Football club is an asset
OKAY, before anyone says anything, I m a long way away from Wisbech in Australia. But I still have an opinion about the new Fenland Park. In Australia we have a group of people called NIMBYs. These are people who protest about things being developed near
OKAY, before anyone says anything, I'm a long way away from Wisbech in Australia. But I still have an opinion about the new Fenland Park.
In Australia we have a group of people called NIMBYs. These are people who protest about things being developed near them. It stands for 'Not In My Back Yard'.
We all like our space. We've all maybe at sometime lived in a house with nobody next door. Some of us may have been the first to build on a new housing estate. It's great isn't it, until the rest of the blocks of land start to cramp you in?
We're not talking about anything like that. We're talking about a football field, a club that at the moment attracts a miserable gate of about 200 people to each game. The maximum it seems we'll be able to entertain is around 1,500, which I think is too few. What do we do when we have one of those great Fenmen runs in the FA Cup? We'll have to borrow Peterbrough's London Road or, God forbid, The Walks.
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There will be a game held there most Saturdays in winter, some at night. Men, boys and indeed girls will be running around, getting fit and entertaining others. There will be a clubroom, a function room, where there may well be a few drinks quaffed.
Some people may well hire out the function room and have wedding receptions. Others may well hold the odd party or something - much the same that has been happening at Fenland Park for 60 years.
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Can someone from that area around Lerowe Rd tell me just how much trouble the football club has attracted? Will the value of homes in that area (Lerowe Rd) go through the roof when the football club has gone, or will it drop due to the 80-odd homes they'll cram in where Fenland Park is.
People who live near the proposed new ground: What would you prefer, the sound of people enjoying themselves or be built out by a few hundred homes in the future?
That land will be sold and used for something. What's it to be, a football ground or a prison? A football ground or a scrapyard?
All you protesters, chill out. It could be a lot worse.I agree that all should be done to disrupt your lives as little as possible, all measures taken to control noise, and any sign of unruly behaviour dealt with. But Wisbech Town Football Club is an asset to the town. In a town where there is very little for young people to do, we need to help the club grow.
Besides, I have a vested interest. People keep asking me when I'm next coming over, and I keep telling them: "for the opening of the New Fenland Park." And I'm getting bloody old waiting.
TONY NORMAN
Finnan Place
Bligh Park
NSW 2756
