Torbay Council

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Torbay Council

by TommyGunn » 28 Feb 2024, 13:52

A statement from the club on Wednesday said there had been 'a high volume of inquiries'.

The council's Liberal Democrat group leader Steve Darling (Barton with Watcombe) is to meet his Conservative, Independent and Prosper Torbay counterparts to discuss the club's future.

He said: "There is great uncertainty around Torquay United at the moment. It's important that we talk about its long-term future.

"We need to develop a shared statement of intent that the freehold of Plainmoor is not for sale, and also talk about what else the local authority can be doing.

"We need to offer the club an anchor in stormy waters, and our door needs to be open to anyone who is coming forward to support the club. The local authority needs to be using its connections and seeing what opportunities there are to bring in that support for Torquay United.

"We need to come together with a powerful message."

Council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) told a meeting of the full council last week: "I want to reassure the club and its supporters that we will engage with any interested parties to understand how we might support the ongoing operation of the club."

And he reassured people concerned that the club's Plainmoor ground might be lost.

"The freehold of Plainmoor is held by the council, and we have long held a position that it remains with the council," he said. "Nothing has changed. Our position is still exactly as it was."

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-ne ... ay-9130204

Torbay Council

by Rjc70 » 26 Feb 2024, 21:07

May see you at Weymouth, Dave? Ticket sorted. Hope all goes well.

Torbay Council

by Southampton Gull » 26 Feb 2024, 20:58

Rjc70 wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 20:32 Exactly that, Dave. It’s what he’s tended to do many times before with catastrophic consequences. He’s still owner now - and we are not in administration nor sold yet - but hopefully he will soon no longer be calling the shots here.
I know we both long for the day he exits. Fingers crossed he doesn't burn you twice 😉

Like you I fear nothing has changed while the two snakes remain in position. Hissing Hayman should do the decent thing and slither off.

Torbay Council

by Rjc70 » 26 Feb 2024, 20:32

Southampton Gull wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 11:47 Trust you? Not while you spout a defence of Clarke Osborne, no thanks. As I've said before, I think the land at Plainmoor wasn't the real carrot for Osborne. Permission to "develop an area to include a ground" as per his modus operandi and who is to say housing by a big builder wouldn't swallow up the land proposed leaving us high and dry. I wonder where that idea came from.............
Exactly that, Dave. It’s what he’s tended to do many times before with catastrophic consequences. He’s still owner now - and we are not in administration nor sold yet - but hopefully he will soon no longer be calling the shots here.

Torbay Council

by Brewers boy » 26 Feb 2024, 20:28

Well said JPR. We have a lot to thank the council for. If they didn't own the land then Osbourne would have arranged a groundshare with Buckland or Brixham and built houses on plainmoor long ago. WE are in a very good position owning the stadium and paying a nominal groundrent to a council which is pro football.

Torbay Council

by Jpr » 26 Feb 2024, 20:02

The Great Muta! wrote: 23 Feb 2024, 15:22 This may not be a popular post, but I want to stick up for the council, even going back to Dave Webb, Chris Roberts, Osborne have all wanted the freehold on the land, and thankfully the council have said no, I just hope there's a Mike Bateson figure who's local, he wasn't everyones cup of tea, but I always thought he was a decent bloke who had the clubs best interests at heart, and he kept us solvent and debt free.

:goodpost: Yep Mike Bateson kept us ticking over. some good cup run's, are club felt safe under him. How I would long for those type of times again I would not mind two promotions then staying in league 2 and just playing good football that would do.

Torbay Council

by Colorado » 26 Feb 2024, 20:02

Brewers boy wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 19:42 The real value to the council in Plainmoor is the tourism that it should bring in. Ok not so much at this level , but as the team goes up the leagues many fans will come and stay overnight. I know that I did.
To my mind the club doesn't work hard enough with the tourist board to link hotels and and offer package deals to entice more visitors. How many wives/ partners would accompany husbands, or even encourage husbands/partners to come for the weekend if they were being treated to a spa day whilst their other half is at the footie.
Torquay is a great place for a weekend break in the winter and the club, council and tourist board need to work towards it.
Couldn't agree more. Well said.

