Any news players/stadium developments!!

[dfcchris]

No news and all has gone quiet....snippets of news would be great it's been a quiet fortnight!!
Released players, stadium developments.

[CrazyDarlo]

Released players: Bell, Hatch, Mota, Weldon
BM: Starts 27th May i think

[AndyPark]

Although these departures haven't been confirmed yet I don't think.

[Darlo_Pete]

Nope I've heard nothing official, but no doubt the details are correct.

[AndyPark]

When is work going to start on the ground?

[darlobhoy]

The Council has been successful in securing £70k from Sport England to expand the existing car park at BM by 250 spaces (see Cabinet report on DBC's website 3rd March 2015).

The Council didn't find out until after the General Election (purdah).

Quite a few of the conditions on the planning approval had to be discharged before work could commence. Once these matters have been approved the development moves from Amber to Green light and it should be all systems go.

[ArmchairDiehard]

How many car park spaces are there currently?

[Maurice_Peddelty]

How many car park spaces are there currently?

Using google earth, I would say around 108 on the current configuration.

[bertbanger]

thats the main problem, no way its gona work if the road in and out aint widened or a 2nd road built

[Bogratsteve]

thats the main problem, no way its gona work if the road in and out aint widened or a 2nd road built

Plans for a one way system and a loop out on to the road I understand, reckon currently it's around 100 or just over

[bertbanger]

cool

[Darlofan97]

How many car park spaces are there currently?

120 standard car parking spaces, 5 disabled car parking spaces, 4 coach bays and 36 temporary car parking spaces if needs be.

[Neil Johnson]

A lot more places will be needed for cars and occasional extra away supporter buses.

Some town & country bus routes could be altered to reduce home support car use, but I expect DFC Supporters Buses will be needed in any case.

[Darlofan97]

Good job that phase 1 of the development will see an additional 250 spaces added then! Another 250 added in phase 2 also.

As for as I'm aware, bus stands on Grange Road will be upgraded as part of the development, with a pedestrian crossing island on Grange Road also to be put in place.

[dickdarlington]

I think we need to invest in one of these for Kev...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8JjfgO-pro/V ... M_0296.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yfe4gVTRrFU/V ... M_0303.JPG

Or we could just sneak into rockcliffe and lift Boro's!

I noticed last night that the council are building the townbound bus stop. It's a start.

[TFDM]

One of those would be brilliant

[Darlo_Pete]

I was at the ground last night and absolutely nothing has happened, not even any work on the pitch. Which is a bit alarming when work on the new ground was supposed to have started over 2 weeks ago.

[dickdarlington]

I was also at the ground last night and nothing has happened yet. No progress has been made, which includes the pitch. Mind you, I wasn't surprised as there has been no announcement from either club. Some might find this alarming, but given the amounts of red tape and short/abitious time scales, two weeks isn't that long.

I am eager for it to start, but not about to panic. It's been approved formally and officially by both parties, planning permission has been granted and funding is in place. It's just a case of crossing the i's and dotting the t's now. If there is a concern, it is that the pitch won't be ready for the rugby clubs first matches of the season...but they must have a contingency in place for this.

[RUMPLESTILTSKIN]

One of those would be brilliant

A bus stop??

[BUSHEAD]

prediction - we wont be playing at Blackwell Meadows until April 2016.

[Robbie Painter]

prediction - we wont be playing at Blackwell Meadows until April 2016.

Would mean lost revenue of £70k+, probably closer to £100k. (Based on 1.5k av at BM v 1k av. at HP & 20 league home games).

[m62exile]

prediction - we wont be playing at Blackwell Meadows until April 2016.

Is that guesswork Bushead or have you heard something?

[TFDM]

One of those would be brilliant

A bus stop??

A bus stop with a ladder!

[coles]

Guys stop the pressing the panic button the work will begin at some point and the club will tell us when it does.

Interesting that everyone says no work has started as last Thursday nobody was allowed to walk across the pitch as it had been cut and sprayed with chemicals in prepartation for Darlington FC. so some work has started.

[Darlo_Pete]

The worry for me is that work on the pitch needs to be done over the summer. If we get a cold autumn, then the pitch may not be finished until next spring, say April.

[divas]

I don't think anyone is panicking but we were communicated timescales when fundraising began which have not yet officially changed despite work starting much later than originally specified meaning that there's now a universally accepted view that we will not be there for the beginning of the season.

Tongues will wag, and discussions will be had as to why/when things will/won't happen. It's human nature to speculate in the absence of factual information

[Darlo_Pete]

I don't think anyone is panicking but we were communicated timescales when fundraising began which have not yet officially changed despite work starting much later than originally specified meaning that there's now a universally accepted view that we will not be there for the beginning of the season.

Tongues will wag, and discussions will be had as to why/when things will/won't happen. It's human nature to speculate in the absence of factual information

Lets face it, there isn't much else to talk about.

[divas]

I don't think anyone is panicking but we were communicated timescales when fundraising began which have not yet officially changed despite work starting much later than originally specified meaning that there's now a universally accepted view that we will not be there for the beginning of the season.

Tongues will wag, and discussions will be had as to why/when things will/won't happen. It's human nature to speculate in the absence of factual information

Lets face it, there isn't much else to talk about.

Yep and that

[lo36789]

I was at the ground last night and absolutely nothing has happened, not even any work on the pitch. Which is a bit alarming when work on the new ground was supposed to have started over 2 weeks ago.

Interesting that everyone says no work has started as last Thursday nobody was allowed to walk across the pitch as it had been cut and sprayed with chemicals in prepartation for Darlington FC. so some work has started.

Seems to be a bit of a difference between these comments! Darlo_Pete...discuss

[dickdarlington]

The worry for me is that work on the pitch needs to be done over the summer. If we get a cold autumn, then the pitch may not be finished until next spring, say April.

Pitch has to be ready for the start of the rugby season, otherwise DRFC 1st's won't have anywhere to play at all. Just chill fella.