Another Council Helping their Non- League Football Club

Unlike our Council and the dreadful reply I received from our MP

Dear Mr Paul,

Thank you for copying me into your correspondence regarding the Camrose Ground. 
 
I am aware that the Planning Inspectorate has reviewed this planning application and concluded that, after redevelopment, the FA Facility at Winklebury  will be equivalent to the Camrose Ground. I appreciate your disappointment with this ruling, however, the Planning Inspector is independent, and as an MP I have no authority over this process. 

 Having reviewed the Planning Inspectorate’s document, I do note that, ‘Basron’ the Camrose owners, are obligated to provide sizable contributions to enhance the facility at Winklebury, including creating two artificial grass pitches. The document also stipulates that these enhancements must be carried out before work commences at the Camrose grounds.

The Planning Inspectorate’s full report can be followed by using the link below:

planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/files/CC08A9E84687B9E5DEAC4628C66A4865/pdf/19_01110_OUT-APPEAL_DECISION-6042735.pdf

I have written to the Chief Executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council as the planning authority to explain what measures are in place to ensure a smooth transition for Basingstoke FC and to expedite the works at the FA Winklebury Ground. 

I will write to you again once I have received a reply.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if I might be of any further assistance in the meantime.

With best wishes,

Rt Hon Maria Miller MP

Had the same reply. Not as if she is not aware of what’s going on because she did have a meeting with one of our group, who was struggling to get over the point but eventually did and she was acceptable to it, she actually went on record in the paper as saying she backs a like for like stadium. Now it appears from her return email to several of us she clearly misses the point. I’m in the process of trying to set up a meeting with her, I urge as many of you fans of the club to do the same, I have to say a lot of you appear to be very quite on this subject! If you don’t want a like for like stadium and are happy with Winklebury and no future progression be brave and come out and say. Then I can pack up and enjoy my semi retirement. If any of you give up now Winklebury will be the home forever and the club and towns ambitions of climbing the league ladder will end and kill the hopes of future generations of budding footballers.

Rob,
Agree a march to the Council offices or from the Camrose to Winklebury is something that needs to happen and I would support it and get people from the Supporters Club to join as well, but as you say the club has the ability to gain wider support and attention if it came from them.
A known local celebrity joining us would make a bigger splash, and could get wider attention. 

I have left it a while since Hoody84 posted to see if he got much response and you can see that basically this forum is like being in a coma. Not a lot of people are showing much interest at all. I have to take it that with decent crowds above 500 your all happy to just stay at Winklebury and not bother fighting for a replacement?

I would say the club have not enhanced the celebrities who showed interest in this subject and there were a few. I have also heard people talk on Talksport about the clubs plight but it all needs following up and ideally from within the club. I was told at one point that a sports journalist was interested in this story but this was never followed up? Why ?

If you want to see change then pressure needs to be kept up on our council and councillors. Thank god, Cllr Rebecca Bean is no longer Portfolio Holder for Sport and Leisure in this town, that has now gone to Cllr.Jenny.Vaux@basingstoke.gov.uk
(That is her email address, get writing in to her)

I have managed to secure. Meeting with a local councillor about the situation, date on that one is still to be confirmed but I do have a date early in July with Maria Miller MP, anyone else had any success on doing something like this?

You may get some media coverage outside Centreprise but what will that be worth? They are not going to shift of budge. The council is now the only option like I say if you want change!