LATEST NEWS ON FENCE DECISION SAGA

As previously reported, at their meeting at the Grove on 1/9/2004, the Town Council Leisure Committee deferred their decision on the fence surround we propose to put in place around the two open sides of our Somerset County League pitch. They wished to further consider the visual impact the fence would have on the area and to write to the Screwfix League, enquiring why the fence needed to be 6ft in height. The deferred proposal was therefore addressed at the Town Council Leisure Committee meeting last night (6/10/2004), which Barry and I attended on behalf of the Club.

The matter was again discussed by the Council and I was asked a number of questions. These ranged from our long term future development proposals, whether our proposals might best be accommodated at another site in Nailsea, and the effect of our proposals on the Grove area. However, I stressed that the plans and aspirations within our current capability (particularly from a financial perspective) and to fit our desired time scales for advancement on the field (into Screwfix Division One), could only practically and realistically be realised at the Grove.

In the longer term I agreed that we would obviously listen to anything the Council proposed, if an alternative site was found and the price was right (the latter of which is likely to be very costly if we wish to have in place Screwfix Premier League facilities), but that our current aims are well and truly fixed on the Grove for the foreseeable future. It was evident that as the meeting wore on, many of the Counsellors were vocally supportive of our plans (we were referred to as a 'Club that is a great credit to the Town') and Barry and I started to feel confident of a positive outcome. However, there were a small number of counsellors who still seemed to be uncomfortable about the visual impact, although it was clearly stated at the start of the discussion that the Grove is a sports field for organised sporting activity. A comparison was suggested between ourselves and another local Club, in that development there had caused problems with residents, but I was quick to affirm that our current plans would have no effect on nearby residents and our proposals had been submitted through the appropriate channels to ensure these issues were considered before going ahead.

Incidentally, there had been no reply to the Town Council from the Screwfix League about the height of the fence, so I (again) explained that the purpose of the fence was to ensure that spectators needed to be inside the enclosed area to watch the game to adhere to the Screwfix specification. After lengthy (and for us frustrating) debate, it was ultimately agreed by the Council that the matter would again be deferred, this time to be definitely decided by the full Nailsea Town Council at their meeting on 3/11/2004, hearing a recommendation from the Leisure Committee (whatever that may be). In the interim, the Council are to contact nearby residents to inform them of our proposals and the local press will report on last night's meeting, which will make our proposals more widely known to the public.

It was naturally a disappointment, in that a decision was again deferred (I originally submitted our proposals to the Council in the middle of June). However, Barry and I felt that there was a growing level of support on the Council for our proposal and we must therefore hope for the best. I stressed to the Council that we are now operating under very testing timescales if we intend to be ready for next season and this was confirmed as understood, hence the November decision date, which was originally to be extended.

I know this news is frustrating, but let's stay optimistic - Barry and I have got a gut feeling we're going to win!

Spence
Club Chairman

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