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Updated: Southend United stadium go-ahead
An artist's impression of the new stadium
An artist's impression of the new stadium

SOUTHEND United's plans for a new 22,000 seater stadium at Fossetts Farm have been given the final go-ahead, with the stadium set to open for the start of the 2010 season.

The football club have agreed a deal over the scheme's major stumbling block, a strip of land alongside the Boots and Laces training ground, which is owned by Southend Estates.

lues chairman Ron Martin said he was thrilled to have been given the final approval from the Government planning inspector.

He said: "While this news was anticipated, you can never be sure with planning applications. It is grand to get the final approval to allow the club to progress with the stadium.

"I am also pleased for our thousands of fans who have had to wait for what has been a long and sometimes tedious process to be concluded.

"As I have always said, the new stadium will take the club up to a new and suitable level within the league and everyone associated with Southend United should now be celebrating."

FULL REPORT IN WEDNESDAY'S ECHO

10:29am Tuesday 1st July 2008


An artist's impression of the new stadium
  

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Posted by: guy, Leigh-On-Sea on 1:58pm Tue 1 Jul 08
lets hope they get these issues sorted out and can get their new stadium although they seem to be tearing the squad apart, selling/letting go several players on the back of last seasons success, which to me makes no sense.
Posted by: Got permission but no money to build it., Ron Martin's imagination on 2:30pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Anyone asked RM about funding ?

Banks are hardly falling over themselves to lend to property companies at the moment, especially those who's MD is on bail.

What's the betting it will still be a dream 10 years from now.
Posted by: Jack Smith, Southend on 3:03pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished.
I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium.
It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on.
Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&Q and Comets car parks will be full.
But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
Posted by: Bluesfan on 4:02pm Tue 1 Jul 08
This is good news for the club and its supporters, and, provided the development is handled sensitively, should be for the town.
If the proposed expansion of the airport can go ahead, subject to safeguards about noise, if something can be done to attract new businesses or government departments into Victoria Avenue, and if the decaying seafront to the east of and including the Pier can be smartened up, and moved up market, Southend can prosper and be an attractive place in which to live and work.
Posted by: George, southend on 5:02pm Tue 1 Jul 08
I still feel that Fossetts Farm would have made a fabulous uni campus and sports complex. I have a feeling that we are going to end up piecemeal again. i can see Victoria Avenue knocked down and covered in high rise flats, a library where the buses do not reach (its always full of students anyway they should have their own place to study etc.) the university in bits all over the place, no market, failing cliffs, still no decent pier, an airport that will be uneconomical after the olympics (if thats finished in time!)and a widened Priory Crescent which does nothing to help the congestion between Progress Road and Cuckoo Corner which will be busier than ever.
Posted by: John, UK on 5:53pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Looking at some of the posts here its like deja vu. Are the politicians and coucillors wandering round with there eyes and ears shut? Most of the people of the fine towm of Southend would love to see a good football ground with adequate parking built. They would also like to see the pier renovated to rival the best.They would like to the roads freed from congestion by removing some of the obstacles that cause build ups. They would like to see the eyesores down Victoria Avenue made into something useful. They would love an airport that actually flew people somewhere. They would have like to have seen one of these done since 1976 (the pier) but they haven't. I reckon I could be typing this comment again in 10 years time so I will cut and paste it to save time.
Posted by: Susan James on 6:39pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Jack Smith wrote:
Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
So because you hate football the stadium is bad!!!!! Please this stadium will bring a lot to southend and its people, on avarage a home game is once every two weeks traffic in the area will be between 13.00 and 17.00 so for around 4 hours every 2 weeks this is a bad idea, just because you hate football GET REAL.
Posted by: Is Ron Dreaming ? on 8:51pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Susan James wrote:
Jack Smith wrote: Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
So because you hate football the stadium is bad!!!!! Please this stadium will bring a lot to southend and its people, on avarage a home game is once every two weeks traffic in the area will be between 13.00 and 17.00 so for around 4 hours every 2 weeks this is a bad idea, just because you hate football GET REAL.
But you have fallen for the hype. Its actually mainly a retail complex, hotel etc with a stadium bolted on, so your comments about traffic are incorrect. The traffic levels will be much heavier alot of the time and virtually gridlocked on match days when coupled with the new retail traffic.

RM is very quiet about the funding for this project - if he can't get the money (highly likely currently) and the retailers to fill the units (again highly likely) it won't get built.

So Ron, have you got the funds ?
Posted by: Andy Thorne, Sevenoaks on 9:10pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Jack Smith wrote:
<b> Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished.
I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium.
It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on.
Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&amp;Q and Comets car parks will be full.
But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
</b>
My Granddad is buried in the crem and will be loving it come 3 o'clock on a Saturday, I can hear him now. "Bring on the Bedlam!!!".

