Anybody know what they’re doing with the west stand large team banner? It’s obviously outdated now.

I wonder if it would be better having the clubs crest/crests on there so it could be utilised indefinitely till works commence.

Has anyone heard anything?

Matt mentioned that briefly at Shareholders.
He said they would do a new one.

Though I don't know if they'd keep it if they develop the West.
I quite like it.

Totally agree with you PT, I know some players on it will have moved on but looking across on match days, the difference a simple banner as made to the west stand is massive, the printing company will be rubbing their hands if it’s going to be replaced every time a player comes and goes.

I like it too. As BLM says that was more my thinking that we’d have to replace it regularly. If you put crests on at least you can leave it more than a season. Though the teams a nice touch.

I suppose when the west gets redeveloped you could incorporate a few signs with the clubs crest onto it for effect.

Just another thought, looking at the whole bottom of the north being dug out and replaced. It’s a real shame that instead of having the frame upper north done that we couldn’t have dug out the whole north and had some terracing put in there with some underside bar. You could probably get 7k in that stand. Not a criticism of the previous owners because I get they didn’t have the funds and had to make on the spot decisions. It does seem like the new upper now is more of a hindrance to further works though.

With the west being something that may be upgraded next I wonder if the plan would be to dig out the west terrace like the lower north and build new terracing with some basic facilities and a roof on. It would be very interesting to see what the club has in with planning that’s for sure. I’m sure getting rid of those boxes and getting new terracing in would also increase the capacity on west too by maybe 1000. Even more if there’s plan of a second tier (boxes etc) or sky bar.

The north isn't hindered by the new part. It's the roof that causes the problem. You can't build higher without removing it.

The issue with the west is planning permission with the houses behind.
It's a big footprint with a lot of possibilities if they can solve it.

I know they are working on it but don't know the range of what the want to do. They've discussed a few different ideas.

Could the PP be assisted with the fact that once upon a time a stand, quite a big one, if I recall, was there previously, for a lot of years.

I thought that but they say it's still going to be a problem.
No idea what that problem would be though, in terms of hight or length etc.

I walked past this morning with the dog, looking from the outside of the north stand. If that was extended back, and was to incorporate new turnstiles, there could be works required too, to the boubdary wall, which could impact use of that ginnell

Who says? Can’t see planning being a problem.

Up the Trin

Think eventually the North Stand will have another block of terrace at the rear and a new roof with refreshment facilities at both corners.
Up the Trin

Those houses on the West side are quite a way from the ground, I dont see an issue provided the stand is not really too high. After all there are houses which are nearer the new East stand and also behind the boxes and a stand or structure no higher than those would easily be be sufficient.

Planning permission would not be a huge issue, mainly because precedents have already been set. This is how planning and the law in the U.K. tends to work.

There was an existing structure there up until 1987. It was a fairly tall structure, but most importantly it was there long before the houses.

Then in 1990 the old boxes were erected, which again are quite tall. Not long after a TV gantry was added. So at no point have most of those houses not had some obstructed view from the rugby ground.

Added to this the gardens are very long and at no point would a stand similar in height to the old stand deprive less than 50% of the garden area of sunlight for more than a few hours a day.

It would be hard to argue that a new stand, even a relatively tall one would have a significant effect. If done sympathetically it would be very easy to argue that a new stand would vastly improve the residents outlook.

The only issue would be capacity. Due to noise and access issues you’d struggle to get a big increase. I think the most the planners would go for would be around what it is now, max maybe 3,000 at a push. However with the edition of boxes and bars and maybe a media suit on a second level you’d probably offset the potential loss and make the stand a viable proposition.

A clever architect and an even smarter planning specialist would easily push that through. Especially as we now have a far more sympathetic council. As we know, Ellis only buys the best

Finally let’s not forget that we have the South end of the ground. There is easily enough room for a 3-5,000 capacity stand there depending on the configuration should we ever need it. So we are very lucky in that respect.

Totally correct on all points. Problems getting planning for a reasonable sized stand is a myth

That's what I thought too, including what you mentioned regarding the south stand.

However, I have next to no experience within technicalities on building regulations.

I’m sure that’s as close to 100% correct as we’ll ever get, at least until ME tests it out for real.

I have one question though regarding capacity
The old stand sat central to the pitch, maybe covering 50 metres (25m either side of the half way line.
Let’s say that stand or a modern stand of similar size would hold 2,000 spectators. Thats the equivalent of 1000 spectators for every 25m. A RL pitch runs 100m with an extra 20 metres either end of the terracing = 120 metres.
That ratio would equal 4,800 spectators on the West side of the stadium should we want to?

There was a stand there in the 60.s could it help ?

That’s not the problem unfortunately. The planners will base everything on current usage. They will do so based on the fact that for the last 35 years 3000 people or whatever the actual capacity is have successfully used the west terrace without incident. The residents cannot complain about the noise or access issues because that precedent has been set. You up that figure above what it is now and you give them room to object, and there is bound to be at least one. At that point the planners will be obliged to dig much deep, and it’s there that the planners may get nervous and turn us down. At the very least it could hold the project up for years.

Its a bit like what they call a ransom strip. Current capacity and we can simply modernise with limited objections. Go higher and you’re in the realms of maybe it will happen maybe it won’t.

For me it’s not worth the risk especially as we have the south of the ground free to be redeveloped should we need to. At a quick tally the 3000 west with an upped 4500 north and the 2600 east and finally 500 with some added seats at the front of the boxes gives us roughly 10600, and that imho would do us for the foreseeable future. Should we do the south later that would be more like 14000. With the best will in the world we are very unlikely to need that capacity very often.

HTH

The biggest problem would be light and there are calculations the planners use to determine negative effect of that. All this bull about it will spoil the houses view is rubbish. Views are not a consideration and as they say "you dont own a view"

I think you have more experience of this than me but I'm not sure the old stand will help us this much in the planning.
When it was built there were no planning permission rules and the people currently living in the houses would have bought the houses with nothing between them and the evening sun.

But hopefully the fact that the Belle Vue side is slightly lower than the houses will mean there's nothing really to contest.

Are you blind, how long have you been going to Belle Vue ? the evening sun sets behind the houses, not at the ground side.

I do hope that whatever is planned doesn't get objections.
It can only be beneficial to the area.
Talking of which- how come no action is taken to prevent the dumping of settees, fridges etc etc In the alleyways approaching the ground from Agbrigg?
It's an absolute disgrace - God knows what visiting supports think!
Even worse are some of the gardens adjacent to the ground- must be rat infested - there was even what looked like a bus engine dumped there!
How do they get away with it? What's the point in ME spending millions on the inside when the council are clearly not doing their job on the outside?
Makes me think they don't want to upset the residents !
To hell either that it needs sorting out!

Oh yes of course. Lol.
Sunrise then. Same point.

Council should be cleaning the alley.
The gardens you'd have to prove a serious health risk.

Residents shouldn't be fly tipping in the alley, the council have a rubbish collection service for larger items and are strapped for cash as it is without having to deal with that. I suspect the problem is that many of the homes are rented and the landlords don't give a toss about the aesthetic appeal of the area.