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Graham Turner has come out firing in the light of last week's council discussions on the stadium.
In a lengthy article on the official site, Turner says the report presented to the council 'was both factually inaccurate and contained an assumption which was incorrect.' and questions the council's motives after the report suggested 'the Edgar Street Grid which has had the Ground in its sights for some time.'
Turner admits the club maybe should have ignored the ESG's opinions: 'With hindsight, irrespective of the ESG opinion, we should have put in planning application for the multiplex cinema and asked the Council to determine the application on its planning merits and not on its own development ambitions for the Edgar Street Grid. This may have meant that the cinema would have been up and running twelve months ago.'
But he does acknowledge that some plans are still on the table: 'We are, ‘contrary to the report’ currently looking at two alternatives. The two alternatives that are currently being pursued, one by the Richardson’s and one by the Club itself may lead to something being achieved.
'Over the next few weeks the Club will investigate how the Council in Colchester has helped the Club to relocate to a new stadium – and how other club’s have benefitted from local authority help. 11 years seemed to have been wasted through no fault of the Club’s. We have missed the market because of the economic decline.'
The full statement can be seen, along with drawings of previously proposed stadium and cinema design, on the official site.
UPDATE July 11th - here's a copy of Turner's words:
A report from the Director of Regeneration of Herefordshire Council to its Community Services Scrutiny Committee, and subsequent comment from the Chairman of the Committee either at the meeting or to the media, is a cause of concern to us.
The report, which gave an overview of the situation with regard to the leases and the prospect of redevelopment of the ground, was presented to the committee recently. It was both factually inaccurate and contained an assumption which was incorrect.
We did receive an e-mail from the office of the Director of Regeneration informing us that it would be discussed but at no time were we asked to provide any information.
The background needs recalling.
The previous Board of Directors borrowed £1 million from Developers to finance the Club’s shortfall in funds as it began negotiations to enter a CVA.
In return, the Club agreed it would relocate to a new stadium with the present ground being in a prime position to achieve the sort of finance required to settle all parties.
This was the position we inherited and we immediately began looking at potential sites and stadium designs.
Our Architects produced drawings and designs for us in November 1998. Not long after the Council made it very clear to all parties that they would not support relocation and that the Club would remain at its present ground.
That produced a dilemma, how were we to pay back the £1 million and find the finance to develop Edgar Street?
At about this time the Edgar Street Grid Board came into being with grand designs for 100 acres of prime development land which included the Football Stadium, but no funding for its redevelopment.
Richardson Developers, who had by now taken over the project from Chelverton and Bristol Stadiums Ltd, became our partners in a quest to find a solution to the problem. We spent a considerable amount of money on legal fees in negotiating a joint venture agreement with them through Formsole (the name given to the project originally by Bristol Stadiums).
We then looked at a number of potential development options including a fitness centre, cinema and hotel.
In discussions with the ESG it became clear that the Club remaining at its present position was an integral part of its plans. The Club brought people into the City who spent money at pubs, cafes, shops etc, so the ‘footfall’ that the Club produced was vital for the economic vibrancy of the area.
After discussions a new six screen multiplex cinema was the best option for us at the Blackfriars End with the cinema facing Blackfriars Street and new high quality football facilities.
We made it clear from the outset that it was a football ground first and foremost and that commercial development must be designed with spectator facilities being of paramount importance.
At subsequent meetings with the ESG, concern was expressed by them about things like the configuration of the site and ‘milling’ areas.
The Richardsons had cinema companies interested and felt any problems could be overcome. Finally after 18 months or more of discussions we were told categorically that a cinema at the Blackfriars End would not be supported by the ESG.
It came as no surprise that when plans were published, several months later, for the so called retail quarter on the livestock market, they contained a multi screen cinema, a hotel and a fitness centre. Three possible projects we had investigated for incorporation in the ground.
