The Darsley Park Academy facility is being held up by planning issues after we dispensed with other sites for the same reason. If the Makems get approval to ruin a greenfield site with their academy, why can't Newcastle Council give us planning permission EVER for something we want to do? I really think an investigation should be made into how and why we get blocked at every turn: is the Council full of Makems and/or f**kwits who don't know or care about the importance of the NUF brand to the City at large?

If we don't sort this out soon, the FA will stop waiving "own property" requirements and the kids in question will have to go to Sunderland (who are building a facility) or Boro who already have one.

Can't we sort this out?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Answers

PS. MacBeth, what are the noises being made about this at the FLC?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I note that to compound this situation, regrettably we've now lost our Academy Director, Alan Irvine, who is taking up a coaching post with the FA.

Irvine appears to have done an excellent job for us over the last 4 years, and I'd hate to think our continuing fannying around with the Academy Facilities was a contributory factor.

Let's also remember that if the Council are with-holding planning approval for Darsley Park there is probably a legitimate reason, and the associated delays may not actually be their fault.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

The fact that there have been no youth graduates to the first team this season probably doesn't help (Gary Caldwell has to get on the bench one day, doesn't he?)

Clarky, regarding the council, we just see Sunderland's council recognising the role of SAFC to the community and its importance to the developing city. We see no such sensitivity from authorities in Newcastle.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

dougal - you may be right about the Council. However we don't know the facts, and having been involved in seeking planning approvals in the past I know you need to work closely with the Officials to ensure all the "i's" are dotted and all the "t's" crossed to get things accomplished.

As you know, I have no faith whatsoever in NUFC to do anything professionally, and my suspicion is that they may be pursuing their usual arrogant path - to the highly predictable oblivion.

Have you never noticed that NUFC have had problems with EVERY planning application they have ever submitted?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Clarky, one of the BBSers (a Strawberry regular) can tell you something about the reasons for which we were refused planning permission on one major venture and it wasn't any fault of NUFC. Not everything is.

What worries me about Darsley Park is that it was presented to the Stock Exchange as a finished project as the infrastructure was in place and we would be saving £10 million. Now we find that it's being held up for planning reasons. Something stinks all round about this.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

PS. Clarky, my dad works for the Health & Safety Exec and has been involved in many planning applications, too (including working on Upton Park's new stand and on the new Arsenal Stadium) so I agree about the "i's" and "t's" but my dad would also say that if the authority agrees in principal with your idea, they would help you with the formalities.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

PPS. Of course, my dad's experiences of these things are almost all in London so he couldn't speak for anyone else's Council.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

.......I surrender! Newcy Council are callous t**ts.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

LOL. I'm not saying that, Clarky, I'm just saying that this isn't just NUFC being crap.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

I seem to remember something about councillors who were ST holders not being allowed to vote on the Leazes Park application as they were thought to be biased?

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002