community asset

[trevor fisher]

I was at a meeting this morning about getting community asset status for the Carnegie Library in Stafford, and happened to mention the Villa Trust want to get community asset status for Villa Park. Getting it allows fans to have a stake in the ground for 6 months if it is to be sold.

My colleagues then started wondering what a football ground could be sold for and we had a surreal conversation. The Carnegie Library by the way was sold to become a restaurant but the owner went bankrupt. Villa Park is a much bigger issue of course.

The consensus was that we could do a Ricoh Stadium and move out as Coventry City did, and lease it for shows. One guy had been to a Take That concert at VP and loved the experience, hotel near and a good night out. THen the talk got really worrying. Why not sell the ground and let it be a full time entertainment venue.... no need to worry about the grass. Its not likely I would hope... but the conversation was enough to support the case for community asset status

Trevor Fisher

[Nelly]

Times might be bad for us but surely talk of us selling/renting Villa Park is over reacting in the extreme?

[mr underhill]

if something as nightmarish as this ever happens I would never step foot inside VP again and will will cut off my feet and eat them to ensure I don't. Utter balderdash.

[Chris Harte]

if something as nightmarish as this ever happens I would never step foot inside VP again and will will cut off my feet and eat them to ensure I don't. Utter balderdash.

You wouldn't have to, if I understand correctly.

no need to worry about the grass

Sounds like it.

[Jimbo]

Villa Park, a full-time entertainment venue? It'll never catch on.

[Risso]

Villa Park is a privately owned building.  Total value of buildings and land in the accounts is £90m, so if at a guess Bodymoor is worth £10m, then Villa Park is worth £80m.  In terms of selling the club, it's about the only thing of real tangible value that isn't going to be devalued by getting relegated, so how this ties in to what you're suggesting, goodness only knows.

[Dave Cooper please]

Trevor what on Earth are you on about?

Firstly, is there any suggestion whatsoever that Villa Park is going to be sold as anything other than the football ground that Aston Villa play in? If not then why would you think of buying it as a community asset and then holding the odd concert in it? Surely that is the equivalent of a valued community pub being bought and turned into a branch of Costcutters, exactly the type of thing that Community Asset orders are designed to prevent.

Dave Cooper

[Ron Manager]

As a matter of interest could Mr Lerner sell the ground for a purpose that does not include football. Is this possible?.

Ronald A Manager

[Malandro]

As a matter of interest could Mr Lerner sell the ground for a purpose that does not include football. Is this possible?.

Ronald A Manager

He could turn it into agricultural land, make hay while the sun shines.

[The Laughing Policeman]

Turn it into allotments then we could have some decent vegetables to replace the present ones.

[Ron Manager]

I suppose he could turn it into a boating pool and......no hang on that's already been done!

[Malandro]

I suppose he could turn it into a boating pool and......no hang on that's already been done!

I'd go, I love a nice rowing boat

[dave.woodhall]

As a matter of interest could Mr Lerner sell the ground for a purpose that does not include football. Is this possible?.

Ronald A Manager

Subject to planning permission he could turn it into whatever he wanted.

[The Laughing Policeman]

As a matter of interest could Mr Lerner sell the ground for a purpose that does not include football. Is this possible?.

Ronald A Manager

Subject to planning permission he could turn it into whatever he wanted.

I wish he would turn it back into the home of a football team that wins the odd game.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

The purchase of the Lower Grounds was a slap in the face for our traditional fanbase.   
We should never have left Wellington Road.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Road_(Perry_Barr)