived on Moss Hall Road, approx 1978-86, there was no fence between the two fields, & we had access to the whole area. Maybe that field may be a better option? |
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Not sure the point in keeping it fence off for atleast the time being! |
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If it's not secured people will use it as a dog toilet or a caravan park and, if they do that for long enough, they can then claim it's public open space, or a 'village green' whenever LCC finally decides it wants to build something. |
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The day centre was originally a nursery. :eek:
The land has been open once, years ago, to accommodate a circus when HBC declined to. |
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Seems such a shame after spending 2 years draining it and levelling it to probably fencing it off to the public unless you pay to use it !! Just wish Livingstone Rd had been considered but in the Observer it was just mentioned it couldn't be used so it was always going to be Highams all along. Money talks unfortunately and I feel this decision was made a long time ago I just hope this does work out when built. Moorhead round the corner has 3G/4G pitches with floodlights and the Sports Centre has them just how many more does the area need ? Could this new facilty not have been incorporated into the Sports Centre as I'm sure it could do with the investment rather than removing a green area from town. |
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Shurm, you wont get any 'official' response on here but Martin Fearon does reply, on behalf of the Community Trust, on the Hyndburn Chat page on Facebook.
I like to get involved and defend the project on there mainly because of the nature of the objectors. Even when the project was first discussed it attracted naysayers who hadnt the slightest clue about what was involved, it was just a flat 'nay' from them. As time elapsed they managed to remember the odd snippet of fact that someone else had told them, so this then became the mainstay of their argument. The over riding fact at the moment is that the public have not seen any plans as to how big the project is going to be, therefore how much space will be taken up. I believe the budget is £2m. Rob Heys quoted a few years ago that a 4g pitch would cost in the region of £500k to install - in that case there will only be a maximum of 3 pitches, 1 set of buildings and 1 small car park. It wouldn't take up the entire area so dogs and drones can still be safely aired Quote:
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My lad currently pays subs of £3 a session but we were told that prices were going to go up to £20 a month due to the council charges for pitch usage rising disproportionately. When I've played on the 4g pitches (7 a side) the cost has been £3 each. The ASCT has made money on that price AND the owner of the pitch has made money on that price. That suggests to me that replacing the flooded public pitches with privately owned (registered chairty) synthetic ones is a better use of space? Games would always take place with no fixture backlog Quote:
Had Livingstone Road been on the table there would be no problem and it would have been hugely to the advantage of the Football Club to have this on their doorstep. It wasn't on the table, nothing can be done, we move on. Some people ask why it couldn't be done on the Power Station site for example. Simply put it is out of the way. This is a Community project and needs to be in a communal area. Quote:
This bit half annoys me. 10/12 years ago ASFC talked about building a 4g training pitch on site, it was refused by the Council as Moorhead had submitted plans, that would be passed, for a similar project. It is true that only a finite number of these facilities are needed for our small town. However, ASFC currently pays money out to use these facilities. ASCT currently pays money out to use these facilities. The joint expense probably justifies a new build project on its own, The fact that activities could vastly increase with the new site rubber stamps it. The problem with naysayers to me is that of validation. Why are they against it? Local residents will be worried about; noise pollution - already kids kicking about on there. already a train track running through car parking - Thorneyholme Road is probably the widest road in the borough. Cars parked on both sides and still plenty of room for 2 cars to pass. A car park will be built so there will be LESS car parking issues. Loss of public space - This is the only true argument in reality. I've read people oppose it simply because it is Accrington Stanley. One comment was about a club that cant be trusted with money being in charge of a project like this! The Community Trust really need to explain the difference between itself and the Football Club. They are 2 separate entities but one exists to complement the other. I would go so far as to say the Community Trust is probably bigger than the club - in terms of revenue, interaction, success and growth. This shouldn't be the case but it is. The CT money is no profit and has to go back in, they are a registered charity. The name itself suggests that it should be 'trustworthy'. The last argument I read was within the confines of joint interest. Somebody was listing that trustees of the Trust were registered as board members of the Football Club. True, but that's fairly obviously going to be the case is it not? If anybody really wants to know just how successful the Trust has been at interacting with the community then I suggest you visit the website ABOUT US | Accrington Stanley Community Trust for entire details. But for those that dont here is a very brief resume of just the football teams, they also do so much more ... Accrington Stanley Girls and Ladies teams Mens and Ladies Walking Football teams for over 50's Disabled Football team All age group childrens football Girls Premier League team Futsal team In addition to this they run the National Citizen Service for 16-18 year olds, they run courses on Health and Nutrition, Employability courses etc etc. The list goes on for what they do and are involved with. At the moment though they are running across multiple sites and can only benefit and grow by having their own base. If this project was not headlined by ACCRINGTON STANLEY ... would it have the same level of opposition? |
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in the name of proportionate representation ... facebook page against the project https://www.facebook.com/savehighams...c_location=ufi
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Good posts, Macca.
