Disruption during stadium expansion

[Dirk Gently]

Don't know about that. There will be inevitable pressure on space, as the stadium will have a bigger footprint. Plus there needs to be 1000 square metres of "compound" for TV broadcast lorries, etc.

TBH there are so many details still being worked on and thought through that I'm not going to worry about such things yet.

[PieEater]

I think it's not quite a detail if it's in their planning application. Surely the approval can only be based on what is submitted and there was no mention of it being an estimate.

My cynical conclusion is that the reduced parking spaces will be the leverage to install exec boxes instead as there is less demand....

[Dirk Gently]

I'd be very surprised if that was the case.

[Platypuss]

IIRC (the doc has gone) the planning application had something like 40 fewer disabled parking spaces after the extension.

I thought I read somewhere (Access Statement?) that the Stadium was currently well above the recommmended guideline level for disabled parking spaces, and that even after the expansion and reduction in spaces there would still be more than the recommended number.

Regarding the East Stand viewing areas, the Planning Statement says:

p34:

On Level Two, in addition to the circulation space, it is proposed to develop areas of exhibition space on the east stand. It will be designed to be flexible and could accommodate other uses such as hospitality, if required and will allow for direct access to the seating access. This will be particularly beneficial for disabled fans, as a viewing gantry will be
provided as part of the connecting space between the terraces and the hospitality areas.

p82:

Best practice guidance (The Green Guide) states that for a stadium of capacity of approximately 36,000, 198 disabled seats should be provided. Currently, the stadium has capacity for 126 wheelchair viewing posittons. The viewing bays are located as designated viewing platforms accessed directly from the ground floor concourse. In all cases, these bays are located in an elevated position above pitch level with good protection achieved from the elements by the roof of the stadium. The new proposals intend to retain all existing wheelchair viewing positions and to add further viewing bays located at more elevated positions. All new viewing platforms include a ratio of one wheelchair to one helper seat, with the helpers seats located on the wheelchair viewing platfotm. The stadium wheelchair provision is therefore increased from 126 to 206 (including hospitality areas).

[PieEater]

PP where did you get these details? Is the planning statement online?

The only details I could find are:
http://planning.reading.gov.uk/publicac ... ype=WEEKLY

[Platypuss]

I downloaded the pdf of the Planning Statement when it first became available (120 odd pages!) for future reference. From what you (and others) have said, it appears that it may have been taken down for some reason.

If you've got any questions on it then I can try and post some more extracts.

EDIT:

It's still there on page 3 of the Associated Documents tab on the link you posted.

[PieEater]

I just realised this site is IE specific, you can load all of the documents (if you disable your popup blocker.

It seems there will be 4 levels:

Ground - as is
Two - hospitality and disabled
Three - more hospitality
Four - upper concourse and access to press gantry

[STAR Liaison]

PieEater we have asked about this and the club is very aware that if people have to be moved from their current seats that it will mean that they need to be given a reasonable alternative and they will be contacted in due course but well before the need to move. It has been thought about but what is to be offered is not yet decided but the various possibilities spoken of as examples indicate that you will not face the attitude that Newcastle fans faced.

Above all it was made clear that no-one's seat will be changed at all in the 2007/08 season

[PieEater]

PieEater we have asked about this and the club is very aware that if people have to be moved from their current seats that it will mean that they need to be given a reasonable alternative and they will be contacted in due course but well before the need to move. It has been thought about but what is to be offered is not yet decided but the various possibilities spoken of as examples indicate that you will not face the attitude that Newcastle fans faced.

Above all it was made clear that no-one's seat will be changed at all in the 2007/08 season

I think the possibilities are moving to a seat in the extended stand or don't renew your ST. Newcastle was harder because there were no seats nearby the affected area and people were moved to another stand. Unless you mean the club don't want the bad PR that Newcastle got as a result?

The planning schedule makes it clear nobody is affected next season, why the emphasis on "above all"?

[Royal Fleet]

Thanks to star for that Info.

I am one of those who will be affected, and so would argue that the course of action should be just move everyone back, rather than having a chunk of very loyal fans severely prejudiced against

[PieEater]

There is some rationale to get everyone to move back. When the new stand is built they will probably need to renumber the upper rows to by adding a number before the row letter. So people above row DD will probably have to be assigned new member cards anyway.

e.g they could add a letter before the number to indicate the concourse to use so DD becomes 2A etc.

[When Hicks went up...]

Thanks to star for that Info.

I am one of those who will be affected, and so would argue that the course of action should be just move everyone back, rather than having a chunk of very loyal fans severely prejudiced against

Like the guys in wheelchairs have been for the last 9 years?