Titbits from the Cottage Tour

[Ron Sheepskin]

So I went on the tour this morning - well worth it if you haven't done it. Only thing missing was a game in glorious sunshine at the end.

Couple of interesting things - the guy doing the tour did say that he had been told to say "I don't know" if anyone asked what that statue shaped object by the Hammy End was! We were not taken down to that part of the ground though - are they just playing safe?

Also there's a nice timeline history of the club in the Trophy Lounge, but no mention of the manager who kept us in the Premier League and took us to a European Final. The moral may be to not upset the Chairman.

Finally, apparently we still have valid planning permission to increase the Riverside by another 3000 seats as long as we start work in the next 2 years. Estimated cost of £15 million for the work. So, sell Eddie to Preston, and we only have to fund 2999 more seats  :hook:

[MJG]

Interesting, the bit that gets me is £15M for 3K extra seats, that's £5k per seat which us way off the average cost per seat for a new stadium.
It would take at least 8-10 years to re coup that kind of outlay.

[Ron Sheepskin]

I think part of the cost would be for the new turnstiles in Bishop's park to access the Riverside. Apparently they decided not to do the work immediately after getting permission as we were looking a little shaky. Danny's header at Portsmouth meant that the plans were not shredded, and may yet still happen.

[MJG]

Having sat in the putney end this season I think they need to put an entry point for away fans there(in BP) anyway in the long-term.

[mrska]

Ron..  where abouts is the mysterious statue thing positioned?  Is it over towrds the river or by the Hammersmith End / Johnny Haynes stand?

[Snibbo]

Ron..  where abouts is the mysterious statue thing positioned?  Is it over towrds the river or by the Hammersmith End / Johnny Haynes stand?

"the bizarre tribute statue will be situated on the River Thames adjacent to the Riverside and Hammersmith end of the ground. "

"banks of the river Thames, adjacent to the Riverside and Hammersmith Stands at the stadium. "

According to 2 press reports

[Fletchino]

Ron..  where abouts is the mysterious statue thing positioned?  Is it over towrds the river or by the Hammersmith End / Johnny Haynes stand?

Did you get the picture I sent you?

[mrska]

Ron..  where abouts is the mysterious statue thing positioned?  Is it over towrds the river or by the Hammersmith End / Johnny Haynes stand?

Did you get the picture I sent you?

Ha ha yes fletch..  it was dark and i was trying to work out where he was lol!  How the hell did you get that picture mate!!!!

[b+w geezer]

This interesting post prompted me to refresh memory of the permitted work. There is a summary at http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News_Archive/Press_releases/2007/90932_Fulham_Football_Club_future_secured.asp.
The council's statement, dated December 2007, implies that permission will have expired by now though. "The planning consent means Fulham Football Club now have three years to make a range of improvements to the stadium." If the bloke giving the tour is correct, then the period's been extended by a couple of years -- presumably to commence rather than complete.

Postscript:
That's odd -- the link doesn't seem to work if you click on it, even though it is pasted from the toolbar when the page displays. Anyway, it can be found by Googling: fulham football future secure.

[TonyGilroy]

Depends on the specific wording of the permission but as a generalisation it's enough to commence ANY of the work in a permission within 3 years so we might have an indefinite period now in which to complete the work if we've started any of it.

[b+w geezer]

Hopefully Tony's right. The mixture of measures described is very clever, but it does look like there was permission of an overall package, such that extending capacity was a quid pro quo for various cosmetic improvements as well as paying for some improvements to the park and opening up the river path on non-matchdays. And without wishing to get into a conversation about M.Jackson again (!) there would be implications if the waxwork were no longer tucked out of sight and reach of the general public. (E.g. it wouldn't necessarily be Fulham fans to blame if it got defaced. Phew.)

[TonyGilroy]

Presumably you're referring to a Section 106 Agreement which sets out positive things that the club must do as a condition of the planning permission. Such conditions may or may not be time limited. If no time period for implemention is included then there are none.

The statue could always be moved or altered and retitled.

[b+w geezer]

Presumably you're referring to a Section 106 Agreement which sets out positive things that the club must do as a condition of the planning permission. Such conditions may or may not be time limited. If no time period for implemention is included then there are none.

