Rugby Club progress...

MilleD

Well-Known Forumite

It is a nice post. But it doesn't negate the devastating impact it's going to have on the SSSI.

And saying they could do nothing about the location isn't quite true is it surely.? I'm sure if the Rugby Club thought they were going to have no members when they starting talking about that site, they might have reconsidered?

The clubhouse does look like a good facility. But it still doesn't remove the fact that it is in a shocking place for the environment, not to mention their immediate neighbours - and never should have been approved, which is obviously on the planners - but a quick buck trying to be made doesn't make it right either.

Maybe I need to pop down there for a pint.....
 

Mikinton

Well-Known Forumite
Indeed it doesn't negate the etc etc .... but isn't that all in the past and we are where we are .... and all the wailing and gnashing of teeth isn't going to change that.

Best everyone devotes their efforts to identifying the rough edges, deciding on the best way of addressing them, and getting on with it.
 

WoolmanT

Well-Known Forumite
It is a nice post. But it doesn't negate the devastating impact it's going to have on the SSSI.

And saying they could do nothing about the location isn't quite true is it surely.? I'm sure if the Rugby Club thought they were going to have no members when they starting talking about that site, they might have reconsidered?

The clubhouse does look like a good facility. But it still doesn't remove the fact that it is in a shocking place for the environment, not to mention their immediate neighbours - and never should have been approved, which is obviously on the planners - but a quick buck trying to be made doesn't make it right either.

Maybe I need to pop down there for a pint.....

You are more than welcome to pop down for a pint. There’s actually some very nice people down there!
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
I’m getting to the point on here where all we / I ever get is negativity.

99% of the feedback on the new club has been hugely positive, other than the bulk of messages on here.

So before people throw bricks at an establishment they pretty much know zero about, it might be an idea to look a little closer, other than rant about the injustices of the situation (which I’ve said a thousand times, we had no control over) and maybe ask yourself what have you done for your community? What have you contributed to charity?
It may not be perfect and our location may not suit everyone, but we get a lot of things right at our club.
I agree with others, that we have to accept that we are where we are. However, whilst we do need to move on, you can't blame people for criticising the decision to locate the club on the edge of the marshes; I do understand why it happened, but I still believe it was an appalling decision.

We will address the floodlights when the report arrives, we will continue to work with our neighbours, we have met with SWT with a view to them helping us to reduce impact on local wildlife, we have a tree / planting program in place to start in Jan / Feb.
This is good news. I'm sure there are many on here that will appreciate being kept up to date with progress in these areas.
Whenare you expecting the floodlights report?
Has anything being agreed with the Wildlife Trust yet and will these meetings continue / be a regular thing?
Have you any more details on the tree planting programme?

We have brought two amazing charities (men’s mental health and breast cancer support) from the old club to our new home, they are growing and we are very proud of that.
We have children playing sport at the club 7 days a week, some our schools through lack of funding are struggling to do. We are building a community facility, it’s only going to get better.
Across the last three years, the club has raised over £15K each year for charity by members doing the 3 peaks challenge twice, 40-50 people cycling 296 miles over 3 days to every rugby club in Staffordshire, people running half & full marathons and hosting various social functions. We don’t shout about it, it’s what we do but given the constant tirade of negativity we get on here, there you go. We are proud of it.
That's great to hear and I would hope that everyone on here would applaud such initiatives.

We’ll will continue to engage with people, it’s the right thing to do, but you can’t please everyone all of the time.
We all live in the same area, some things can’t change.....maybe, just maybe a little bit more objectivity / less negativity may help us all get on for the better.
Thanks!

As I've stated before, I appreciate you taking the time to come on here and put over your side regarding these issues. Yes, you are speaking to a mostly hostile audience in relation to the location but, as you indicate, we need to look at ways of moving forwards together.

As I stated above, we are where we are. We now need to work together so that rugby club, neighbours and wildlife can all see progress from where we are today.
 

MilleD

Well-Known Forumite
Indeed it doesn't negate the etc etc .... but isn't that all in the past and we are where we are .... and all the wailing and gnashing of teeth isn't going to change that.

Best everyone devotes their efforts to identifying the rough edges, deciding on the best way of addressing them, and getting on with it.

I take it you don't live near it?
 

Mikinton

Well-Known Forumite
I take it you don't live near it?
I do not; I'm in the other direction, on Baswich. I've never been to the area being talked about except possibly back in 2007 to photograph a game to test my new dSLR ....

... which is why I didn't get involved in the original discussion, as I didn't know and had no direct interest in the area. But now it's built, sort the problems out as far as possible, and move on.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
I do not; I'm in the other direction, on Baswich. I've never been to the area being talked about except possibly back in 2007 to photograph a game to test my new dSLR ....

... which is why I didn't get involved in the original discussion, as I didn't know and had no direct interest in the area. But now it's built, sort the problems out as far as possible, and move on.
What game could you possibly have photographed there in 2007?
 

Mikinton

Well-Known Forumite
What game could you possibly have photographed there in 2007?
It was one of the Stafford rugby team's home games. Probably something like the 3rds. I think I just rocked up with my camera hoping there'd be a game on. It was late April/early May so football and rugby seasons were winding down and there wasn't much on anywhere in the town.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
It was one of the Stafford rugby team's home games. Probably something like the 3rds. I think I just rocked up with my camera hoping there'd be a game on. It was late April/early May so football and rugby seasons were winding down and there wasn't much on anywhere in the town.
That was at a totally different location at Castefields!

Or am I missing the relevance to the Marshes?

:?:
 

MilleD

Well-Known Forumite
I do not; I'm in the other direction, on Baswich. I've never been to the area being talked about except possibly back in 2007 to photograph a game to test my new dSLR ....

... which is why I didn't get involved in the original discussion, as I didn't know and had no direct interest in the area. But now it's built, sort the problems out as far as possible, and move on.

You sound like the guy I used to work with after we all went through a pay review. Lots of people had a pay cut, he told them to stop moaning as it had all been done fairly.

His pay had gone up. Needless to say he nearly got lynched.

What you probably don't realise as you haven't been there, is quite what is being lost. And why people are pretty upset about it.
 

stoofer34

Well-Known Forumite
Guess the direction from the 1st Tee?
1st tee.jpg
 
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