Viewpoint: Maidenhead United chairman defends stadium proposals

Email Viewpoint letters tojamesp@baylismedia.co.ukor write to Viewpoint, Maidenhead Advertiser, Newspaper House, 48 Bell Street, Maidenhead SL6 1HX.

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Proud of club and its work in the community

I am writing in response to theletter from Maidenhead Rugby Club chairman Steve Bough(Viewpoint, July 7).

Maidenhead United has been open and transparent about our proposals for the new community stadium at Braywick Park.

Our York Road ground requires the investment of millions of pounds to improve both the spectator and wider stadium facilities.

The reality is that such improvements are not possible to deliver due to the size and access limitations of the site.

The inference that this is our fault because we have not invested in our facilities is simply not true. We have spent over £1 million at York Road over the last 10 years.

We also have an immediate need for additional facilities for our growing grassroots football and community programmes which cannot be provided for at York Road.

The reality is that local astroturf facilities are now at capacity to the extent we have teams having to train outside the borough.

We do not have access to the many millions required for these new and improved facilities.

We understand that investment from RBWM or other public funders is not available, meaning the only realistic option to raise funding for capital investment is through the sale of our York Road ground.

We want to establish a more robust and diverse financial model to support the continued growth and long-term financial sustainability of our community club.

The suggestion that the driving force behind our proposals is to enable me to pull away from the club is preposterous. They have no bearing on my continued commitment to the club.

The suggestion that we are going to build an office block on Braywick is not true, which we have indicated to Mr Bough on several occasions.

The proposals include a mix of facilities designed to add value to and complement existing facilities at Braywick and support the wellbeing of our community, whilst enabling the club to establish a more diverse business model.

Further info is available atwww.braywicksportshub.co.uk

大树枝先生的建议俱乐部是富有和has adopted a perilous approach to spending on players has no basis.

We have always operated within our means and our playing budget is fully covered by the income generated from match days and related commercial income.

Each season we spend more money on our community programmes and infrastructure than we do on players.

We have a legal agreement in place with the council, which will enable the club to acquire the lease on Braywick should we achieve planning consent.

The value we have agreed to pay for the site was determined following an independent valuation commissioned by the council.

This point makes me wonder how much Maidenhead Rugby Club paid to acquire their lease?

Whilst we understand that not everyone will support the proposal, we believe that its public benefit credentials are strong and that this will be determined as part of the planning process.

I am immensely proud of how Maidenhead United has grown over the last 10 years and the impact we have across our community.

It is not run for private commercial benefit and my responsibility is to ensure future generations have a club and ground to enjoy.

Our plans to achieve this are underpinned by our proposals, which will not only incorporate a range of football and wellbeing related facilities but a state-of-the-art new athletics facility and astroturf facilities available for use by Maidenhead Rugby Club.

PETER GRIFFIN

Chairman

Maidenhead United FC

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Space for teams and time to check the facts

With reference to the letter from Maidenhead RFC chair Stephen Bough (Viewpoint, July 7), Mr Boughs ill-informed diatribe is riddled with inconsistency.

He refers to a ‘wealthy football club’ in one paragraph and in the very next paragraph bemoans the football club’s prudent endeavours – boasting the smallest playing-staff wage budget in their division – ‘that they cannot sustain financially’.

Which is it, Mr Bough?

Mr Bough suggests that the club should have invested in facilities ‘to provide a quality and sustainable environment’ for players and spectators.

They have done so, with the installation of an award-winning new stand adjacent to the railway line in 2015.

The club’s plans, as I understand them, will be to re-erect this stand at the Braywick site.

How is that for sustainability?

Mr Bough shows his lack of understanding in querying why the football club needs a circa 5,000 capacity.

This, I understand, is a minimum requirement of the Football League, a level of football just one tier above that at which the club currently operate.

Mr Bough further accuses the football club of providing a ‘lack of detail’ on their plans.

I write as someone who attended one of a number of the widely advertised ‘house’ sessions at the football club hosted by their CEO and chairman which presented detailed plans on their ambitions.

There has been much alarm on internet forums on the potential removal of some space used by junior rugby teams if the football club move to Braywick Park.

Again, my understanding is that if the move happens, Maidenhead United FC will be offering the rugby club use of their facilities.

