Is the Grandstand shut because it won't pass a safety inspection?

I've no idea if there is anything in this this but apparently the reason the grandstand is shut next season is because it needs roofing and electrical work before it will get next season's safety cert and the club doesn't want to pay for it.

Probably just a malicious rumour.

But then we have a non investing "owner" so a malicious rumour?
Believe anything with the level of mismanagement at H.P.
Anyway Brent is probably scouting around for volunteer roofers and sparkeys as we speak amongst the Taverners.
  

Another in the list of totally believeable rumours - must admit though, this one is not of his making but piles on the headache!!

Be surprised if that is true, they are going to use if for “corporate guests” next year, until they get the go ahead to start work on the project. That’s why the original season ticket holders “myself included” in the Grandstand are asking if they can stay in their original seats until the works start

Also heard this rumour which has come from a very respected fan who is certainly not known for malicious gossip. Whether the information they have received is correct is another matter but they've got it from someone.

This should be a pointed question to the CEO from the AFT.

If there is any truth in this, then answers are needed as to how long do they prevaricate over whether the new stand will actually be built before repairing the old one. The capacity of the ground will be lower than our highest attendance last season and if HHP isn't going to take place or is going to be delayed any length of time, then the Mayflower needs repairing and re opening ASAP. We need the ability to take advantage of any possible large crowds.

I can't help but think that this rumour is very conveniently timed though, just as fans maybe demanding that they be allowed to sit in their usual seats because of the lack of any building work.

Don't trust this rumour one bit. I could believe that an asbestos survey had been carried out by Kier Western so they can price for removal, which could have put areas off limits, but not that the roof and electrics have deteriorated that much.

Be interesting to see how the closure is handled. It's in the terms of the lease from PCC that the ground has to be maintained in it's condition on takeover, so they'd have to convince PCC that HHP is a goer.

Would they have the nerve to turf out the ST holders but allow the Directors box and the corporate areas to be used? There would be some pretty unhappy punters in the horseshoe if 6-7,000 were using the inadequate facilities under the Lyndhurst and Demport.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

I've no idea if there is anything in this this but apparently the reason the grandstand is shut next season is because it needs roofing and electrical work before it will get next season's safety cert and the club doesn't want to pay for it.

Probably just a malicious rumour.

It is very easy to establish the truth. Home Park requires a Safety Certificate to operate as a sports stadium. The Plymouth Safety at Sports a Grounds Group are legally responsible for issuing the Certificate. The responsibility falls under Building Control of the City Council. (See link below)

Perhaps the AFT can ask the question of PCC as to when the current certificate runs out and what what is the capacity (it was for 16,388) for the forthcoming season. It should be a matter of public record but if not a FOI should ascertain the facts.

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Graham Clark wrote:

Perhaps the AFT can ask the question of PCC

Yeah right...

Isn't Andy Symons in discussion with the council over the parameters of the HHP lease agreement?

How's that going?

green_genie wrote:

Don't trust this rumour one bit. I could believe that an asbestos survey had been carried out by Kier Western so they can price for removal, which could have put areas off limits, but not that the roof and electrics have deteriorated  that much.

Be interesting to see how the closure is handled. It's in the terms of the lease from PCC that the ground has to be maintained in it's condition on takeover, so they'd have to convince PCC that HHP is a goer.

Would they have the nerve to turf out the ST holders but allow the Directors box and the corporate areas to be used? There would be some pretty unhappy punters in the horseshoe if 6-7,000 were using the inadequate facilities under the Lyndhurst and Demport.

They certainly have the nerve because that is exactly what is going to happen.
When they get a date that it going ahead they will construct the alternative accommodation. They are not going to expend any money on temporary buildings until its actually needed.

All fans moving to the Lyndhurst from the grandstand should be advised to take a thermos as the refreshment facilities there are completely inadequate.

Dingle wrote:

All fans moving to the Lyndhurst from the grandstand should be advised to take a thermos as the refreshment facilities there are completely inadequate.  

But why is this so?

Surely when the horseshoe was designed, the refreshment facilities, merchandise stalls etc were planned out correctly? I seem to remember the toilets being pretty much on 'par' with other stadiums?

The facilities in the Lyndhurst are totally adequate, The organisation and running of them isn't so adequate.

Graham Clark wrote:

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

I've no idea if there is anything in this this but apparently the reason the grandstand is shut next season is because it needs roofing and electrical work before it will get next season's safety cert and the club doesn't want to pay for it.

Probably just a malicious rumour.

It is very easy to establish the truth. Home Park requires a Safety Certificate to operate as a sports stadium. The Plymouth Safety at Sports a Grounds Group are legally responsible for issuing the Certificate. The responsibility falls under Building Control of the City Council.  (See link below)

Perhaps the AFT can ask the question of PCC as to when the current certificate runs out  and what what is the capacity (it was for 16,388) for the forthcoming season. It should be a matter of public record but if not a FOI should ascertain the facts.

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That's the kind of I formation that should be on a council website without having to ask for it - together with the minutes of the SAG.

I have been told that there is no corporate within the grandstand next season. They are intending to ask corporates to dine in a portakabin. So the only users of the stand will be Directors and those invited into the Directors Box.

Damon.Lenszner wrote:

So the only users of the stand will be Directors and those invited into the Directors Box.

I can't seriously believe that.

If true on match days, would be the funniest thing ever!

It happened at Watford for years

LOl.  Really?

What were the circumstances there?  Will it be like at Argyle, with the empty stand falling down around them, and the Directors just sat there looking like those two old men in the private box on the Muppet Show?

When are the tickets for the first home match up for grabs, this I wanna see!  

From Wiki - Vicarage Road Main Stand
In 2004, parts of the stand were closed, after they were deemed unfit for use. The remainder of the stand closed to spectators in 2008. Two years later, the part of the roof which remained from 1922 was dismantled due to structural concerns.[18] The East side of the ground has been subject to many planning permissions which, although accepted by the council, have never been realised for the lack of financial backing. Under the stable ownership of the Pozzo family, a request was submitted which would see the stand demolished and re-built.

The club announced in September 2013 that work would begin immediately on demolishing the stand and building a replacement with a capacity of around 3,000 seats and allowing for expansion thereafter, with the intention of it opening in the latter part of the 2013–14 season,[19][20] although the Watford Observer reported in October that the actual intention was for just one section of the stand to be opened before the end of the season.[21]

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I heard this rumour on this thread so it's true!

No-one has said that Hairy - everyone has said it's a rumour - but I know where it came from and it's the first time this person has ever said anything negative about the football club.

Newell?

If Brent can't get his way with the clusterfuck then maybe he will let the Grandstand deteriorate until in in such a state that PCC will have to do something as owners? I know that the club has to maintain it for now but there is a point where the age of the building will be past the point of maintaining.

The longer the delay = The delayed cooperate facilities that are supposed to be a vital life saving factor for the Club = A million £ + per year loan from Brent = One fek off great debt for the Club = We all know that one!

Iggy wrote:

If Brent can't get his way with the clusterfuck then maybe he will let the Grandstand deteriorate until in in such a state that PCC will have to do something as owners? I know that the club has to maintain it for now but there is a point where the age of the building will be past the point of maintaining.

Sounds a bit like the state of the Oldway Mansion.