For the past week, we have taken an in-depth look at Grimsby Town's quest for a new stadium, with the intention of informing readers about the research that has gone into the 20 year search for a new home for the club. Today, we publish your thoughts on the plans for a new ground on land off Peaks Parkway – both for and against.I'm not persuaded
POLL: Do you support a new GTFC stadium?
It seems to me to be wishful thinking to expect a commercial enterprise to invest £200 million, part of which will include the doubtful asset of the stadium. It should be considered that the club is regularly supported by about two per cent of the residents of North East Lincolnshire. The number of residents who will be disturbed and inconvenienced by the development will exceed the number who will benefit from the new stadium. I feel it is time that the Council told the club to put up, pay up or shut up.D W Naylor, Drew Avenue, Grimsby.Proposal has nothing to do with football YES, we can all agree that a new football stadium would be a welcome catalyst for some regeneration in Grimsby. Sadly the Peaks Parkway proposal is as misguided as the original for a site in Great Coates. Both of these schemes are nothing more than a front for an unwelcome out of town centre shopping centre. I remain convinced that the best place for a new stadium is in the area at the top of Freeman Street-Riby Square-Lockhill flyover and the outer redundant dock area. This area has excellent road and rail links to bring supporters to a new stadium. Such a scheme will be an economic boost to Freeman Street and the East Marsh. The Lockhill flyover has been redundant since the demise of the 'fish trains', almost immediately after it was built. Knock it down and open up a new viable area of commercial real estate. There is an increasing demand for commercial space in Grimsby, and this will create real long term jobs. Despite what the pundits would have you believe you cannot build a vibrant economy on shopping and drinking coffee. The East Marsh was vibrant in the heyday of the fishing industry. Twenty first century jobs are heading to Grimsby with the rapid expansion in wind farm technologies. A new era for Great Grimsby is on the horizon! The Peaks Parkway promoters state that this option is only viable with the benefit of retail enabling development. There is only one place for retail and that is in the town centre. Build this scheme and Victoria Street will not be viable because the main players will decamp to the Parkway. This proposal has nothing to do with football. It is all a ruse to get a large retail development on a site that in normal planning principles would be out of the question. Grimsby, don't get your Mariners woolly hat pulled over your eyes in the name of out of town shopping.Ian Hankinson (ex Grimbarian and Havelock student) Hankinson Consulting, Windsor Road, Poole.Where will access road be? WHEN the developers and planners of Peaks Parkway held a public meeting in New Waltham Village Hall prior to its start, it was said that no other road or access would be built off Peaks Parkway for safety reasons. The temporary road that was built adjacent to the crematorium to give access to the new school was not allowed to stay even though it was requested by the crematorium and the school. If this is the case where will the access road be built for the planned new stadium?New Waltham resident, full name and address suppliedYour web viewsStay at Blundell, stay in oblivion retails: In 1972 on my first visit to Blundell Park I could not believe how bad the stadium was. They missed a great opportunity in 1980 when the Barret stand was demolished by building low and full length, not selling for a pittance the house in Harrington Street and rebuilding the main stand with decent facilities. We have stagnated and every suggested location will have its objectors with their own motives. We are playing two divisions below our standing. If a town the size of Burnley can achieve premier league status then why should we not dare to dream? The choices are obvious, stay at Blundell Park and remain in oblivion or develop and progress.Start to move town in positive direction please CynicalSam: Quit your whining you scared little cats, GTFC is having (finally) a new stadium, and it's coming fast now. I live in the general area of this development and welcome with open arms, something that will finally start moving the town in a positive direction. I guarantee all these folk who have something against the project have jumped on the bandwagon for Wembley '98, or at least told folk when they were on holiday around the time that they were from Grimsby with pride that they came from such a small town that regularly batted above is average