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Post by DaveLong79 on Apr 6, 2021 12:11:02 GMT
Few posts about the middle block of seats in the RE. My thinking is this will be used for safe standing in the future. Safe standing itself was discussed at the latest Co-op/club meeting - nothing decided upon, without checking the notes I believe there will be a consultation in the future. The CE would be an obvious place for safe standing, not sure how easy it would be to achieve as I'm no architect!, but given the RE is due an upgrade, it also makes sense there too. All IMO, obviously. If they're thinking of putting safe standing in the middle block, and only the middle block, they'd be well-advised to rethink that. Because it wouldn't work. If you're doing it in a block, it needs to be at one end of the other. I've no idea if that's in the pipeline. All speculation on my part, mate. Based on nothing more than me putting two and two together! 8.7.3 |
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Post by edinburghhatter on Apr 7, 2021 9:14:02 GMT
If they're thinking of putting safe standing in the middle block, and only the middle block, they'd be well-advised to rethink that. Because it wouldn't work. If you're doing it in a block, it needs to be at one end of the other. I've no idea if that's in the pipeline. All speculation on my part, mate. Based on nothing more than me putting two and two together! 8.7.3 I'm more than ever convinced that the older RE seats are simply what could be salvaged from the unusable mess the RE had deteriorated into. A cheap option: but if appearances are important, one that can easily be sorted out in the future.
And yes, putting a safe standing block in the middle of regular seated blocks, rather than at the ends, would be a noteworthy example of footballing lunacy. Although why, if safe standing is envisaged, not use the proper safe standing type of seats...? I think, though, that the RE as it is now will eventually go, as there's a lot of space potentially available under the seating deck which could be better used... and the same is true of the Pop side.
EP already has another classic example of lack of joined-up thinking, this time from the Ellwood era: the building next to the west end of the Main stand (a lounge (?) and the refreshment bar) instantly blocked the view from a good number of seats at that end. It could so easily have been tapered, and thus been both bigger and totally non-intrusive.
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Post by edinburghhatter on Apr 7, 2021 9:43:36 GMT
Great aerial pic of EP on the club's Twitter account today. /photo/1 I'm sure I read we've bought that piece of empty land at the RE/pop side corner (to the right of the containers)? Could be wrong. 8.7.3 Could be right, too!
But the questions over the actual ownership of EP itself remain for me (as far as we know, it's still the Council). And the Bungalow? If we've bought it, as has been suggested by some, why is it still there? Ditto the old bowling green, now obliterated: are the containers which now cover it anything to do with the house-building nearby (one theory) or are they someone taking the opportunity to exploit a bit of vacant land for commercial gain, and simultaneously block any expansion of EP? (A potential ransom strip?) Or does Mr Stott collect containers as a hobby?
I think we should be told!
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Post by BWScarf on Apr 7, 2021 9:51:53 GMT
I'm sure I read we've bought that piece of empty land at the RE/pop side corner (to the right of the containers)? Could be wrong. 8.7.3 Could be right, too!
But the questions over the actual ownership of EP itself remain for me (as far as we know, it's still the Council). And the Bungalow? If we've bought it, as has been suggested by some, why is it still there? Ditto the old bowling green, now obliterated: are the containers which now cover it anything to do with the house-building nearby (one theory) or are they someone taking the opportunity to exploit a bit of vacant land for commercial gain, and simultaneously block any expansion of EP? (A potential ransom strip?) Or does Mr Stott collect containers as a hobby?
I think we should be told!
Hold that thought, we'll know soon enough. And you're spot on re: the safe standing rails. |
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Post by timberwolf on Apr 7, 2021 10:00:28 GMT
EP already has another classic example of lack of joined-up thinking, this time from the Ellwood era: the building next to the west end of the Main stand (a lounge (?) and the refreshment bar) instantly blocked the view from a good number of seats at that end. It could so easily have been tapered, and thus been both bigger and totally non-intrusive.
just looking at EP from outside and inside the whole ground just looks ugly for me. the CE too large and the rest too small. might be just me but i prefer something more in proportion. not keen on the flat packs but thats more about the design than the proportions. |
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Post by edinburghhatter on Apr 7, 2021 10:19:43 GMT
EP already has another classic example of lack of joined-up thinking, this time from the Ellwood era: the building next to the west end of the Main stand (a lounge (?) and the refreshment bar) instantly blocked the view from a good number of seats at that end. It could so easily have been tapered, and thus been both bigger and totally non-intrusive.
just looking at EP from outside and inside the whole ground just looks ugly for me. the CE too large and the rest too small. might be just me but i prefer something more in proportion. not keen on the flat packs but thats more about the design than the proportions. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder!
