GROUND MOVE TAKES TO THE AIR
Barrie Hubbard spoke to Geoff Mitchell for Spireites World about the plans for a new stadium at Wheeldon Mill. Here's the transcript of the interview.
Barrie, remind us what you are putting in outline planning approval for?
Its an outline planning application for a football stadium - nothing else. No fancy nightclubs or anything - just a stadium, car park and training facilities. The stadium itself will go on top of the greyhound stadium, so we're hoping it will be just a "change of use" and the problems we had when we applied in 1997 should not occur this time.
How about access? Is there a problem with putting a road in?
No problem; some of the land has to be left in case they build the Brimington - Staveley by-pass, but this shouldn't effect the stadium at all. They were building the by-pass when I was about seven!
What sort of facilities can we expect in the stadium?
We have to have facilities for bringing money into the club. Dinner-dances, corporate events, so we have to have some sort of "dining room" facility. We'll also have a better club shop. We also must consider the community side of the club, so we're hoping to have rooms that we can let for community use. Community groups have been in discussion with the club and CFSS for some time to identify their needs.
And matchday facilities?
They will be a damned sight better than what we've got at Saltergate. We've been to a number of clubs to see what they do. Things are a lot better than when I stood on the Kop - fans have bars, food outlets with televisions and it's a lot more pleasant now. One idea is that people will come earlier, and be able to have a drink and get something to eat, irrespective of where they are sat in the ground. You shouldn't have to sit in a posh seat to be able to get a decent meal or snack. We're trying to do the best we can. I'm sure these things will be discussed before final designs go before the council. Supporters will be asked for their input because, if its right for them, it'll be right for the club.
Is it still a 10,000 capacity stadium? Is there room for standing in a "Kop?"
Yes, it'll be 10,000, and I'd like to keep one end open for standing, provided we're allowed to do that - I'm sure we are. People should have the opportunity to stand or to sit.
What about the cost?
We've been talking about a figure between six and seven million. The money for that will come from Saltergate and from the Football Foundation - between the two, around 6 million - and then we've got naming rights, advertising and other sources that make it stack up. We haven't yet had a definite price, although we've told developers how much we want to spend.
Do the existing debentures on Saltergate effectively take away revenue from the sale of Saltergate?
Assuming that the debenture holders want their money back. They may wish to leave their money in. In the event that debenture holders do want their money back it should be possible to borrow at a similar rate that we're paying the debenture holders, and pay them back. At the moment we have something like a million quid of loans in the club, but the interest is paid up to date: if we can do that on our current income levels we should be able to afford that with extra income coming in.
What is the position with Frank Sissons?
He owns the land and if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be going. In the early days there was the idea that he would build it, give us the keys and we'd give him the keys to Saltergate. That isn't the case now. That idea came when people thought he might be able to do some building of his own on the land, too. I don't think that's a goer and neither does Frank. We'll give him what he paid for it. He's been very good about it, not asking for interest or a big profit. He basically wants what he paid for it, and as far as I'm concerned, we've got a great deal. What we'll pay Frank is minimal compared to what we'll get for Saltergate.
It is better for the club to control the development?
Its much more businesslike, with us being more hands on. If someone else is building it you're never going to have complete control over it. This is the best way forward. During the next six months we'll draw up a tender and send it our to six or seven developers instead of just one.
Is there a chance of other sports becoming involved?
We'll have fifteen and a half acres of land, and it'll be for the football club. If others want to come in they'll have to acquire their own land. We've enough to do to get planning permission for Chesterfield Football Club, so that is all we're going for.
What is the time-frame like?
I don't know. I'd like to think that outline planning will be accepted before Christmas. Then we've got to get the detailed application in! That may take six months to draw up and submit, and a further three or four to be approved. I'd like to think we'll have approval by the beginning of the 2005-6 season. The stadium might be built by the start of the season after. But I'm only guessing, really - I hope nobody holds me to it, because it all depends on how difficult the application is; whether it is "called in." Once the outline plan is approved, it shouldn't take as long for the detailed application.
