Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:06 pm  

Absolutely snowie ! Wakefield council are shocking and must be a laughing stock amongst other councils across the country.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:43 pm  

It always helps when the are two higher education institutions and city ethos of sporting excellence to generate sufficient funding to build such a facility.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Wed Oct 01, 2014 8:24 pm  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

It always helps when the are two higher education institutions and city ethos of sporting excellence to generate sufficient funding to build such a facility.

You need a Council that recognises the health benefits of an active lifestyle.
You need a Council that understands the influence that a strong sporting presence has on creating aspiration amongst the youth of an area.
You need a Council that doesn't blow smoke up the backsides of its populace and doesn't hide behind flimsy excuses for its inaction.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:14 am  

The Avenger wrote:

You need a Council that recognises the health benefits of an active lifestyle.
You need a Council that understands the influence that a strong sporting presence has on creating aspiration amongst the youth of an area.
You need a Council that doesn't blow smoke up the backsides of its populace and doesn't hide behind flimsy excuses for its inaction.

Top post mate and I agree 100% but how do you get a council like that. You won't get one voted in thats for sure.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:11 am  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

It always helps when the are two higher education institutions and city ethos of sporting excellence to generate sufficient funding to build such a facility.

Sheffield? The same Council who closed Don Valley Stadium, where the multi-medal winning Jessica Ennis CBE started her career and trained for the Olympics?

This quote from Richard Caborn in 2013 is interesting:

"Community sport is probably facing one of the bleakest periods it has had for some time. Local authorities are facing a reduction of 50% in non-discretionary spending and account for between 80% and 90% of spending on all community sports facilities. The year-on-year impact is going to be devastating."

Given that prediction, which came true, it's even more baffling that Wakefield Council are prepared to dismiss the Newmarket development as nothing to do with them; I would have thought that the development of a Community Stadium at virtually no cost to their budget and without the need for ongoing discretionary funding, would have been manna from heaven. But no - Mr Box says it's a private arrangement between the Developer and The Trust, so he isn't interested.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:33 am  

bren2k wrote:

Sheffield? The same Council who closed Don Valley Stadium, where the multi-medal winning Jessica Ennis CBE started her career and trained for the Olympics?

This quote from Richard Caborn in 2013 is interesting:

"Community sport is probably facing one of the bleakest periods it has had for some time. Local authorities are facing a reduction of 50% in non-discretionary spending and account for between 80% and 90% of spending on all community sports facilities. The year-on-year impact is going to be devastating."

Given that prediction, which came true, it's even more baffling that Wakefield Council are prepared to dismiss the Newmarket development as nothing to do with them; I would have thought that the development of a Community Stadium at virtually no cost to their budget and without the need for ongoing discretionary funding, would have been manna from heaven. But no - Mr Box says it's a private arrangement between the Developer and The Trust, so he isn't interested.

I suppose the fact the facility existed in the first place to be demolished shows the difference in attitude to sports between the two cities. Happily for Sheffield they seem keen to replace what they lost fairly swiftly. I think they were also looking to renovate an existing smaller stadium and running track for the provision of athletics.

One question I do have, even if there was the political will to hold Yorkcourt to there pre development promises, is there any money to actually do it. Yes it may put a stop to the development at NM, but it wouldn't help in the slightest in providing sports facilities for Wakefield.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 10:47 am  

And we all know why Box is not interested!

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:00 am  

The Sheffield situation does show what can be achieved IF the right people get behind a project and have the will to make it happen.
Unfortunately, there does appear to be something missing from our own situation.

Of course, Sheffield does need to secure some funding but, they wont suffer the same planning difficulties that we have endured.

Mind you, knocking down a (relatively) new stadium to build something similar in its place, albeit with some additional facilities seems bonkers, we could have made use of the main stand that they had down there.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:38 am  

Don Valley was a white elephant, a basket case and it needed knocking down.

Don't let the nostalgic whingings convince you otherwise.

Re: The City of Wakefield Community Stadium : Thu Oct 02, 2014 1:18 pm  

Not surprised that a certain person don't appear interested there is a man who stated in the local rag about something not being needed and expensive etc and then goes and votes in favour of it happening.Now that's a train of thought for you at high speed.