Turner admits Difficulties with Blackfriars End

Hereford United chairman Graham Turner has admitted that there are still difficulties in agreeing plans for the re-development of the Blackfriars End of the Edgar Street Stadium.

"We've got to tie in what we want with the Richardsons. We had meetings with them today. We have meetings next week with the architects.

"There are difficulties, I won't disguise that. It's not really to do with finance at the moment. We have to go to the Football Foundation to see whether we can get the grants.

"But there are difficulties in sorting something out that suits us, suits the Richardsons and the Council."

Turner revealed that the results of the recent archaeological dig had suggested there might be some samples close to the Bronze Age similar to those found at the adjacent livestock market.

"There will have to be future digs after the demolition of the Blackfriars End. Right at the moment I don't see that holding it up."

Asked about the time scale for the re-development, Turner was cautious.

"About three weeks ago!

"I think once demolition is completed then the actual work on the stand won't take that long. I've not given up the hope that that we will have it in place for next season but there are difficulties there is no doubt.

On top of all that Turner has a new Fire Safety Officer to deal with.

"He felt it's (Edgar Street) a fairly high risk structure so we've had to take steps to deal with that.

"By the time we get fire resistant glass put in along the Main Stand, with smoke detection and alarm system we've put in, I can't see us getting much change out of £20,000/£25,000.

"Then we've got the barriers - we've had a further meeting with the Football Licensing Authority concerning the Meadow End.

"We know exactly what we've got to do now. That work has got to be done. The engineers will start work a week on Monday putting the barriers in."

And then the Police Vicinity Costs problem.

"There has been a request sent out for us to sit around the table and talk about the situation. We still feel adamant that the Livestock Market should not be included on the ground's footprint. We think it's a simple case if we have to pay for anything they should just close the gates.

"I patrolled out there at the end of the Cheltenham match and supporters inter-mingled.

"We've put a lot more stewards on, quite costly but nowhere near as costly as police charges.

"So we have taken steps to step up our security with extra stewards and I think that is working fine.

"We've obviously got a test coming up in November with Shrewsbury coming over.

"The same principles will apply, we get intelligence and we are still working with the police. Locally we've got a great relationship with them.

"Leading up to the Shrewsbury match we will have the intelligence. As it's an all ticket match it makes it easier to secure.

"We will take every step to make sure it's an occasion that everybody enjoys without any risk of any trouble at all."

(Turner's quotes come from his latest interview on the Hereford United Official Website)

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