11:35. It will be news very much welcomed by AFC Bournemouth who have now got the approval needed to begin expanding the Vitality Stadium.
Thank you very much for following along our live blog!
11:30. THE PLANS HAVE BEEN APPROVED
11:27. Another councillor has said that they will approve the application. They say these plans are an opportunity for AFC Bournemouth to show the country what they are about. Including promoting the shift in people getting out of their cars.
She also brings up the issue of the women’s team not playing at the Vitality Stadium and hopes that they will play there more often with the expansion.
11:26. A councillor has said he does not want to approve this application and will want to delay it.
11:21. The meeting will now be opened to debate.
11:20. A question has been asked regarding the reversal of the enabling works if the stadium expansion plans are dismissed. The club would not remove the enabling works even if the stadium expansion does not happen. This means the new perimeter fence with turnstiles and broadcasting area would still remain.
11:18. The club have reassured people with parking concerns that the club have plans in place to be able to inform supporters of the reduced car parking spaces.
11:14. There is concern over the Beryl location being moved or removed entirely. Beryl are involved with discussions and there will be a temporary Beryl bay whilst enabling works are taking place.
11:11. There is a concern over the visibility for both cyclists and walkers that would be using the path on the specific curve. It has been said that on non-matchdays, people using the path can see the rest of the path through the broadcasting area.
On matchdays, this would be a bit more difficult due to broadcasting vans being parked.
11:09. A concern has been brought up regarding the cycle-walk path and how their is a big curve in the path. A question has been asked whether it could be made more direct however this would mean trees would need to be cut down to make way for the path.
11:06. A concern has been brought up on whether the stadium will be used for other events due to the expansion. It has been said that the Vitality Stadium will have a license to hold music events.
11:05. It has been said that the broadcast trucks arrive 72 hours before a game and up to 24 hours after meaning that supporters on a match day would not be affected by these trucks moving.
11:01. Discussions have now broadened to the wider area behind the South Stand. There are concerns as to how away fan coaches and broadcasting trucks would have to drive over the shared cycle-walk path to gain access to the parking area designated for them.
10:58. Discussions remain on the change to the shared cycle-walk path that runs behind the current South Stand and how this will affect every day users.
10:55. There are objections to the plans in regards to the outside broadcasting area being built over existing pedestrian walk and cycle paths.
10:51. In regards to issues with the East Stand, it has been raised that they are a part of the next application and that these issues can be dealt with at a later time. The East Stand will not be touched during these enabling works.
10:49. A question has been raised about using the local business car parks to help with the amount of supporters. JP Morgan have been brought up, a local office that have a sizeable car park that can help during the enabling works.
There are security issues that this might cause which has meant the club have not explored this option.
10:41. The main issue that has arisen is the reduction of car parking spaces. There are worries these will increase the pressure on local transport services and will affect local residents with ‘unsocial parking’.
10:40. Questions are now being fielded.
10:39. There are six home games that will be interrupted by the enabling works. With most of the works to be done during post-season.
10:37. There will be many parties involved in sorting out the issues from reduced car parking. These include South Western Rail, Beryl, local bus companies and the local Sovereign Shopping Centre.
10:34. In regards to the reduction of car parking spaces, it has been said that it is a need with the enabling works. But it is also a push from the club to get more people out of their cars and instead walking or cycling etc.
10:33. The brought up issues are now being addressed.
10:32. Councillor Williams ends his speech saying that he isn’t ‘anti-AFC Bournemouth’, he is ‘very pro residents’.
10:31. Councillor Williams also asks the club to look at their plans again in regards to encroaching on Middleton Gardens. He expresses the need to re-assess the increase in noise pollution with the enabling works and the 20,000 people that will eventually fill the new stadium.
10:29. Councillor Williams is addressing the room. He is expressing that he struggles to contact the club in regards to issues he and his residents have.
10:25. Councillor Brown is speaking on behalf of her residents and she wants to make sure that there is not an increase in unsocial parking on her resident’s streets.
10:24. The want to stay at Dean Court has also been explained. The club does not want to leave their current patch and want to stay at their ‘ancestral home’.
10:23. Another representative of the club is explaining how the current stadium does not meet UEFA regulations and that improvements are needed to the stadium.
10:20. Frevola is speaking on behalf of the club and owner Bill Foley. Frevola has thanked all of the people involved in the process and has explained the economic benefit and social benefits of the stadium expansion.
10:19. AFC Bournemouth’s Jim Frevola is in attendance at the meeting.
10:16. Some local residents behind the stadium in Middleton Gardens to the stadium. They say they are big football fans and are wanting the club to grow however they oppose the plans to expand the East Stand of the stadium.
They say the growth of the East Stand would cause visual pollution to their community and would encroach on their house. They believe the opposite stand, the West Stand, should be expanded instead which wouldn’t affect any housing area.
10:15. Two local residents are speaking on the plans.
10:14. The plans are now being summarised for the people in attendance including what the enabling works consist of. The plans have been recommended for approval.
10:12. There will be a loss of 150 car parking spaces during the enabling works but the club have contingency plans to help supporters during this time.
10:10. Discussions have begun on the Vitality Stadium enabling works. The details of the plans are now being explained to the councillors.
09:55. Hello and welcome to our live blog of the Eastern BCP Planning Committee where AFC Bournemouth are awaiting the decision regarding their enabling works.
If the plans are approved, the club can begin the process of expanding the Vitality Stadium where the capacity will increase to 20,000 from 11,000.
The enabling works consist of laying down the foundations for the 7,500 seater South Stand; the expansion of the car parks; the growing of cherry trees and the installation of a perimeter fence with new turnstiles.
Follow along on this blog as we await the decision!
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