Perhaps Mr Bough ought to be using his energies to reassure the parents of the junior teams of this, rather than spending his time writing letters casting aspersions on the running of and the intentions of the football club.

The Maidenhead RFC chair is right to ask questions as to how any potential move to Braywick Park will impact his club.

However in the interest of balance, might Mr Bough be able to answer the following questions on the public record?

例如,鉴于他断言亩土地FC intend to build on is seemingly available at ‘ridiculously low cost’ – it would be useful to know how much Maidenhead RFC paid RBWM to procure the land they now occupy at the previously unspoiled Braywick Park.

此外,值得注意的是,足球club has more than fifty junior teams affiliated to them.

The young footballers will benefit from better facilities.

Currently Maidenhead United Juniors lease facilities around town at a considerable expense which makes fees for parents quite substantial, at the risk of making sport less accessible to low-income families.

I’d therefore be interested to ask Mr Bough by way of comparison exactly how much rent is paid by the rugby club to RBWM for the pitches used by junior rugby at Braywick Park?

JAMIE BUCKLAND

Green Leys

Maidenhead

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Our school coped well with last-minute Ofsted

I read Gavin Ames’ column regarding Ofsted (Opinion, June 30) with interest, but would quibble with a number of his statements or opinions.

However, I most want to ask why, when referring to local schools, he doesn’t mention Knowl Hill Primary School?

I’ve been a governor there for about 13 years.

In 2017, Ofsted did a full inspection, and deemed Knowl Hill ‘Outstanding’.

We were then left alone and trusted to keep up that level until very recently.

Along with other local schools, earlier this year, we were revisited by Ofsted, in our case with just 24 hours’ notice for a full day inspection.

The theory is that an Outstanding school should have everything in place, and little need to prepare.

Fortunately this was the case, and Knowl Hill remains graded as an Outstanding School.

So I would like to celebrate that fact and publicly recognise the dedication and hard work put in every single day by all of the hardworking and caring staff.

And perhaps more importantly, in the words of one of the children, say that ‘this is a kind school’.

HELEN MACDONALD

Maidenhead

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Worried about visibility at zebra crossing

I am very concerned about the lack of paint on the zebra crossing on the Cookham Road.

I know where the crossings are but visitors to Maidenhead might not be able to see them, especially at night!

There is also a large branch blocking the view of the beacon light coming from Cookham.

The signage on the underpath into Maidenhead is also very faint.

I had to check to see that it said ‘No Cycling’ as cyclists were riding past me.

Clearer signage might help but occasional visits by PCSOs to remind cyclists might help to prevent an accident.

I am sure I am not the only one who has felt concerned about this.

MARY-LOU KELLAWAY

烹饪ham Parish Councillor

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Time to take some pride in our town

We have accepted the Pride celebrations over the last month in our local shops.

Now, I feel, is the time Maidenhead itself showed some pride in our town.

1.Could the council see its way to clean the filthy pavements, especially in the High Street?

2.The flower baskets/boxes are empty apart from an overwhelming supply of weeds.

3.The re-wilding scheme has been used to avoid verges and hedges being trimmed. In fact, the straw that remains on the roadsides are surely a fire hazard not to mention people suffering from hay fever.

4.I cannot finish without mentioning the state of the roads and pavements.

This all adds up to a sad deterioration of a once proud town.

NADINE WILKINSON

Blackamoor Lane

Maidenhead

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Young disabled people need a base to meet

I am writing from a Berkshire charity working with disabled children and young people (www.bftf.org.uk) with an important plea.

We run a community centre for children in Wokingham which is very successful.

We offer various play sessions and activities and welcome over 500 families with disabled children through our doors over the course of a year.

It’s a much-needed resource and perfect for disabled children.

It’s also in use every day and several evenings a week.

In 2021 we launched a service for young disabled adults, sourcing life-fulfilling opportunities for them, such as work experience, social outings etc.

It has become increasingly obvious over the last few months that these young people need a base, a place to go, which is fully accessible and where they can socialise, learn and develop skills but most importantly to give them a purpose and, often, a reason to leave the house.

Since SportsAble shut down, we have been told time and time again how detrimental the effect its closure has had on the physical and mental health of those who visited it regularly.

