League restructure to ruin small clubs
I would like to express Northampton Spencer FC’s concerns regarding the FA proposals for the restructuring of Step 5.
Most clubs at this level are not run as viable businesses, but only exist because of the goodwill and time given by an increasingly smaller group of people who have a passion for their club. Northampton Spencer are no exception, a relatively small but progressive club that took the huge step to progress from local football to the UCL some 50 years ago.
Over the years the club developed the ground in line with ground grading criteria to maintain this level of football. This has been no mean achievement, in regards to finance and time given by those involved. The club has been built on stability, with the chairman Graham Wrighting holding this same position for nearly 30 years, president Mr A Goldsmith for 28 years, groundsman Mr J Sampson over 35 years, secretary Nick Hillery over 10 years and the small committee mostly now into double figure years of service.
The proposed loss of the United Counties League, which was founded as the Northants League, still has 20 county clubs within the existing 38 members in the Premier Division and Division One, with over half of our Premier Division journeys 25 miles or under.
For Northampton Spencer, in the heart of UCL catchment area, having to move to the Midland Division would result in an increase of nearly 1,000 miles per season and an estimated increase in costs of £1,723, which we could not sustain.
On top of this, there is a major concern of players having to have extended time in preparation/travel for away matches, with many unable to commit the extra time required.
This will be compounded by the increased number of teams/games per league with more midweek fixtures clashing with work commitments.
Northampton Spencer are also concerned regarding the loss of sponsorship revenue. What interest would businesses in Northampton have in sponsoring their local side with only three local derbies and the next nearest being in Coventry and Birmingham.
It is a continued struggle to break even and this proposal would force the club to consider its present level of football and seek the options of possible voluntary relegation to a more localised league.
I don’t think these proposals take into consideration how most clubs at Step 5 operate and it appears the FA Council has not understood the present financial positions of clubs at this level. If these proposals come to fruition, we are concerned those that presently give up their precious time and money will seriously reconsider their futures within the game.
Mr A Goldsmith,
President, Northampton Spencer FC
Use this great opportunity
Greyfriars provides a warm, dry environment where intending passengers wait for bus services to take them home, or transfer from one bus route to another.
In 2000, we were told Greyfriars Bus Station would be demolished. Twelve years later we are still waiting.
Town residents waited at town centre on-street stops until May 2, 1976, when Greyfriars Bus Station opened. Derngate buses transferred their departures to Greyfriars at the same time, providing over 75 years of covered departure bays.
As a Bus User Group, we need to work with the local authorities to obtain the best possible outcome from the proposed new bus interchange.
If the whole of the site were available, then it would be possible to provide 12 bays either side of a central passenger concourse, giving 24 bus bays, with stopping provision for National Express coaches in Bradshaw Street.
I would like to see a two hour mock-up to see exactly how the new scheme would perform.
The good thing is the interchange will be at street level, avoiding the use of escalator, stairs or lift. Will the present bus shelters be replaced by larger more weatherproof facilities to accommodate the higher passenger numbers at the journey starting point?
I have suggested The Drapery be used for high frequency departures, minimising the amount of time waiting on the street.
To assist in this, I would propose the Abington Square end of Abington Street be opened up to allow westbound traffic. Buses would travel via Abington Street, St Giles Terrace, setting down at St Giles Street Post Office, before terminating in the Drapery. This would then free up more space within the bus interchange for the less frequent bus routes.
This is a once in 30 years opportunity to provide a brand new “silver plated” Silver Street bus interchange to last until 2050.
Mike Barlow,
Chairman,
Northampton group, Bus Users UK.
Electorate don’t want station
COUNCIL leaders Jim Harker and David Mackintosh expressed their disappointment more people didn’t turn up to their meeting on the budget plans. I can tell you why. It doesn’t matter what we, the public, think or say. The council will go ahead with what it wants. They show utter contempt for our views.
The bus station is a prime example. The overwhelming majority of the public don’t want the new bus station. I’ve never seen so many letters in the Chronicle & Echo from readers who don’t want to move.
It’s plain to me and everyone else the new bus station will not be fit for purpose. I’m at a loss as to why the council are going ahead with it. They are surely intelligent enough to know it will be inferior to the present one.
I’m disgusted with the Labour Party. I would have thought they would support the public with their wishes, but no, they have thrown their hat in with the Tories. Why?
Teresa May said the Tories were once thought of as the “nasty party”. I would add “bully” to that, as they are bullying the electorate into something they don’t want, or indeed need.
Michael Gadsden,
Hastings Road, Northampton.
Please think hard before spending
What on earth do our local councillors think they are doing to our town? Every time I pick up my Chron I read of another stupid idea the councillors are planning. They propose to knock down a perfectly suitable bus station and spend millions building another one that is not big enough so some terminals have to be located elsewhere.
Why knock down a bus station that could be refurbished at a fraction of the cost and force passengers to wait in open areas in all weathers just to build more shops when the town centre already has many shops empty? If ever any of the councillors took the trouble to visit the bus station and listen to the comments of the passengers they would hear that most of the townsfolk disagree with this proposal.
I also read of the proposal to erect a cube building opposite the Castle Station with just three disabled parking lots. What on earth are they thinking of? What company would entertain renting space in a building where their workers are forced to use municipal or station car parks and pay for the privilege? I foresee if this building goes ahead it will remain partially or totally empty, hence another waste of council tax (our) money.
Now I read the council is proposing to open Gold Street up to traffic after spending millions only two years ago to pedestrianise the street. I despair; these councillors must be living in cloud cuckoo land. If any of these councillors read the Chron I urge them to stop and think hard before spending large sums of money on projects that (a) in the times of recession we can ill afford and (b) on projects that are of no advantage to the people.
R Farey,
Hunsbury, Northampton.
Take notice
WITH regard to Miriam Solomon’s letter and the suggestions she made, may I say I agree with her wholeheartedly and suggest the powers that be take notice and act accordingly.
With renovation, our present bus station would be OK. I’m sure most people would prefer to wait for a bus in the warm, rather than be exposed to the elements in The Drapery.
Mrs J Verity,
Brookland Road, Northampton.
Knock it down
Our bus station needs more than a lick of paint and good clean up, it needs knocking down and replacing with a brand new one.
The bus station was built in the 1970s so it’s well past its sell-by date and over the years has become an eyesore and a place where yobs hang out, causing grief to others.
Mr M Spittles,
Exeter Place, Northampton.
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