Torbay Council

by Brewers boy » 26 Feb 2024, 19:42

The real value to the council in Plainmoor is the tourism that it should bring in. Ok not so much at this level , but as the team goes up the leagues many fans will come and stay overnight. I know that I did.
To my mind the club doesn't work hard enough with the tourist board to link hotels and and offer package deals to entice more visitors. How many wives/ partners would accompany husbands, or even encourage husbands/partners to come for the weekend if they were being treated to a spa day whilst their other half is at the footie.
Torquay is a great place for a weekend break in the winter and the club, council and tourist board need to work towards it.

Torbay Council

by The Eternal Optimist » 26 Feb 2024, 17:40

If the council ever decided to sell Plainmoor there would be a massive objection from the residents of Torquay, not to mention Gulls fans. They would be forced to back down from that decision. I think the fans objections alone would probably be sufficient to change their minds. I believe there is some sort of covenant that requires Plainmoor to be used for sport / recreational purposes only. I don't believe it's realistic to think that Plainmoor will be sold. It's a developed football stadium, so any buyer would have to factor in the cost of the removal of all the infrastructure. Must be a disincentive. It's been let to Torquay United for a hundred years - I don't see any change happening to that arrangement, unless the club is completely liquidated.

Torbay Council

by SuperNickyWroe » 24 Feb 2024, 22:17

wbw wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 11:43 As an aside, why do fans think the freehold of Plainmoor is worth a lot? If its not used as a football stadium, the only possible use for the site is development.
That would be affordable housing or industrial units. Can't think of much else and neither would be particularly lucrative.
Perhaps the council realise the value they would get is not worth the abuse that would follow. Trust me, if it was worth many millions, it would have been sold!! The council is in the mire.
Doesn't matter if the freehold is worth 1p or £50m.....
Osborne didn't get his dirty, grubby hands on it and I doubt after the council's statement - that anyone would....
But as per your blinkered view, you don't see it....
As for housing or industrial units - get a grip FFS.

Torbay Council

by Owlgull » 24 Feb 2024, 13:04

Southampton Gull wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 11:47 Trust you? Not while you spout a defence of Clarke Osborne, no thanks. As I've said before, I think the land at Plainmoor wasn't the real carrot for Osborne. Permission to "develop an area to include a ground" as per his modus operandi and who is to say housing by a big builder wouldn't swallow up the land proposed leaving us high and dry. I wonder where that idea came from.............

Your “hints” have become stronger and stronger. I think I’ve finally “twigged!”

Torbay Council

by Southampton Gull » 24 Feb 2024, 11:47

Trust you? Not while you spout a defence of Clarke Osborne, no thanks. As I've said before, I think the land at Plainmoor wasn't the real carrot for Osborne. Permission to "develop an area to include a ground" as per his modus operandi and who is to say housing by a big builder wouldn't swallow up the land proposed leaving us high and dry. I wonder where that idea came from.............

Torbay Council

by wbw » 24 Feb 2024, 11:43

As an aside, why do fans think the freehold of Plainmoor is worth a lot? If its not used as a football stadium, the only possible use for the site is development.
That would be affordable housing or industrial units. Can't think of much else and neither would be particularly lucrative.
Perhaps the council realise the value they would get is not worth the abuse that would follow. Trust me, if it was worth many millions, it would have been sold!! The council is in the mire.

Torbay Council

by Dave » 24 Feb 2024, 11:34

Southampton Gull wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 11:24 Never say never. Council members change every few years. As money gets tighter and budgets shrink who can say for sure that in time it won't be sold.
Agreed, however there's been two council elections since CO arrived, the council control changed on both occasions, the stance on Plainmoor has not.

Torbay like most local authorities has been cashed strapped for a while and could have sold Plainmoor a number of times over, yet have not.

The rention of Plainmoor will be a vote winner, think it's future is safe in the medium to long term.

Torbay Council

by Southampton Gull » 24 Feb 2024, 11:24

Dave wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 10:33 To be fair the council have reiterated there position time, time and time again that the freehold of Plainmoor was not for sale, so there was never that chance, and whilst I think the fanbase may have played a very small part in hastening CO decision, more likely the realization that he (CO) was never going to get what he wanted is the driving factor behind him withdrawing funding.
Never say never. Council members change every few years. As money gets tighter and budgets shrink who can say for sure that in time it won't be sold.

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