Rich

I suppose the inheritance has enabled him to carry out some works to the colony and state that he's in a much stronger position by transferring the debt from the club to himself, which was the same thing anyway, as no money has changed hands. As such, he now seems to be stronger, when it comes to negotiating any deal as part of a consortium. Whereas before, he was only a part owner covering his own debt, now it's all his own debt. Spread some BS about having 100m to spend, which could be true if he borrowed it from his families bank, then he could be invited to the table as discussions to develop the Fruit Bowl. Sounds as if it's just bravado, otherwise he'd be saying he'll buy the Fruit Market himself and self finance the new stadium. My stance is, he's posturing and desperate to be invited, that's why the rumours have been put out there.

100 million what?

Yes, it's a fruit basket. Trouble is, the people that want to buy the fruit basket, don't appear to care, need or want BRFC on board. I would imagine that the Mayor of BCC and his best mate are doing their utmost to tempt those prospective fruit basket owners into including a stadium, with the transfer/sale of cheap public owned land. Thing is, they'd get a better and quicker return on their investment if it were developed for residential use.

I have to admit to being worried Miah. 1. Worried that my council rates would be used to assist BRFC to play in a new stadium, at no cost to themselves. 2. Worried that they'd get an unfair advantage to be just a little more successful than anytime in the last 40 years. 3. Worried that they'd Mop up a few floating supporters who would otherwise have continued flocking to see BCFC. 4. Worried that they'd hold up the charge of BCFC by continuing to cling onto our shirt tails. 5. Worried that there will be a massive court case against BCC for misdemeanors during land transfers/sales/leases, resulting in more costs to the citizens of Bristol. 6. worried that any displacements from existing premises in the surrounding areas, will result in more money paid out by the citizens of Bristol finding alternative premises. 7. Worried that the few BRFC supporters I know, might be getting excited about this and as a result, messing with their deluded minds even more.. 8. Worried that I've already spent enough of my time worrying about something that most probably won't happen.

He's written off the £2.1m of interest that he's charged them, yet he still has the ownership of the Memorial ground and the colony. They were previously tenants at the rugby ground and they're still tenants at the rugby ground and if it gets built they'll be tenants at the colony and the fruit bowl. To realise his debt before this transfer, he'd have had to sell the ground. To realise his debt now, he'd have to sell the ground. Both resulting in leaving them homeless. I understand they are now on paper debt free but, they have no assets to their name and are still losing money on a daily basis. If a company have no assets and are losing money, don't the directors have to call in the administrators? I suppose they could underwrite those losses personally, which is effectively what they've been doing but just racking up paper interest. At the end of the day, the family put up about £9m and he's paid that back from his family inheritance and, will get the proceeds from the rugby ground sale to compensate him personally. Doesn't look like much has changed to me

I would expect that to be the case. Though we must remember that the council currently receives rental income from those tenants (not fruit market), so that sets the value, rather than it just being industrial land with no buildings. The council will also need to find a different depot to replace the one adjacent to the fruit market. It's all about displacement and costs incurred due to the displacement. It should not result in the council having to pay more for a replacement venue, than it currently does. Of course, it might be argued that the council revenue would go up because of the developments. If that were the case, they could do it anyway, without the income generated from a stadium, especially as there's already a stadium producing income, in Horfield. It's a minefield of scenarios and pure speculation. I do want and expect to see the council acting for all residents of Bristol though, not just a tiny percentage of less than 2%.

Thanks, I am aware that the council own lots of this land, also the yard adjoining the fruit market on Albert Rd where the bin and recycling wagons currently reside. Obviously if this were to go ahead and land was sold/transferred or leased to new owners, the public would expect the council to obtain market values for whatever land and buildings were disposed of. If the land and buildings disposed of meant that new land and buildings had to be found, that would be at market value and as such must be at no extra cost to the local authority. As I stated previously, land deals relating to the AV deal between BCFC and the council, were carried out using existing valuations ie: for unused allotments, also for the East End car park which had a 90 year lease on it, valued as a car park and remaining a car park. It could and was argued that the council themselves could have obtained PP for housing on the allotment site and increased it's value for the residents of Bristol. The same argument applies to any land transferred/sold or leased surrounding the fruit market in central Bristol, where the land values are considerably higher.

That'll be a consortium Purchasing that site, leasing or buying at a below market rate all the adjoining council sites. Putting forward initial plans for apartments and a hotel with profits aimed at building a stadium. Obviously those profits will be made from the procurement of council owned (public owned) land. If the land is acquired initially, they'll be able to proceed with the stadium using loans against the publicly owned (at present) land values. Effectively I can see the council land transferred to the consortium ownership, to be enable BRFC to compete with the nasty billionaire owned franchise, that is BCFC. Aided and abetted by Marvelous Marvin and his gas chums on the council. Pure guesswork and conjecture mind.

