Recent events rather shrouded the Club's announcement that a great milestone had been achieved last week in the progress toward the development of the new stadium.
Since the start of planning the developments, Southend Borough Council's Officers and Members alike have given significant support to the plans of the Club to relocate to a new stadium at Fossetts Farm and the redevelopment of the existing ground at Roots Hall.
It needs to be borne in mind that approvals from Southend and Rochford Councils were granted in January 2007 but due to Government intervention that provoked a Planning Inquiry final planning consents were not received until 30 June 2008.
September 2008 saw the start of the banking crisis, which initially thought to be short lived, developed into an international problem forcing the Club's management to rethink its strategy in terms of how to fund the project. As supporters well know this has largely been achieved with considerable help from the Club's parent company and Sainsbury.
In the interim much work has been undertaken to secure the innumerable land ownerships required to complete the development proposals. Prior to Christmas a deal was agreed with Kris Sale, of Sale Appliances, for their three properties adjacent to Victoria Avenue. The 12th January 2012 saw Southend Council's Cabinet recommend more extensive Compulsory Purchase Orders be pursued to assist in the remaining land assembly. On the 26th January 2012 the Council's Cabinet further determined the disposal of its land to complete the developments.
Permissions were granted on 31st January 2012 for the Reserved Matters Application for the Sainsbury store, the replacement of the social housing at Roots Hall and a renewal of the planning permission for the new stadium at Fossetts Farm. These decisions are a significant step towards starting the new stadium in the first half of 2012.
The Club's management appreciate the strong passion of supporters for the team and its achievements and maybe at times it appears that that support is not recognised as such. However, whatever problems the Club is faced with the determination to bring these development proposals to completion is paramount for the long term survival of this Club and its management will not be deterred in this regard.