This is a huge day for Southend as a town and will give the next generation greater opportunity, Stop your moaning because your not going to gain from this but your grand kids will.
Posted by: jd, sos on 9:53pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Is Ron Dreaming ? wrote:
Susan James wrote:
Jack Smith wrote: Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&amp;Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
So because you hate football the stadium is bad!!!!! Please this stadium will bring a lot to southend and its people, on avarage a home game is once every two weeks traffic in the area will be between 13.00 and 17.00 so for around 4 hours every 2 weeks this is a bad idea, just because you hate football GET REAL.
But you have fallen for the hype. Its actually mainly a retail complex, hotel etc with a stadium bolted on, so your comments about traffic are incorrect. The traffic levels will be much heavier alot of the time and virtually gridlocked on match days when coupled with the new retail traffic. RM is very quiet about the funding for this project - if he can\'t get the money (highly likely currently) and the retailers to fill the units (again highly likely) it won\'t get built. So Ron, have you got the funds ?
The money to build this has allready been secured by selling the old ground to sainsburys and other companies that are building flats and houses on the roots hall site. Sorry to break your last desperate plea for southend to stay in the past and go now where. Bring it on, well done RM
Posted by: James Peters, Colchester on 11:01pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Being a Col U fan (ducks for cover!) and knowing we have a nice new stadium yo move into this comming season I would just like to say this is very good news for Essex football. Its going to be great to have the local derby days back.

We had the same problems with the anti football thug nimbys who still beleve we are all beer guzzling brainless idots looking out for a fight (well the beer parts right) but I really hate to admit it but...

Southend United have some of the very best behaved fans in all of British football you never hear about Blues fans going on the rampage causing trubble or anyting like like that so All power to Southend looking forward to those six points should stop us getting religated again!
Posted by: Richard, leigh on sea on 11:30am Wed 2 Jul 08
moan, moan blooming moan. What is it with people. This is great news for the town never mind the club. In fact as a life long resident (55 years) I can honestly say it's the best news in my lifetime for the town full stop.
Cheer up you miserable lot. It might never happen.
Posted by: Seeview, Southend on Sea on 12:02pm Wed 2 Jul 08
We were also promised a new airport and a modern pier and a complete ring road.
Posted by: Chris Blore, Billericay on 2:11pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Yes Seeview. The difference is, the stadium is happening and will be a sustainable project, having been properly planned and granted planning permission by both councils. The airport expansion is frankly a pipe dream and realistically would never be popular enough to become a going concern.

This is brilliant news for the town and the football club and is something we can all be proud of, whether or not we all support the Blues. Well done Ron!
Posted by: TJC, Southend on 2:16pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Jack Smith wrote:
Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&amp;Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
Yep. thats right, sod you!
Just think of all those residential people currently residing around roots hall that will be without this terrible thing that is 'football' in their backyard. I've never heard a resident complain around the hall and there are many more of them at the Roots Hall site than will be at Fossetts.
Southend is finally moving forward, so please go crawl back into your hole, and let the town progress!
Posted by: Dave, Southend on 2:29pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Jack Smith wrote:
Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
Er there are 20,000 people in southend at least who support southend, as was displayed when we took more than that to Cardiff.

By all means dont go to the stadium if you dont like football but let the thousands of people who want to do so.

I dont like shopping yet Im not shouting for the high street to be closed....

Roads will be busy around the stadium on match days, so what ?

They are already around roots hall on match days and surely its better to move the gridlock out of town a but.


Crematorium used on Saturday afternoons then is it ?
Posted by: Dave S, Soon 2 be back home on 3:31pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Dave wrote:
Jack Smith wrote: Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&amp;Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
Er there are 20,000 people in southend at least who support southend, as was displayed when we took more than that to Cardiff. By all means dont go to the stadium if you dont like football but let the thousands of people who want to do so. I dont like shopping yet Im not shouting for the high street to be closed.... Roads will be busy around the stadium on match days, so what ? They are already around roots hall on match days and surely its better to move the gridlock out of town a but. Crematorium used on Saturday afternoons then is it ?
Yeah we took 20,000 to cardiff, for the LDV trophies(meaningless
).How many turned up for the play-off final, when promotion was at stake. Less than 7,000!!
Posted by: Rich, Leigh on 6:15pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Dave S - That was about a week later, and most people could not afford the time or money to do it all again so soon - I know I could not!