Thanks for taking the time and trouble to explain things in a reasonable manner to those of us not totally in the know. The Trust really do seem to be doing a great job. |
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As far as I can see the Ladies Football Team need their heads banging together why would they not want to be part of ASFC and have all the benefits of that along with better facilities and it could all be on one site !!
We all know the ideal place for this is Livingstone Road right next to the Club and that land is used for nothing else but football, its madness to take away a green area from the community to make way for more football pitches. When I played in the local league there was 4 Divisions and football was hugely popular now there is 1 Division and people do other things with their time and play and watch a multitude of other sports which Highams caters for with Rugby and Cricket also being played on there. Its not just the site its Highams being out of bounds again for another 2 years whilst its all built which we had recently. Floodlights across from your house on till 10pm ? Increased traffic day and night won't be much fun either or safe for children as Thorneyholme is like a race track at times with some idiots. I just don't want it on my doorstep and thats my personal view but its obvious its going to happen as The Council doesn't really give a toss about any residents but I hope enough people make a stand against this. The idea sounds good and I love the club and football just stick it on Bullough Park or King Georges :D |
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500k of public money is incorrect.
No sports hall is being built. The drainage is terrible, ask the local leagues how many games have been called off in the last two years. The play area will remain as part of the site with free open access. Cricket and rugby will still be played. HBC have introduced fees for teams wanting to play matches on all council sites as of this season. We cannot expand our activities because all of the other sites are fully booked at peak times. The council are not putting any funding into this development. that is from Martin fearon himself |
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Its happening anyway mate, lets just see the plans first to see how much we like or don't like it.
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Great post by macca, I've learnt some information reading that post. Should be on Livingston road, I wouldn't be happy if it was across from the place I live. Understand why the residents are not happy, certainly as there isn't another grassy area around to walk dogs, take children etc.
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Ah but are the residents committee not happy with it? I'm sure i read different to that.
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Amazes me that these people actually want councils to provide them with a place for their dogs to **** .
Simple answer if you dont have your own facilities dont get a bloody dog. |
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I guess Highams has always played a big part in my life.
Memories from boyhood 'day-long' footie games, which ended only with the setting sun, to taking part in school athletics sports days when every primary school in Accy competed for a trophy. Later, in my teens, playing local combination soccer on waterlogged or frozen pitches in hail, rain & shine. My nostalgic ramblings have a point, which is that as far back as I can remember, Highams was never anything other than 'playing fields'. There's little doubt that the recent work has transformed the old Highams into a more practical venue for field sports but - is it being utilised to it's maximum potential? I still cross Highams to get to the Wham for mid-week & Saturday games & for evening walks during summer. You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've actually seen any form of competitive match taking place. What I do witness are a lot of irresponsible dog-walkers allowing their pets to roam (& defacate) freely. Youths churning up the fields on dirt-bikes and families using it as a picnic spot, invariably leaving a mountain of litter behind them. Reading some of the posts on here, you might imagine that Highams had become some sort of nature reserve for dog-walkers, rather than the sports field which is its main purpose. I can't understand the local residents complaints about it being used as a sports hub? It's been fulfilling this role for donkey's years. It's a bit like the residents of the recently built Whinney Hill estate complaining about developments at the Wham, when the ground was there long before a brick was laid on their house. |
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East Lancs Football Alliance now backing plans for the Sports Hub!