But if the Railway end and Pop side are eventually expanded, things would be much more in proportion...
For me, it's the unsympathetic, messy add-ons at each end of the Main stand that offend the eye, and also common sense. The newer buildings on that side didn't have to just be square or rectangular lumps. They didn't need (especially at the west end) to block off the view from quite a few seats. Maybe if/when replacement of the Main stand roof becomes really urgent (and it's now 85 years old) they'll take the opportunity to sort things in a way that both improves the view, and also increases the capacity of the stand somewhat: the potential to do so is there.  |
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Post by timberwolf on Apr 7, 2021 11:10:41 GMT
just looking at EP from outside and inside the whole ground just looks ugly for me. the CE too large and the rest too small. might be just me but i prefer something more in proportion. not keen on the flat packs but thats more about the design than the proportions. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder!
But if the Railway end and Pop side are eventually expanded, things would be much more in proportion...
For me, it's the unsympathetic, messy add-ons at each end of the Main stand that offend the eye, and also common sense. The newer buildings on that side didn't have to just be square or rectangular lumps. They didn't need (especially at the west end) to block off the view from quite a few seats. Maybe if/when replacement of the Main stand roof becomes really urgent (and it's now 85 years old) they'll take the opportunity to sort things in a way that both improves the view, and also increases the capacity of the stand somewhat: the potential to do so is there. at the end of the day the vast majority of fans may want EP upgrades but would love to see a team that deserve to play on the uprated facilities even more. |
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Post by advent on Apr 7, 2021 11:22:58 GMT
Could be right, too!
But the questions over the actual ownership of EP itself remain for me (as far as we know, it's still the Council). And the Bungalow? If we've bought it, as has been suggested by some, why is it still there? Ditto the old bowling green, now obliterated: are the containers which now cover it anything to do with the house-building nearby (one theory) or are they someone taking the opportunity to exploit a bit of vacant land for commercial gain, and simultaneously block any expansion of EP? (A potential ransom strip?) Or does Mr Stott collect containers as a hobby?
I think we should be told!
Hold that thought, we'll know soon enough. And you're spot on re: the safe standing rails. Well it could be years before anything is announced or decided |
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Post by Durango95 on Apr 7, 2021 12:10:35 GMT
We've got money now and people in charge who specialise in building or have many contacts who can do it. The gormless buildings stuck on to the Main Stand at the CE end could be replaced with two more blocks of seats easily when you have the funds to do so, which we now do. An added extension to the MS that is sympathetic to the existing historical structure and would look miles better than what's currently there, plus increase the attendance. The same could be done at the other end as easily. But those awful looking recent buildings might scupper it. Watching the streams and with the games being quite dull. The mind wanders on how the ground could look much better.  Said it many times before. That awful rogue block of seats in the RE was recycled ones from other blocks, when we played Hartlepool at home on BT they had that block and one new block that had been put in, then over the months all the others were replaced except that recycled one. Only the club can know why, but it is gormless and quite stupid! Also hoping the club will own the corner and bungalow space, the corner part was definitely altered on the plans (see in the thread earlier on) and several buildings that would've come right up to the ground were removed. If we do have the Bungalow site then that gives us enough space to build a much better sized stand. Sure the original plans were that the RE and Pop Side will be two new stands that join together in that corner. Yes, I was bored.  |
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Post by BWScarf on Apr 7, 2021 12:28:08 GMT
