reading in the programme shortly before Peter Varney left that the Club had acquired an interest in some land in the West Malling area (I think it was).
Is it a conspiracy theory too far to suggest that now we are virtually a league 1 club there could be a plan to build a new ground and cash in on the development potential of The Valley?
I realise that the "credit crunch" renders a problematic element to development projects but in theory it would be possible, given the cheaper land prices in Kent, to build a small (15,000 ish) ground to suit our new status and pocket some profit from disposing of The Valley.
If the Kent site is large enough they could even build a new training ground too and flog the one in Eltham for housing which could generate yet more profit.
It could be the ideal way for the directors both to get their loans repaid and restructure the finances of the Club in the absence of a buyer.
Even if we were to get a buyer the new owner (s) would be unlikely to be fans and thus would have no allegiance to The Valley.
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Yes it probably is in theory.
However I can remember hearing Prescott on Question time saying that the Green Belt should no longer be sacrosanct if in the public interest (whatever that means).
If the politicians agree with developing something they invariably find a way to do it!
I don't know it particularly well myself but there has been a housing and business development in the Kings hill area of West Malling so with our community links we could probably argue a case for it being of benefit to more than just the football club. All weather pitches for hire perhaps?
Dug this out from the Official site.
Talks about a training ground and Community base but the site is 150 acres so who knows...
That's the danger - politicians saying it shouldn't be sacrosanct, but it's usually in their own collective vested interest to appease those who may keep them in power.
So this wretched goverment, for example, could sell the family silver in order to keep themselves in power in the short term, but it's the rest of us who have to live with the consequences.
The Green Belt was designated as such 60 years ago to provide a green lung for London, prevent overdevelopment and total urbanisation - and to make the district a better place in which to live or access.
Should we really sacrifice those principles for those with vested interest to make short term political or financial gain?
And if so, will that make the area a better place in which to live?
In any case, the concept of the Green Belt was to maintain it for future generations.
We are all the keepers of the Green Belt.
Or there will not be a Green Belt for our children or their children.
I'd mentioned bout this land and why hadn't we sold it since commercially it would be worth a fair amount, even with the credit crunch house's and business's are going up so quickly.......
..........
But been reliably informed that we never owned this land, and it was only ever an option that was mentioned as a new training facitlity, back in the good old days!! - esp since half our squad used to live in Kings Hill at the time
Maidstone Uniteds proposed new ground was gonna be couple of miles from this proposed site - shame the FA and local authorities weren't willing to loan the extra money to build it
(cue gags about "better atmosphere")
It's all about the gravity of the situation.
How's that for starters, Inspector...?
;o)
We were only offered an option to buy at some point, which the club never took up.
So the project has been long dead.