Artist's impression of FF when it had four sides, now just memories!
And so it goes on with Southend Council possibily throwing around compulsory purchase powers to break the deadlock that is threatening plans for the redevlopment of the Shrimpers current home.
Having said that the Prospects deal has now been 'terminated', the land is needed for access to the proposed new supermarket and homes on the Roots Hall site, the council may have to intervene to kick start the whole process.
Without it, no Fossetts Farm, and Sainsbury’s along with the club have issued a joint statement attacking Prospects’ unyielding position.
It said: “Prospects College unilaterally terminated the purchase agreement with Sainsbury's after a request for more time in order to finalise outstanding matters. We are disappointed by the actions of Prospects as there was an opportunity to agree a value in excess of what could realistically be expected under a compulsory purchase order process. Sainsbury’s, Southend United Football Club and Southend Council remains committed to deliver this important project for the wider community.”
Neil Bates, chief executive of Futures College (formerly Prospects), revealed that the trust which runs the site was in the early stages of negotiating with another buyer and he denied ruining the Sainsbury’s deal.
He told www.echo-news.co.uk: “It’s absolutely not the case that we won’t sell to them. This is the sixth time we have reached an agreement and that agreement was terminated because it went past June 23, when the contract was due to be signed. (As for compulsory Such powers are only involved when it has not been possible to come to a treaty, but it was entirely possible to come to a treaty with us. It was Sainsbury’s which didn’t uphold the terms of the agreement.”
Phew! If Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin believed that October will be the starting point of the building of the now three-sided stadium, it honestly seems as far away as it ever was!
The full Echo article here: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/9134960.Can_council_break_stalemate_over_Roots_Hall_plan_/
Sadly, it's not funny: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Prospects say no: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Well, Ron's confident: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
It's lost a side!: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk