Quote: Sesquipedalian "Im not one for criticising and being negative and I'm fully appreciative of the efforts and commitments by those involved so don't get me wrong, I'm still a believer and fully expect a stadium to get built at some point.
However, throughout the process we were given estimations of when the stadium would be ready, 2013/2014/2015
It hasn't happened, we still don't really know when it will happen, now either the developers were playing ducks n drakes during the application/Inquiry process or they've been naive in their estimations and didn't anticipate the delays.
There's even been confusion over the 60,000 m2, at first I think the term used was 'built out' or something like that. The term was questioned and the answer given was that it meant Units were unbuilt yet had end users signed to legally binding contracts at which point they'd contribute to the 60,000m2 requirement. Now that seems to have changed to 'built and occupied' a wholey different definition in terms of timeline.
We don't need to declare war on YC I ask only that we are not informed and appeased by one explanation then kept in the dark when that version and projection fails to transpire. I for one would rather be told that the stadium is 10 years away than be continually held in a state of expectatation limbo. My other option is to be totally disinterested in stadium matters because as a fan it really is none of my business what YC are doing, I have no right to know and they have no obligation to tell me. For the club that's a dangerous state for fans to enter into but the lack of detailed updates and the elongated timelines are pushing fans that way.'"
Good post and plenty of points to address, which I will endeavour to do.
Firstly, lets clear up exactly what the section 106 says.
[i2 - Construction of the Stadium
2.1 - That as soon as is reasonably practicable following
That is word for word from the legal agreement.
The thing is we knew last year when Newcold came on board as an interested party that it was both a big part of the jigsaw and we really had to now wait until this was resolved in planning terms and on the horizon of starting being built, which we understand could quite literally be as soon as Monday but certainly in the next 2/3 months. They are going to build a big part of the highways infrastructure and starting the stadium without this was going to be hard.
YC were originally very open to the suggestion that the stadium be started very quickly when the SL licence and stadium issues were critical, but since they ended up becoming no longer as urgent as previous you have to understand that rushing into this build, now it didn't need to be rushed, would be counter productive for all parties. This way the money we get from YC will probably go further as it does not need to pay for the build of part of the infrastructure.
As you can also see, the Trust and council have to play their part and work is ongoing to get to a point where indeed a funding agreement can be reached.
The reality, as we see it at the moment, is that now things are indeed starting to move on site (and Newcold should starting building very soon) and SL has now decided (whether you agree or not) on the structure, which has been an issue with moving things forward, we think that next 12 months will see this agreement reached and a time-frame for the stadium build announced and agreed OR NOT... but we think the NOT is very unlikely but if we are been honest it is a possibility, although it is highly unlikely it will be the developer not keeping their side of the agreement which will lead to it not happening!
Actually, TRB, others and I have been chatting about the new structure (again, no matter what you think about it for the good of the overall game) and we think this makes staring on Newmarket sooner rather than later the more likely outcome! We know the situation now and that makes planning for every eventuality actually much easier from a Newmarket point of view.
Finally, the section 106 calls for a Super League standard ground to be built, but this is what we expect to now become the former SL standard (the actual standard is in the s106!) and the new SL standard we expect to be not quite as ambitious as previous! So, this again means that maybe if building not something quite as ambitious and quite as large that fits what we shortly expect to be new SL ground minimum standards means we can start on Newmarket and actually build and finish say an 8k capacity stadium, of course designed to be expanded to 12k then later 15k then why would we not take that option?
That said, we are working on delivering the original plans of 12k to 15k from the start and again, if come October then Wakey are in the 12 then again that should be the minimum ambition from the off!
Actually, this is the final bit - We have never been as busy on this as we have been since the inquiry and lots and lots is currently going on. We do hope to make some announcements soon that will show progress being made but equally please be patient. As I said, the next year or so should see this moving but I must admit to dropping my crystal ball over Christmas... so nothing is certain!