football wise. Unfortunately, that will never happen again without this development happening, even the likes of Morecambe have a fantastic new ground, and are above us in the pyramid, and always will be until we have the facility to compete once more.Time to reject the negative moaners! gtfc9: Time to reject the negative moaners who want to keep this town in the seventies. Let's start building a bright future for the place that will bring us up to date with every other developed town in the land. I can understand people who have never left the town and are frightened of change but we need to build developments that not only we can look on at with pride but also give the youth a reason to stay. And by the way our little-non league team was in the top ten of highest followings this week ... just imagine how many would turn up in a stadium to be proud of?Crying out for new stadium for years heppy88: Our football club has been crying out for a new stadium for over 20 years. It's a disgrace that this has been allowed to drag on for so long. The local council especially should be ashamed of this fiasco, as they have done nothing to promote the interests of the club and its search for a new stadium. The club brings a lot of pleasure to thousands of passionate people in the area and has a long and important history within football. I wonder how many of the NIMBYs have attended a match at Blundell Park, went to Wembley in 1998, or supported a new stadium in the 90s when Great Coates was the preferred option? It's time to stop being selfish and think about what's in the best interests of the town and its football club. What other local event brings together thousands of locals, from different backgrounds, all cheering on the same side? Come on N. E. Lincolnshire we should be doing everything possible to promote and celebrate this for the good of the town and the local area. Of course not everyone will be happy with a decision to build a football stadium in their local area. There is never going to be the perfect site, but we have to make the best of what is available. Twenty years of searching is enough! The time has come to put the Football club and its thousands of supporters first and stop treating the club and supporters as if they are not an important asset to this town.Let's show Skint the other side ... Peter-T48: Next week the nation will see the poor side of our Grimsby, this project will give the nation the other side of the coin, new housing and business ventures with the added bonus of a new up to date stadium that not only home fans but the away fans will come and spend their money in our local shops and ground.
I FEEL the public are being given just one side to the story regarding the articles appearing regarding the proposed new stadium. Could we please have a page of good reasons why the Peaks Parkway site is unsuitable.
I was under the impression that Peaks Parkway was built to ease the congestion into Grimsby. Weelsby Road is congested at the best of times.
We do not need any more out of town shops, there are at present nine empty units in Freshney Place, we have an abundance of supermarkets and certainly do not need any more.
I am not persuaded that the stadium should be built near a Cemetery, Crematorium, Hospice, Hospital, etc.
At present Park Ward is a reasonably peaceful area, it would be a shame to ruin this area of town with congested traffic, hoodlums, etc.
The percentage of football fans attending matches is very small, about 10 per cent, not including visiting fans. Should the whole population have to suffer to please such a few.
The percentage of unruly fans we are told is very small, I have seen police on horseback patrolling Cleethorpes on a Saturday, are we to have this in Park Ward every time there is a match?
Smoke bombs have been used only recently by the Grimsby fans on away games.
I would like to see comments from people against this plan to me it seems crazy.
Worried ratepayer Park Ward.
Full name and address supplied.
Club supported by 2 per cent I DESPAIR at the blight caused by GTFC in their pronouncements about building a new stadium with houses and/or supermarkets on land off Peaks Parkway. For the past two years they have been given a free hand by NELC to dither about whilst they try to find somebody to fund their scheme. From what I can find from the internet, the club has considerably more liabilities than assets and cash. This may explain why they have not taken a market value lease on the site and why there has been no outline planning application for the proposals. It might also be a factor in the objections to other sites where they may have to pay a proper sum to buy the land needed for the development.POLL: Do you support a new GTFC stadium?