We've got money now and people in charge who specialise in building or have many contacts who can do it. The gormless buildings stuck on to the Main Stand at the CE end could be replaced with two more blocks of seats easily when you have the funds to do so, which we now do. An added extension to the MS that is sympathetic to the existing historical structure and would look miles better than what's currently there, plus increase the attendance. The same could be done at the other end as easily. But those awful looking recent buildings might scupper it. Watching the streams and with the games being quite dull. The mind wanders on how the ground could look much better. Said it many times before. That awful rogue block of seats in the RE was recycled ones from other blocks, when we played Hartlepool at home on BT they had that block and one new block that had been put in, then over the months all the others were replaced except that recycled one. Only the club can know why, but it is gormless and quite stupid! Also hoping the club will own the corner and bungalow space, the corner part was definitely altered on the plans (see in the thread earlier on) and several buildings that would've come right up to the ground were removed. If we do have the Bungalow site then that gives us enough space to build a much better sized stand. Sure the original plans were that the RE and Pop Side will be two new stands that join together in that corner. Yes, I was bored. Finding that quite mesmerising to watch on loop  They obviously need to do away with the stanchions too, while keeping its character. |
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Post by Stranded Hatter on Apr 7, 2021 12:34:02 GMT
We've got money now and people in charge who specialise in building or have many contacts who can do it. The gormless buildings stuck on to the Main Stand at the CE end could be replaced with two more blocks of seats easily when you have the funds to do so, which we now do. An added extension to the MS that is sympathetic to the existing historical structure and would look miles better than what's currently there, plus increase the attendance. The same could be done at the other end as easily. But those awful looking recent buildings might scupper it. Watching the streams and with the games being quite dull. The mind wanders on how the ground could look much better. Said it many times before. That awful rogue block of seats in the RE was recycled ones from other blocks, when we played Hartlepool at home on BT they had that block and one new block that had been put in, then over the months all the others were replaced except that recycled one. Only the club can know why, but it is gormless and quite stupid! Also hoping the club will own the corner and bungalow space, the corner part was definitely altered on the plans (see in the thread earlier on) and several buildings that would've come right up to the ground were removed. If we do have the Bungalow site then that gives us enough space to build a much better sized stand. Sure the original plans were that the RE and Pop Side will be two new stands that join together in that corner. Yes, I was bored. Finding that quite mesmerising to watch on loop They obviously need to do away with the stanchions too, while keeping its character. A new roof would do that, and a new roof would have to come with any extension. |
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Post by timberwolf on Apr 8, 2021 8:28:25 GMT
Finding that quite mesmerising to watch on loop They obviously need to do away with the stanchions too, while keeping its character. A new roof would do that, and a new roof would have to come with any extension. plus attempting to find reclaimed bricks for the outside build extension. may cost more but would be more pleasing on the eye. |
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Post by Henry Pratt on Apr 8, 2021 9:00:47 GMT
Oof, that extended Main Stand looks 😗👌 One of the worst aspects of EP is that the main stand is only just over half the length of the pitch. Really crappy original design. |
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Post by timberwolf on Apr 8, 2021 9:33:31 GMT
Oof, that extended Main Stand looks 😗👌 One of the worst aspects of EP is that the main stand is only just over half the length of the pitch. Really crappy original design. the original design incorporated a small terrace on the right looking at it from the pop side plus a standing area to the left where i actually watched my first game at EP. most clubs at the time had similar designed stands at our level with very few going the length of the pitch. in the 30,s standing was the thing at most grounds where sitting was really for those with the inability to stand for a couple of hours. |
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Post by Henry Pratt on Apr 8, 2021 9:43:55 GMT
A new roof would do that, and a new roof would have to come with any extension. plus attempting to find reclaimed bricks for the outside build extension. may cost more but would be more pleasing on the eye. Sadly, I suspect the cost of doing what we'd like (extending, new roof, matching the bricks) would probably be far more expensive than levelling and building a new one from scratch. For me, I'd leave the main stand as it is, and concentrate on new ones on the Railway and Pop side. Make the Pop Side the new "main" stand with changing rooms, tunnel, etc, and keep the DB stand as an interesting and valuable old heritage stand. |
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