ELFA Support Higham?s Sports Hub Plans | Accrington Stanley Community Trust |
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Just read the Ladies Football Team will use the Hub for training and matches so does that mean they will give up the lease on Livingstone Road ? The same lease they won't give up in order for that land to be developed as the Hub ??
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(sir) Martin;
New ladies team is being formed as existing Girls and Ladies are staying on Livingstone Road ( their choice) |
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Ok that explains that then, what will the ladies on Livingstone be called ?
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Livingstone Road mob are Accrington Girls and Ladies I think. The new team is Accrington Stanley
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St Joesphs girls have merged to make Accrington Stanley Ladies who'll be playing on Highams
Accy ladies who already play on Livingstone Road are a different club! |
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Oh right I always thought they had something to do with Stanley didnt realise they were totally independent all makes a bit more sense now.
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I've received a flyer through my door this morning about a public meeting - headline is 'Save Highams playing fields for public use', it's being held at St. Joseph's church hall next Wednesday at 6.30.
It states that the meeting has been arranged with HBC & Commnity Trust representatives to discuss the proposals - all well & good except the Trust have NOT been invited, just wonder if this has been done so they can then say that the Trust's representatives couldn't be bothered to turn up?? Wasn't surprised that the name at the bottom of the flyer is Councillor Malcolm Pritchard :rolleyes: |
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Nowt that man does would surprise me.:rolleyes:
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Hopefully I'll attend, just for a bit of balance ;-)
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Was thinking of going, just to hear what's being said - could be interesting
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I've also received the flyer which I've scanned and attached. Malcolm Pritchard is our local councillor but I have to say, from my experience he's not interested in the larger community, just the bits that impact on him. Just my opinion
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If i said my piece to Pritchard i would be ejected.no doubt at all so i will not go near the place.
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Still remember Eric Whalley asking him to vacate the clubhouse (not his exact words of course) :)
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Living nearby, & using Highams on a daily basis,(sorry, Northern Soul, it is to excercise my dogs, & a by-product is that they also cr4p, but, as a responsible citizen, I do clean up!), also being an admirer of what the trust is achieving, I have mixed feelings about this proposal.... I tend to agree with others, that Livingstone road should be the preferred option, maybe it is not too late to convince the current leaseholders that this could also be to their advantage? I have read & re-read this thread, to try & get a better feel of people's opinions, also read all the comments on the on-line petition, yet, I am still unsure, which is why I intend, as an interested resident, to attend this meeting, &, hopefully, hear both sides of the argument, providing both camps attend! Hopefully see some of you there! I shall wear my Stanley top with my name on the back, so, please introduce yourself! |
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EW had him sussed!! |
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Just 'bumping' this up, to remind anyone who is interested of the 'Public Meeting' at 6:30 tomorrow at St, Joseph's Church Hall.
Wonder if anyone from ASCT will attend? The flyer received said they would, but Acc Obs last week said they denied all knowledge of the meeting!! Hopefully a good turnout, whether for or against. |
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They have said ASCT will be turning up without inviting them!
So they could turn round and say "They couldn't even be bothered to turn up to the meeting" |
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Martin Fearon has repeatedly said that they arent interested in public meetings until the full proposal is prepares. Besides which, he's on holiday I believe!
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This is the kind of meeting the Trust should have organised before putting flyers through people's letter boxes basically saying what was going to happen by the time the full proposal is prepared it will be passed we all know that.
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