...Charlton Dad was on our board asking if he could help about our struggle to buy back our ground from the local council.
Basically, what has happened is that we got 95% of the way through the discussions, the Labour Council got in and because the mayor is an Independant, and used to be our mascot (the story is all over the net) the new council wont work with him.
Now our owners, IOR, have said that they are unwilling to pour money into what is basically a council house. I understand their stance, as do most Poolies. They have already spent millions on it. They only want to buy it and move forward.
This is the gadgie who is blocking it. He's the leader of the labour group in the town. Please e-mail him with messages of support. The plan is to regenerate an area of the town that has been derelict since I was a kid and I'm no spring chicken.
Please don't abuse him, be persuasive, he's not a football fan. He is a little 'light on his loafers' though.
christopher.akers-belcher@hartlepool.gov.uk
Ta. Kev
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Maybe you'd like to read the threads on Pooliebunker.com. We worry.
I must confess...i am Charlton Dad.
I went on thier board to thank them for having a laugh and doing some photos with my boy.
Anything we can do to help we should. A good bunch of lads they are.
A few questions PK:
1. Did the club previously own the ground?
2. If yes, how much did they sell it for and when?
3. How much are IOR proposing to pay the council for the ground and how much do the council want?
4. What is the value of the ground if the stadium was demolished and redeveloped?
5. Is there anything preventing the ground being redeveloped for purposes other than football?
6. The loafers comment, relevant or casual homophobia or other?
In case you are wondering, I am broadly in favour of Hartlepool United FC owning their ground. I don't necessarily believe this should be at the expense of the local tax payer nor do I feel that it should be possible for a company, that I know nothing about (and therefore in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, should be assumed to be entirely honourable), potentially to be allowed to take advantage of the situation.
You guys seem like a great bunch and I potentially have a killer blow or two to land on your problem councillor. Our fine administrator recently recovered for me an 11 minute Thames TV doc. on our Valley Party escapade, which is required viewing for all councillors Labour or otherwise with any kind of self-preservation instinct. However before I send it to him with a few accompanying words, I really ought to get up to speed with the dispute. All I could find was a BBC report from early March which looked quite optimistic. Can you guide me to a recent report which details the latest impasse?
Sheffield Red first:
1. Yes. It wa sold to the council in the late sixties in order to pay off the Inland Revenue and stop us sinking. The Chairman at that time was a local councillor.
2. 30 grand.
3.They offered 300K for it and were turned down. Later when negotiations resumed they did a simple interest calculation and offered 50 grand. relations at that stage were somewhat strained.
4. see 5.
5. The ground is covered by a covenant that stipulates that it can only be used for sports purposes. The commercial valuation is 635K was it to sold off as development land.
6. Not really relevant except, just an observation of his utter dislike of football.
Mr Prague:
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/pools-welcome-talks-on-ground-1-4342480
This was pre-election. The latest information has come from the message board lads who have been canvassing their newly elected councillors.
http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/egov_downloads/19.03.12_-_Cabinet_Agenda.pdf
http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/egov_downloads/19.03.12_-_Cabinet_Minutes_and_Decision_Record.pdf
http://www.investinhartlepool.com/pdfs/ers_action_plan11-14.pdf
http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/site/scripts/meetings_committees.php?headerID=29
Here is the e-mail.
Many thanks for the email. Unfortunately I do not take the view that it is in the interests of Hartlepool to hand over the ground to IOR. If I use Newcastlle for example where they do not own the ground but operate very successfully for the people of Newcastle I see no value in parting with a major asset of Hartlepool Borough Council. At the present time the ground, by being owned by the Council is ultimately in the ownership of the people of Hartlepool and as such I shall be opposing any transfer.
Kind Regards,
Christopher Akers-Belcher
Councillor for Foggy Furze
Chair Children's Services Scrutiny Forum and Chair Audit Committee
The meeting last night of the millhouse area action group was held in the millhouse pub.
it began with some background information on how the group was started. then there was an in depth discussion on the development its self.
there was some great ideas put forward to help push the campaign on but it always came back to pressure on councilors. Ian wright and peter mandalson so keep that up.
the independent survey carried out between the council and pools was fantastic pools brings to the town over 5 million each year and if the development goes ahead that would increase.
Ian wright has been approached for his view as will peter mandelson.
hartlepool lad and European cup winner john McGovern has agreed to be honary president for the group.
There was a Representative from the residents of the area there also who delighted at the way the meeting was presented and he was asked to join the newly formed committee next week.
there will be lots going on behind the scenes over the week and there will be a press release in the mail. so please get to next Tuesdays meeting 6-30 at the millhouse pub its bank holiday but there is no excuse with work and such.
we need your support. (That bit is for Poolies but of course any assistance is deeply appreciated.)
Best wishes to Hartlepool United, top club, top fans.