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Fan Zone plan submitted for the Valley

Plans have been submitted for a fan zone at the Valley in Charlton.

The application includes a tussle pitch for 3v3 football, 1 permanent kiosk, a permanent big screen, permanent seating, a temporary toilet and two temporary match-day kiosks on part of the car park.

“This designated facility enables local children to come and play in a larger area, enhancing the Football club’s relationship with the local community.”

The West Stand car park is not for public use. A total of 53 parking spaces are taken with the club stating “Any additional staff that may have previously used car parking spaces on specific matches, will now use public transport in an effort to become more ‘Green’ and mitigate against road parking”.

The application can be viewed on Greenwich Council’s website by clicking here.

https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2024/08/08/charlton-athletic-fan-zone-plan-submitted-for-the-valley/

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Comments

  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    The invitation is to ‘enjoy’ the fan zone.
    Hmmmn.
  • charlton4ever
    charlton4ever Posts: 1,720
    Great for the younger fans. Weather dependant I imagine.
  • Hex
    Hex Posts: 1,893
    Rather undermines any argument the club and supporters might have to complain about a shortage of supporter car parking spaces in the vicinity of The Valley. 
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,875
    “Any additional staff that may have previously used car parking spaces on specific matches, will now use public transport in an effort to become more ‘Green’ and mitigate against road parking”.


    Well that sounds a bit totalitarian to me. What if those members of staff dont want to become more green ? 
  • clive
    clive Posts: 19,483
    MrOneLung said:
    “Any additional staff that may have previously used car parking spaces on specific matches, will now use public transport in an effort to become more ‘Green’ and mitigate against road parking”.


    Well that sounds a bit totalitarian to me. What if those members of staff dont want to become more green ? 
    Maybe the staff could be supplied E-scooters/E bikes.
  • Fumbluff
    Fumbluff Posts: 10,134
    Bromptons……and lockers
  • Jo van den Broek certainly isn't a fan of us or football grounds then. 
  • I’m a bit pissed off because Ive had my parking space which Ive paid for every season, for c 30 years now and because of a staff changeover at the club, they didn’t process my space and now I’ve been told that Ive lost it because of the fan zone. My drive over is c one and a half hours so losing the space is a blow !! 

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  • shine166
    shine166 Posts: 13,925
    This area is a crime hot-spot..  so definitely don't give kids something to do.

  • Rothko
    Rothko Posts: 18,813
    edited September 2024
    There's still this weird behaviour from ward councilors in Charlton, that refuses to acknowledge the football club as a good in the area, and still want to fight the battles of the late 80s 
  • Bailey
    Bailey Posts: 3,269
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
  • shine166
    shine166 Posts: 13,925
    Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    I was commenting more on the family day, fan zone is literally that. The very minimal zone seems to have gone down well, be great to have a upgraded version that would be usable in less good weather.
  • Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    You can only apply for a limited number of temporary event notices each year - I forget the number but it wouldn't cover a full season. The police have effectively watered it down by saying "it's fine so long as you only open it on matchdays" and I suspect that's what'll get approved. 

    Rothko said:
    There's still this weird behaviour from ward councilors in Charlton, that refuses to acknowledge the football club as a good in the area, and still want to fight the battles of the late 80s 
    Yep. I suspect a particular residents' group has had a hand in this, as that group made very similar objections to a booze licence for the post office on Charlton Church Lane, claiming the area was a magnet for antisocial behaviour and that residents had suffered because of the football club, etc. I don't recognise that and I've lived around the corner for 25 (gulp) years. I suspect this is also where the impetus for  the attempt at matchday parking restrictions came from.

    Worth noting that the other councillor there (a West Ham fan who lives quite close to The Valley) hasn't put his name to the objection. 

    What strikes me is that Jo VdB's objection appears to be based on the assumption that the club was planning to open a seven-day outdoor pub in the car park, rather than trying to mediate between club and residents to find out what was going on - many places will apply for a wider licence beyond what they usually need. If you're a local representative, that should be your job, rather than following curtain-twitchers' rumours. That said, it appears the club could have done a better job of explaining its intentions to residents.

    The full documents are here: https://committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=2037&EVT=101&DT=A

    Item 5 is the paper presented the councillors (includes the wild claim that we might be playing European football!), appendix C is the councillor's objection. 
  • shine166 said:
    Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    I was commenting more on the family day, fan zone is literally that. The very minimal zone seems to have gone down well, be great to have an upgraded version that would be usable in less good weather.
    I think the minimal zone is what's being applied for - it's been operated with temporary licences until now. 
  • letthegoodtimesroll
    letthegoodtimesroll Posts: 10,630
    edited September 2024
    Labour councillors legacy for the area and surrounds seems to be the creation of soulless trading estates, blocks of flats and empty streets, which it could be argued might be the issue if the place is now a crime hotspot and any scheme or event that could encourage greater footfall around the surrounding streets might actually make them safer for local residents and must be a step in the right direction. Far from making it unsafe on match days (and the family fun day) I would suspect that the busier streets are probably much safer for locals than they are when there’s nobody else walking down the same street as them.
  • Labour councillors legacy for the area and surrounds seems to be the creation of soulless trading estates, blocks of flats and streets, which it could be argued might be the issue if the place is now a crime hotspot and any scheme or event that could encourage greater footfall around the surrounding streets might actually make them safer for local residents and must be step in the right direction. Far from making it unsafe on match days (and the family fun day) I would suspect that the busier streets are probably much safer for locals than they are when there’s nobody else walking down the same street as them.
    Well, exactly. There's long been problems with the estate on Valley Grove, but that's nothing to do with the football club, and the area around the station has felt safer since the little Sainsbury's opened and brought more footfall to the area. When it was iffy - hoodlums hanging around the offie on the corner of Floyd Road - that was nothing to do with the football club.