The reason this town is in such a state is because of all of the moaners disagreeing to everything for years. I hope that they are happy that this town and most of it's leisure facilities have now rotted away for decades.
Posted by: Is Ron Dreaming ? on 7:03pm Wed 2 Jul 08
jd wrote:
Is Ron Dreaming ? wrote:
Susan James wrote:
Jack Smith wrote: Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&amp;amp;Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
So because you hate football the stadium is bad!!!!! Please this stadium will bring a lot to southend and its people, on avarage a home game is once every two weeks traffic in the area will be between 13.00 and 17.00 so for around 4 hours every 2 weeks this is a bad idea, just because you hate football GET REAL.
But you have fallen for the hype. Its actually mainly a retail complex, hotel etc with a stadium bolted on, so your comments about traffic are incorrect. The traffic levels will be much heavier alot of the time and virtually gridlocked on match days when coupled with the new retail traffic. RM is very quiet about the funding for this project - if he can\'t get the money (highly likely currently) and the retailers to fill the units (again highly likely) it won\'t get built. So Ron, have you got the funds ?
The money to build this has allready been secured by selling the old ground to sainsburys and other companies that are building flats and houses on the roots hall site. Sorry to break your last desperate plea for southend to stay in the past and go now where. Bring it on, well done RM
I think you will find that the proceeds from those "sales" will not be sufficient to fund a project of this size.

There is likely to be a need for substantial additional funding and it is this that will be very difficult to obtain and very expensive if one does get it.

It would be interesting to hear from RM as to whether the project IS fully funded and whether, in light of the economic downturn and its likely impact on funding, retail tenants, hotel providers etc , the 2010 opening date is still realistic.

This is not being negative, it is purely asking the right questions to ensure we are not being strung along.

After all, rarely do you meet a developer whose imagination is not bigger than his available budget/funds.

I would have thought that all supporters of SUFC would want to ensure that they are not being led down the garden path.
Posted by: DtS, Jack Smiths Arse like face on 8:52pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Jack,

You are a bellend of the highest order. Bet your down the new stadium for some moshers gig and love it....

Mug...
x
Posted by: James Peters, Colchester on 11:03pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Is Ron Dreaming ? wrote:
jd wrote:
Is Ron Dreaming ? wrote:
Susan James wrote:
Jack Smith wrote: Let’s hope it takes as long to get this stadium build as it is taking to get the pier refurbished. I hate football, and I’m not the only one, and my sympathies lie with all the poor people who live in the area which will be affected by this stadium. It will be like Bedlam in the Crematorium when football matches or Rock Concerts are on. Roads around the stadium will be gridlocked and Waitrose, B&amp;amp;amp;Q and Comets car parks will be full. But the Supporters and shareholders will be very happy. So Sod the rest of us.
So because you hate football the stadium is bad!!!!! Please this stadium will bring a lot to southend and its people, on avarage a home game is once every two weeks traffic in the area will be between 13.00 and 17.00 so for around 4 hours every 2 weeks this is a bad idea, just because you hate football GET REAL.
But you have fallen for the hype. Its actually mainly a retail complex, hotel etc with a stadium bolted on, so your comments about traffic are incorrect. The traffic levels will be much heavier alot of the time and virtually gridlocked on match days when coupled with the new retail traffic. RM is very quiet about the funding for this project - if he can\'t get the money (highly likely currently) and the retailers to fill the units (again highly likely) it won\'t get built. So Ron, have you got the funds ?
The money to build this has allready been secured by selling the old ground to sainsburys and other companies that are building flats and houses on the roots hall site. Sorry to break your last desperate plea for southend to stay in the past and go now where. Bring it on, well done RM
I think you will find that the proceeds from those "sales" will not be sufficient to fund a project of this size. There is likely to be a need for substantial additional funding and it is this that will be very difficult to obtain and very expensive if one does get it. It would be interesting to hear from RM as to whether the project IS fully funded and whether, in light of the economic downturn and its likely impact on funding, retail tenants, hotel providers etc , the 2010 opening date is still realistic. This is not being negative, it is purely asking the right questions to ensure we are not being strung along. After all, rarely do you meet a developer whose imagination is not bigger than his available budget/funds. I would have thought that all supporters of SUFC would want to ensure that they are not being led down the garden path.
Is Ron Dreaming:

Dispite being a Col U fan... (Well somebody has got to be!)

I am all for this new stadium, its important to have a local football team that you can be proud of, I admit Steve Tilson and Ron Martin have worked wonders at Southend for one of the smaller team they have done incredibly well and are a major asset for Southend.

I am sure I read that funding is all in place, its sad you cant be supportive of YOUR local team get behind them dont be like so many other people and go for a London club just cos they are doing well, many ,amy clubs now have sponsorship of grounds which drasticly cuts down on construction costs.
Posted by: TopAlex, Westcliff on 4:29pm Fri 4 Jul 08
I live near Roots Hall. Disruption on matchdays is minimal..fact! This stadium has taken years of consultation, planning applications and a public enquiry...where were all the 'nimbys' then? youve had your chance to oppose this and lost.....end of. No one cried out about B&Q, Waitrose and Comets! The Crematorium is built next to 2 Industrial estates! What a load of B*ll*x all this whining is. Up the blue boys!
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