The ripple effects that the removal of that ‘hub’– the place its members could call their own - has had, reach far farther than the sporting opportunities SportsAble was known for.

I am therefore writing to ask if any of your readers know of any premises that may be available for our young adults, from which we can run a place of learning, socialising and maybe even some sporting opportunities.

Is the old SportsaAble building in use?

Does anyone know who owns it?

Or can anyone else think of an alternative place that we could use?

I’d be more than grateful for any suggestions.

Please emailjane@bftf.org.ukif you can help us.

Thank you

JANE HOLMES

Building for the Future

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Stranded in Hurley when bus just stopped

Last Wednesday, June 28, my husband boarded the 239 bus at the BCA to go into Henley.

The bus stopped in Hurley declaring it was not going any further due to regatta traffic in Henley.

He was effectively stranded.

You may say he could have walked back from Hurley to Burchett’s Green.

Fine for a healthy individual but not for an older man with health problems.

Once he phoned me, I checked on various Maidenhead timetable websites and on the Thames Valley Bus website.

There was no mention anywhere of a curtailed or otherwise shortened bus service on the route into Henley.

Not sure if the bus service is there for customers or if they would prefer to run empty buses – so much easier not to have to provide an actual service.

This is not the first incident with the 239 bus service into Henley and I am sure it won’t be the last.

J HAYWARD

Burchett’s Green

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Time traveller would find a concrete town

Whilst browsing the Remember When historic photo section in The Advertiser I happened upon the shot of the old railway bridge looking towards Braywick, and did so with interest and some sadness.

This very photo adorns the front cover of the Days Gone By book which is a photo archive of Maidenhead and I’d been trying to work out what year it was taken and I reckoned the early 1980s, and now confirmed to be 1983.

The sad part is the amount of change that has occurred since then and to my mind not for the better.

Firstly each and every one of the cars would turn heads now, even though Morris Marinas, Ford Cortina estates, Vauxhalls etc were hardly exciting at the time, additionally I cannot remember the last time I saw a motorcycle with a sidecar!

Delving further into the book it depicts a town of character, green spaces and some charm – depending on how far back we go of course.

The situation is so different now of course, the powers that be seem hell bent on tearing down every last square inch of what remains of the old Maidenhead and replacing it with monstrous tower blocks totally unsuited to a town of this size and type.

如果时间旅行是可能的,一个游客从1980s or even 1990s would think they’d landed in another country!

TONY BECK

Frogmill Spinney

Hurley

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Column about music struck a note with me

I totally agree with Vanessa Woolley (Opinion 7 July) when she extolled the virtues of music for young and old alike.

As a radio presenter and broadcaster, I enjoy compiling my playlists for each programme because I know that certain songs and certain singers create smiles and trigger memories across all ages.

Music has the power to lift spirits, relax and soothe.

A single song can start your day really well.

I found this when I visited care homes.

Songs of different eras had a therapeutic effect and encouraged everyone to join in, regardless of their ability to sing in tune.

No one really cared if some couldn’t hold a note, they were smiling! That’s the magic of music.

GEOFF MOTLEY

Beverley Gardens

Maidenhead

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Grace and politeness really would not hurt

Firstly, I think James Aidan may come to regret some of the disparaging language that he used about senior citizens in his last letter (Viewpoint, July 7).

Secondly, he may be interested in a proposal recently put forward by the Resolution Foundation, which he can find by googling for: "Delivering a ‘UK Protocol’, building on the agreement for Northern Ireland, would deliver the benefits of both the EU customs territory and single market for goods, and could boost GDP by as much as 1 to 2%.”

I may fit into Mr Aidan’s category of ‘declining elderly’, but I can still see that a one-off GDP boost of maybe 1 to 2 per cent would be of marginal significance in an economy with a trend growth rate of 2.3 per cent a year.

Taking the central projection, the UK economy would grow naturally by 1.5 per cent over just eight average months, and nobody would be caring about missing out on that extra 1.5 per cent in 10 years’ time.

Would this really be worth the fresh disruption inevitably entailed in ‘fundamentally revisiting our relationship with the EU’, as the originators of the proposal, and it seems also Mr Aidan, want?

I would politely suggest that it is time for him to accept the result of the 2016 referendum and adopt a more constructive approach.

Dr D R COOPER

Belmont Park Avenue

Maidenhead