    They're probably thinking of away fans having a sing-song as they walk down Floyd Road. 

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  • Bailey
    Bailey Posts: 3,269
    shine166 said:
    Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    I was commenting more on the family day, fan zone is literally that. The very minimal zone seems to have gone down well, be great to have a upgraded version that would be usable in less good weather.
    Yeah it is good Shine and I think it plays a part in attracting families to the Valley, their are not enough of those type of facilities at any club. 
  • shine166
    shine166 Posts: 13,925
    shine166 said:
    Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    I was commenting more on the family day, fan zone is literally that. The very minimal zone seems to have gone down well, be great to have an upgraded version that would be usable in less good weather.
    I think the minimal zone is what's being applied for - it's been operated with temporary licences until now. 
    Surely a roof of sorts (marquee/stretch tent)  more tables etc if/when permission is granted? 
  • shine166
    shine166 Posts: 13,925
    edited September 2024
    Bailey said:
    shine166 said:
    Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    I was commenting more on the family day, fan zone is literally that. The very minimal zone seems to have gone down well, be great to have a upgraded version that would be usable in less good weather.
    Yeah it is good Shine and I think it plays a part in attracting families to the Valley, their are not enough of those type of facilities at any club. 
    My boy is coming to his first league game next week and we'll definitely be using it. Better than dragging him on a 2 hour train trip just to go sit in fans bar and stick him in front of his switch. 

    Be interesting to see how it functions October-march when it's cold/wet.
  • Labour councillors legacy for the area and surrounds seems to be the creation of soulless trading estates, blocks of flats and streets, which it could be argued might be the issue if the place is now a crime hotspot and any scheme or event that could encourage greater footfall around the surrounding streets might actually make them safer for local residents and must be step in the right direction. Far from making it unsafe on match days (and the family fun day) I would suspect that the busier streets are probably much safer for locals than they are when there’s nobody else walking down the same street as them.
    Well, exactly. There's long been problems with the estate on Valley Grove, but that's nothing to do with the football club, and the area around the station has felt safer since the little Sainsbury's opened and brought more footfall to the area. When it was iffy - hoodlums hanging around the offie on the corner of Floyd Road - that was nothing to do with the football club.

    They're probably thinking of away fans having a sing-song as they walk down Floyd Road. 
    The matchday custom from fans going to games at the Valley may well be what makes having that Sainsbury’s there commercially viable.
  • If you buy or rent near a football ground you know what you're getting yourself in to when it comes to match days. Same applies to buying to a local pub, bar or music venue. No sympathy for the locals.
  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,486
    If you buy or rent near a football ground you know what you're getting yourself in to when it comes to match days. Same applies to buying to a local pub, bar or music venue. No sympathy for the locals.
    I liken it to folk that buy a house near an airport and then inexplicably complain about the noise once they’ve moved in! 🧐
  • Solidgone
    Solidgone Posts: 10,216
    If you buy or rent near a football ground you know what you're getting yourself in to when it comes to match days. Same applies to buying to a local pub, bar or music venue. No sympathy for the locals.
    I liken it to folk that buy a house near an airport and then inexplicably complain about the noise once they’ve moved in! 🧐
    Its like building Windsor Castle near Heathrow Airport 🤓
  • Bailey
    Bailey Posts: 3,269
    shine166 said:
    Bailey said:
    shine166 said:
    Bailey said:
    I think the club are flying a kite here. From what Greenwich wire states, the licence was for 09.00 to 21.30 seven days a week to cover various kick off times, at present the club applies for a licence for individual match days, events, and they are granted. I can see the residents objections as valid and Jo van den Broek has obligation to represent their objections, whether we or the club like it or not. The club want a licence to sell alcohol at these events, so this clearly isn't the club just reaching out to children in the area and this forms a major part of their objections. As it stands I think the proposal from the club will be rejected and they will be asked to resubmit, I think the club expects this and will come back with a watered down application. 
    I was commenting more on the family day, fan zone is literally that. The very minimal zone seems to have gone down well, be great to have a upgraded version that would be usable in less good weather.
    Yeah it is good Shine and I think it plays a part in attracting families to the Valley, their are not enough of those type of facilities at any club. 
    My boy is coming to his first league game next week and we'll definitely be using it. Better than dragging him on a 2 hour train trip just to go sit in fans bar and stick him in front of his switch. 

    Be interesting to see how it functions October-march when it's cold/wet.
    Don't think they'd ever get away with a permanent structure there but that's what is needed, self contained with minimal impact on residents. And you are absolutely right, when I've taken my grandson, he was bored pretty quickly and the football didn't help. 
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 37,987
    Jo van den Broek certainly isn't a fan of us or football grounds then. 
    "sleep is impossible..."

    Who's having a kip at 2pm?! Lazy bitch.
  • Plaaayer
    Plaaayer Posts: 9,001
    Or people that move near a school and then complain when I park my car of their drive when I’m picking up my angels.