It seems to me to be wishful thinking to expect a commercial enterprise to invest £200 million, part of which will include the doubtful asset of the stadium. It should be considered that the club is regularly supported by about two per cent of the residents of North East Lincolnshire. The number of residents who will be disturbed and inconvenienced by the development will exceed the number who will benefit from the new stadium. I feel it is time that the Council told the club to put up, pay up or shut up.D W Naylor, Drew Avenue, Grimsby.Proposal has nothing to do with football YES, we can all agree that a new football stadium would be a welcome catalyst for some regeneration in Grimsby. Sadly the Peaks Parkway proposal is as misguided as the original for a site in Great Coates. Both of these schemes are nothing more than a front for an unwelcome out of town centre shopping centre. I remain convinced that the best place for a new stadium is in the area at the top of Freeman Street-Riby Square-Lockhill flyover and the outer redundant dock area. This area has excellent road and rail links to bring supporters to a new stadium. Such a scheme will be an economic boost to Freeman Street and the East Marsh. The Lockhill flyover has been redundant since the demise of the 'fish trains', almost immediately after it was built. Knock it down and open up a new viable area of commercial real estate. There is an increasing demand for commercial space in Grimsby, and this will create real long term jobs. Despite what the pundits would have you believe you cannot build a vibrant economy on shopping and drinking coffee. The East Marsh was vibrant in the heyday of the fishing industry. Twenty first century jobs are heading to Grimsby with the rapid expansion in wind farm technologies. A new era for Great Grimsby is on the horizon! The Peaks Parkway promoters state that this option is only viable with the benefit of retail enabling development. There is only one place for retail and that is in the town centre. Build this scheme and Victoria Street will not be viable because the main players will decamp to the Parkway. This proposal has nothing to do with football. It is all a ruse to get a large retail development on a site that in normal planning principles would be out of the question. Grimsby, don't get your Mariners woolly hat pulled over your eyes in the name of out of town shopping.Ian Hankinson (ex Grimbarian and Havelock student) Hankinson Consulting, Windsor Road, Poole.Where will access road be? WHEN the developers and planners of Peaks Parkway held a public meeting in New Waltham Village Hall prior to its start, it was said that no other road or access would be built off Peaks Parkway for safety reasons. The temporary road that was built adjacent to the crematorium to give access to the new school was not allowed to stay even though it was requested by the crematorium and the school. If this is the case where will the access road be built for the planned new stadium?New Waltham resident, full name and address suppliedYour web viewsStay at Blundell, stay in oblivion retails: In 1972 on my first visit to Blundell Park I could not believe how bad the stadium was. They missed a great opportunity in 1980 when the Barret stand was demolished by building low and full length, not selling for a pittance the house in Harrington Street and rebuilding the main stand with decent facilities. We have stagnated and every suggested location will have its objectors with their own motives. We are playing two divisions below our standing. If a town the size of Burnley can achieve premier league status then why should we not dare to dream? The choices are obvious, stay at Blundell Park and remain in oblivion or develop and progress.Start to move town in positive direction please CynicalSam: Quit your whining you scared little cats, GTFC is having (finally) a new stadium, and it's coming fast now. I live in the general area of this development and welcome with open arms, something that will finally start moving the town in a positive direction. I guarantee all these folk who have something against the project have jumped on the bandwagon for Wembley '98, or at least told folk when they were on holiday around the time that they were from Grimsby with pride that they came from such a small town that regularly batted above is average football wise. Unfortunately, that will never happen again without this development happening, even the likes of Morecambe have a fantastic new ground, and are above us in the pyramid, and always will be until we have the facility to compete once more.Time to reject the negative moaners! gtfc9: Time to reject the negative moaners who want to keep this town in the seventies. Let's start building a bright future for the place that will bring us up to date with every other developed town in the land. I can understand people who have never left the town and are frightened of change but we need to build developments that not only we can look on at with pride but also give the youth a reason to stay. And by the way our little-non league team was in the top ten of highest followings this week ... just imagine how many would turn up in a stadium to be proud of?Crying out for new stadium for years heppy88: Our football club has been crying out for a new stadium for over 20 years. It's a disgrace that this has been allowed to drag on for so long. The local council especially should be ashamed of this fiasco, as they have done nothing to promote the interests of the club and its search for a new stadium. The club brings a lot of pleasure to thousands of passionate people in the area and has a long and important history within football. I wonder how many of the NIMBYs have attended a match at Blundell Park, went to Wembley in 1998, or supported a new stadium in the 90s when Great Coates was the preferred option? It's time to stop being selfish and think about what's in the best interests of the town and its football club. What other local event brings together thousands of locals, from different backgrounds, all cheering on the same side? Come on N. E. Lincolnshire we should be doing everything possible to promote and celebrate this for the good of the town and the local area. Of course not everyone will be happy with a decision to build a football stadium in their local area. There is never going to be the perfect site, but we have to make the best of what is available. Twenty years of searching is enough! The time has come to put the Football club and its thousands of supporters first and stop treating the club and supporters as if they are not an important asset to this town.Let's show Skint the other side ... Peter-T48: Next week the nation will see the poor side of our Grimsby, this project will give the nation the other side of the coin, new housing and business ventures with the added bonus of a new up to date stadium that not only home fans but the away fans will come and spend their money in our local shops and ground.