Can't see any sour grapes in that crowd. There are a few hot potatoes on their way though.

Thanks. If I'd had the time I might have looked that up, rather than loosely referring to those specifics. I remember thinking at the time that she was bending every rule in the book and past precedents, to find a way to recommend the application for approval. Even when it never passed the first rule, of being used commercially within the timescale stated in the application.

I suppose if you meet planning law requirements, that will be the case. It's not all about planning applications though is it? There were so many things which slowed or changed things, leaks to the press, leaks to the BBC, leaks to the green party, leaks to the six opposition groups, because people behind the scenes were shall we say, not playing fair. Like I said about the planning committees being changed, about the village green application going in the same day as the AV planning application, about the appointment of the QC. I firmly believe forces within the council were working to thwart the AV development. Whether that be for political or personal reasons, or both, I doubt we'll ever know. Good luck with the fruit market.

Very economical with your memory there. The area known as Ashton Vale, where the stadium was planned, was scheduled to be removed from the green belt and, agreed by the four unitary authorities prior to an application going in. It was also deemed to be a very important development for the region and as such, met the criteria allowing development within an existing Greenbelt area. Agreement for the allotments, was for the "sale" of the allotments to BCFC, as was also agreed for the East End car park, not a transfer. The QC appointed to hold the village green application review, was appointed by Bristol City Council. It just so happens that, she had "NEVER" found against an application for a village green. Makes one wonder why she was appointed and, who recommended her. We also had a scenario where the chair of planning was replaced on the morning of the meeting and replaced by a person on the committee actively opposing the development, Simon Rayner. He spoke beautifully with his mates from the green party, whom he gave extra time to present their case against the development and managed to get a refusal, which went to an appeal. On the other side of the city, at a very important planning meeting to determine whether there could be a redevelopment of the rugby ground. Six members of the committee were removed on the morning of the meeting and, replaced with six councillors who actively supported the scheme. The application was passed, I wonder who made that decision to change the committee members.

Lessons, creations, love, gratitude. Weird.

And planting carrots.

My major concern is the council owned land in the surrounding area being transferred/sold at a more favourable rate than on the open market. City had an agreement to purchase the East End Car park and the allotments, at what appeared to be favourable rates, because they were valued for their at the time, current uses. Those pockets of land it was argued, increased in value with development approvals. Having said that, the east end would have remained a car park, so no real increase in value, it just made the development more viable. And the allotments were mostly unused as allotments. With St Philips, the adjacent land is council owned and is very valuable in it's own right, it is industrial/commercial land, currently in use and close to the city centre. I think the council will argue that they're doing the same for BRFC as they were for BCFC but, that's clearly not the case if the land transfer/sale is at a lower rate. I believe it has to be market rate by law, otherwise the council are not getting full value for that land disposal. Just a thought, where will our shops purchase their fruit and veg from? Surely the council won't hand over another site for a new fruit market?

Parking for a few might be easier at present but, there's no two ways about it, if someone builds a new stadium and it won't be them, their crowds will naturally increase. They'll never get to our level, having only managed that 11 times in their existence and that wasn't by much. If it happens, it'll just take some of the floating support we're currently taking, so it will hold us back again, which seems to be their purpose in life.

It's within one mile of the center of Bristol, which has the best transport links in the area at present. It's within the city where people who support that shower already travel to and from, currently using the existing roads and transport. There'll probably be very little parking, with a travel plan to provide park and ride and use of existing transport systems. Sounds like I'm bigging it up but I'm not, I'm just stating the obvious. Close to the Bath and Wells roads, the spine road, Temple Meads, Old Market and the routes from Bristol East and North. 1 Mile from the M32.

Yes, I'm aware of all the plans for the area, I find it all interesting, think it's fourteen storey's now above street level. What I was pointing out is, that there are currently very few properties with occupants at the moment, which could oppose any application.

In reality, it's very little. Hardly anything along the Bath Rd, just paintworks relatively close and other housing is just in the planning stage. Planned housing doesn't really count as it'll also include housing, as well as whatever else is planned for this site. If it were long established housing estates then it might bring up opposition. I'm sure there'll still be opposition?

Didn't they already do that? Long way to go on that. I'm sure Marvin has been bending a few rules to allow a developer to buy council owned land, with the promise of PP thrown in. Interesting to see what developments these new owners have in mind. If anything, it's a great site for a new ground, very little housing around, at the moment and good transport links. That whole area is due for an improvement. Which raises the question, why put future developments in jeopardy by involving BRFC in it?

I used to watch Felicity Kendal planting her carrots.

News? Or are they planting fruit and veg at the rugby ground.

They were waiting for the nurse to do the milking.

Perhaps they can use Methane as fuel, though with diminishing numbers, they might not get into orbit.

Considering buying the rugby ground as site for new Tesla car factory.