Having lost the three possible projects and previously having been informed that retail would not be considered we are left with residential use. In view of the large number of houses being planned for the Merton Meadow Car Park, that is not a feasible proposition.
With hindsight, irrespective of the ESG opinion, we should have put in planning application for the multiplex cinema and asked the Council to determine the application on its planning merits and not on its own development ambitions for the Edgar Street Grid. This may have meant that the cinema would have been up and running twelve months ago.
Meanwhile the Director of Regeneration report states that the Council and ESG held a number of meetings with the head tenants and the football club to discuss proposals for a commercial redevelopment of part of the ground to fund the refurbishment of the football ground and stands.
Discussions had reached the stage of preparing Heads of Terms for a re-structuring of the lease to permit such a development. However, it has become clear that neither the head tenant nor the football club is prepared to proceed with such a development in the current financial circumstances.
The question is how does he know? Because we certainly have never confirmed it.
We now come to the quotes attributed to the Committee Chairman that “with Formsole (Richardson) dragging its feet over the development a buy-back of both leases was the best option”, with respect support from the Council or the Edgar Street Grid would have already seen us at a new ground or one end of the present one already developed with a new multiplex cinema.
Even more concerning is the line that the ‘the potential offered by the Edgar Street Grid which has had the Ground in its sights for some time’. Why, when they have 100 acres of land to develop, is the ground in its sights?
The Hereford Times reporter in his article about the meeting referred to Compulsory Purchase Orders being the only way forward.
It may have been his interpretation of the debate or a member of the Committee may have used the term, without immediate access to the minutes of the meeting it is uncertain, however once compulsory purchase orders are discussed publicly any affected business is blighted.
It is certainly bad timing as far as we are concerned.
Compulsory purchase orders to regain the leases will not happen; there are no legal grounds for it. To negotiate to buy back the leases would cost a great deal of money, funds that the Council don’t have, unless of course there is something more sinister in the line that the “Edgar Street Grid has had the ground in its sights for sometime”.
We have attempted to work within the scope that the Council and the ESG have allowed, which really has boiled down to a choice between residential or residential. We have no great desire to fall out with the Council or to sour a relationship with the Richardsons, who after all are our development partners.
But if the Richardsons have dragged their feet then the Council’s are firmly stuck in the mire. It is they, though their own ESG who have thwarted any attempts to get things moving, so it is disappointing to hear them now talking about being proactive.
Eleven frustrating years of meetings, discussions and debates have led us to this point.
We are, contrary to the report, currently looking at two alternatives. The two alternatives that are currently being pursued, one by the Richardson’s and one by the Club itself, may lead to something being achieved.
Over the next few weeks the Club will investigate how the Council in Colchester has helped the Club to relocate to a new stadium – and how other clubs have benefitted from local authority help.
11 years seemed to have been wasted through no fault of the Club. We have missed the market because of the economic decline.
With the continuing decline of the City Centre it appears that the City has only two attractions to visitors, the combined Cathedral and Mappa Mundi, and it’s Football League Club.
It has underestimated the value of the Club in taking the name of Hereford around the world. Sky Television and its overseas partners ensure that as part of the Football League programme, highlights of all the Club’s matches are shown globally.
Supporters need reassuring that work is continuing to find a solution to the problem.
Finally, let us not forget that the land on which the ground is built was bought for the people of Hereford for leisure and sporting activities from the Jackson Bequest.
As it happens a professional football club bearing the City’s name has occupied it for quite some time. As time has gone on we have tried to carry sporting activity further afield.
We have coaches going into schools, we have players coaching youngsters, we have the opportunity for schools to come to the Club for lessons, and we give free tickets to schools. We have a strong link with the Blind College and have recently acquired funding for a disability officer.
Through Sun Valley Strikers, Junior Bulls and our Football in the Community programme, we deliver more than just a match on a Saturday afternoon, we are a community club in the true sense something we believe satisfies the Jackson Bequest completely