Interesting; the borough press people don't mention that, but presumably they wouldn't. Doubt if residents would be too impressed if that were the case!

The statue could always be.....altered and retitled.

A very intriguing suggestion.

[Burt]

The statue could always be moved or altered and retitled.

Or removed.

:dead horse:

Interesting around the ability to continue with ground re-development.

How would you get an extra 3000 seats on the Riverside? That feels more than filling in the corners and removing the corporate boxes.

And you would definately need to improve access along the riverside e.g. gates right in to Bishops Park.

[Scrumpy]

This is the full text of the announcement in December 2007.........


Fulham Football Club's future at Craven Cottage looks secure after a Hammersmith Fulham Council planning committee granted consent for 3,422 extra seats.

The approval will take the capacity of the club's historic Thames riverside venue up to 30,000, when the new seats, plus another 1,100 already approved seats, are added. Local residents and amenity groups were consulted on the plans which include:

- Increasing capacity in the Riverside Stand by removing the executive boxes
- Opening the riverside walk to the public, except on match days
- Fully restoring the listed turnstiles
- Providing £1 million to help council plans to rejuvenate Bishop's Park.

Councillor Lucy Ivimy, Planning Applications Committee Chairman, said, "The football stadium has been in existence for over a century and, as such, is an integral part of the character of the conservation area. The Committee decided that Fulham Football Club's application was acceptable in the context of its land use and that the proposed development would not result in a significant change to the match day environment. The committee unanimously welcomed the extension of the riverside walk to the public. In addition the committee felt that the proposal would result in an improvement to the appearance of the stadium and, as a result, benefit the conservation area and enable the continued use of the listed buildings for the purpose for which they were built. The development fully complies with the London Plan as well as all relevant council policies."

The planning consent means Fulham Football Club now have three years to make a range of improvements to the stadium. The club now have permission to reclad the riverside stand as well as extending the first floor river-facing elevation to give more space in the existing corporate hospitality lounges. The corporate hospitality boxes at the back of the terraced area of the stand will be removed allowing for more terraced seating. These plans, together with the removal of executive boxes in the Putney End Stand and some infilling of small areas around the stadium, will increase the stadium's capacity - by 4,522 - to 30,000.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, Hammersmith & Fulham Council Deputy Leader, says, "We wanted to keep Fulham Football Club in Hammersmith & Fulham, but not at any cost. I believe this plan represents a good balance between the legitimate concerns of some local people and the commercial realities of a 21st Century Premiership Football Club. I am delighted that the club has put forward a range of improvements to the surrounding areas that should enhance this picturesque conservation area for future generations."

Fulham FC statement
On Tuesday 18 December, at a meeting of the planning committee of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the Club is delighted to announce that its planning application for a development package, that includes a plan to increase the capacity of Craven Cottage by an additional 4,000 seats, was granted.

Approval has been given for the removal of existing Executive Boxes from the Riverside Stand to facilitate the addition of further seats, and the corporate facilities would be refurbished to an extremely high specification allowing us to maximise on the revenue making opportunities these areas would generate. These works will include the replacement of windows on the first floor with a fully glazed projection that would echo the curve of the river edge, enhancing the internal aperture, and the external aesthetics of the stand and views across the river.

The Club's refurbishment programme guarantees a range of planning benefits including a funding contribution of £1m towards the enhancement of Bishops Park - as planned by the Bishops Park Stakeholders Group and the opening up of a new Riverwalk to allow pedestrians to walk the length of the Thames from Putney to Hammersmith Bridge unimpeded by the football ground, and full restoration of the “listed” turnstiles in the Johnny Haynes stand.

Additional undercroft space in the Johnny Haynes Stand has been identified and Executive Boxes will be added to provide hospitality accommodation for corporate clients, and we will work closely with English Heritage, to design sympathetically to ensure we retain the character and architectural uniqueness of the listed Stand.

It is also the intention to begin work in the Hammersmith End, where planning for a restaurant with views across the river has already been granted.

Now that our application has been successful a full schedule of works and timescales will be communicated as soon as they are available.


.......a restaurant in the Hammersmith End? Ain't seen any sign of that!

[Burt]

.......a restaurant in the Hammersmith End? Ain't seen any sign of that!

Its that burger bar in the corner next to the Riverside stand  :011: