Massive Stadium Tip Off

[Sweepy]

I was in the QPR chatroom last night, and discovered that QPR are considering a new stadium in CRANFORD, just yards from where I live. You can imagine when this issue was raised, I nearly fell off my chair. Traffic is a bit heavy in the area, but the tube is 15 minutes away and there are buses all over the place!

I'm told the old agriculture land to the west of Hounslow is available, with QPR looking to use a third of the land. I can't begin to imagine how QPR are in a position to study new sites, but who cares? Why Brentford have not looked into this so far is anybody's guess. There are literally hundreds of acres there. Any thoughts?

 

[Mr Cynical]

I can't see why they would want to move at all, Loftars Road is more than adequate for second division football...

 

[Sweepy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mr Cynical:
I can't see why they would want to move at all, Loftars Road is more than adequate for second division football...</font>

Not to mention the Third Division

 

[Roy_loak]

blimey sweeps- surprised you're revealing where you live!

 

[Sweepy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Roy_loak:
blimey sweeps- surprised you're revealing where you live!</font>

I live at 143... (I think you better stop there! - Sooty)

 

[Pauly Paul]

hey Sweeps,

Is this Western International again or Rectory Farm?

 

[Luke Kirton]

Is the rectory farm near the Waggoners Roundabout?

Have you told the club about this yet?

I know the club won't be able to put an offer on any area until they know how much money they have to spend but they must be told of areas that come up so they can be ready when they are in a position to do so.

 

[Pauly Paul]

Rectory Farm is the large piece of land between the A4 and the A312 near Waggonners Roundabout. I remember about 10 years ago the council were going to dig it up, extract minerals and then build a country park much like they've done at Bedfont Lakes. Any development here would have the same problems as WIM because it's green belt. Does this mean WIM is back on the agenda?

 

[Sweepy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Pauly Paul:
hey Sweeps,

Is this Western International again or Rectory Farm?</font>

Rectory Farm.

Again, there are no "for sale" signs up (not the last time I looked anyway). I haven't taken it to the club yet, I only first heard of it two nights ago.

Who should I e-mail with this, or would we be better off approaching the club directly to make sure they know about this?

 

[Pauly Paul]

I'd contact the club about it. I guess we're talking about a groundshare with QPR?

It is a massive piece of land (100 acres) and I always thought since I was a kid "they could build a massive stadium there."

The only stickler is it's Green Belt status. However I think it's a toilet place for a farm. Can't be very good/clean produce with the A4/A312 next to it and planes flying over!

Also, as you say you're local, how would residents feel about losing it? Maybe they could have a 50 acre park and leave 50 acres for the stadium and enabling development. They'd be up in arms about traffic congestion. It bloody awful at the best of times, however it's much closer to Hounslow West/Hatton Cross than WIM.

[This message has been edited by Pauly Paul (edited 01 November 2001).]

 

[Sweepy]

A half park - half development idea would be most satisfactory to all concerned. BAA would expect a guarantee of open land retained for a crash site, should anything nasty happen. This could tie in with a local park which could be used by the local community (which would have to be on the flightpath side of the farm nearest to the A30).

Expect a battle with my neighbours! We all fought against a gravel extraction site there a few years ago, though there is a possibility that the benefits of a stadium could prove to be more attractive to the locals. Also, many of the homes along the A4 are used as converted guest houses/hotels/bed & breakfasts - so they will not care about the development, and may even welcome the additional visitors.

The only question mark is the availability of the land, but we can only ask! Of course, there are ALL the usual planning issues, but all clubs have had these to deal with.

[This message has been edited by Sweepy (edited 01 November 2001).]

 

[Pauly Paul]

Yeah I forgot to mention a high kick from Oli might come close to touching the belly of landing aircraft!

I guess some provision must be made for emergency crashes. There's always Cranford Park as well.

Were QPR talking about the possibility of the site or are they about to submit an outline planning application?

[This message has been edited by Pauly Paul (edited 02 November 2001).]

 

[Sweepy]

I have no idea how advanced the process is yet. In their current situation, I can't see QPR taking things too far until the ownership issue is sorted out.

I'm going to have a look at the site today. It was used for rapeseed farming, which for a while was being used as clean fuel (though I dread to think where their rapeseed ended up!). This year, the farm appears to have not been used for anything.