Originally a Herefordshire Council press release in January 2002:
The following letter formed a press release from the council today, as Herefordshire Council Leader Terry James replied to a letter from Chelverton director Simon Morgan. Further statements are expected soon.
Mr. Simon Morgan,
Chelverton Properties,
Richmond House,
22 Richmond Hill,
Clifton,
Bristol
BS8 1BA
28th January, 2002
Dear Mr. Morgan,
Thank you for your letter of 14th January regarding Hereford United Football Club. You set out the history of the situation which I think we are all well aware of but I have to take issue with you on a number of the points you make in your letter.
Chelverton’s prime objective is not, as you state in your letter, to secure the future of the Club but to make a profit from the demolition of the stadium and the building of a supermarket partly on the site. Chelverton is a development company; nothing more, nothing less, and the loans to Hereford United were given to secure financial benefit for your Company, which is its purpose. That does not mean that I or the Herefordshire Council have to set our policies and priorities to the detriment of our own future in order to secure your financial gain.
I have discussed with you before my desire to develop the Edgar Street area as a multisport and leisure facility, including multiplex cinema and other facilities, which is supported by the public of Herefordshire, but you still persist in forcing your vision upon this county, namely yet another supermarket and allied warehouse type retailing. Indeed the plans you showed me some twelve months ago filled me with horror and would be viewed as such, I am certain, by Herefordshire residents.
When we first met to discuss your interest in this area you stated you wished to work with the Council in partnership to develop the area but all we have subsequently had in effect is a series of ultimatums and threats to Hereford United, its supporters and ourselves which is hardly the basis for a working relationship let alone a partnership. My position has always been that if there was a certainty of sufficient funds to purchase a site, develop and build a new stadium and those monies were guaranteed, that would form the basis of a serious discussion but you know and I know that that is never going to happen. With seven existing food/supermarket retailers in Hereford there is never likely to be serious competition involving the major supermarket chains for the Edgar Street site, indeed if there were a desire by the various companies for a site, their preference would be for the cattle market site not the Edgar Street ground.
All you have placed before the fans and ourselves is that it could produce ‘X’ amount of money, but no guarantee. I have to say I could win the lottery but I am not planning my future on its likelihood.
Let us clear up a number of points:
1. If, as you state you are certain, there is sufficient value in the site after all costs and the repayment of the debt of Hereford United have been met, to purchase a site and build a new stadium, you would be prepared to give a binding legal guarantee to provide sufficient funds to carry out the project. You have not, nor I venture to suggest, will you ever.
2. You make much of the meeting held on the 10th November and your surprise at its outcome. Your description of the meeting is totally at variance with all that I have had reported to me by numerous supporters, and your suggestion that it was improperly run is an insult to those that were there, the HUISA Committee and its Chairman.
3. You state that the Board supports your decision but as I understand it, they are contractually bound by the loan agreement to so do and are not entirely free agents in this matter if I am correct.
Finally, I see no point in continuing what I think is a pointless dialogue over these matters. As you say, you will make your representations during the UDP process but I have to say to you bluntly that they are unlikely to receive any support from the Council, from the planners or from the public and they are unlikely to be successful.
I am disappointed that we are unable to work together on what will be an exciting development for Herefordshire. As the landowners, we are determined that what happens on this site will be what the people of Herefordshire want, not the wishes of a property development company.
Yours sincerely,
TERRY JAMES
LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
Mr. Simon Morgan,
Chelverton Properties,
Richmond House,
22 Richmond Hill,
Clifton,
Bristol
BS8 1BA
28th January, 2002
Dear Mr. Morgan,
Thank you for your letter of 14th January regarding Hereford United Football Club. You set out the history of the situation which I think we are all well aware of but I have to take issue with you on a number of the points you make in your letter.
Chelverton’s prime objective is not, as you state in your letter, to secure the future of the Club but to make a profit from the demolition of the stadium and the building of a supermarket partly on the site. Chelverton is a development company; nothing more, nothing less, and the loans to Hereford United were given to secure financial benefit for your Company, which is its purpose. That does not mean that I or the Herefordshire Council have to set our policies and priorities to the detriment of our own future in order to secure your financial gain.
I have discussed with you before my desire to develop the Edgar Street area as a multisport and leisure facility, including multiplex cinema and other facilities, which is supported by the public of Herefordshire, but you still persist in forcing your vision upon this county, namely yet another supermarket and allied warehouse type retailing. Indeed the plans you showed me some twelve months ago filled me with horror and would be viewed as such, I am certain, by Herefordshire residents.
When we first met to discuss your interest in this area you stated you wished to work with the Council in partnership to develop the area but all we have subsequently had in effect is a series of ultimatums and threats to Hereford United, its supporters and ourselves which is hardly the basis for a working relationship let alone a partnership. My position has always been that if there was a certainty of sufficient funds to purchase a site, develop and build a new stadium and those monies were guaranteed, that would form the basis of a serious discussion but you know and I know that that is never going to happen. With seven existing food/supermarket retailers in Hereford there is never likely to be serious competition involving the major supermarket chains for the Edgar Street site, indeed if there were a desire by the various companies for a site, their preference would be for the cattle market site not the Edgar Street ground.
All you have placed before the fans and ourselves is that it could produce ‘X’ amount of money, but no guarantee. I have to say I could win the lottery but I am not planning my future on its likelihood.
Let us clear up a number of points:
1. If, as you state you are certain, there is sufficient value in the site after all costs and the repayment of the debt of Hereford United have been met, to purchase a site and build a new stadium, you would be prepared to give a binding legal guarantee to provide sufficient funds to carry out the project. You have not, nor I venture to suggest, will you ever.
2. You make much of the meeting held on the 10th November and your surprise at its outcome. Your description of the meeting is totally at variance with all that I have had reported to me by numerous supporters, and your suggestion that it was improperly run is an insult to those that were there, the HUISA Committee and its Chairman.
3. You state that the Board supports your decision but as I understand it, they are contractually bound by the loan agreement to so do and are not entirely free agents in this matter if I am correct.
Finally, I see no point in continuing what I think is a pointless dialogue over these matters. As you say, you will make your representations during the UDP process but I have to say to you bluntly that they are unlikely to receive any support from the Council, from the planners or from the public and they are unlikely to be successful.
I am disappointed that we are unable to work together on what will be an exciting development for Herefordshire. As the landowners, we are determined that what happens on this site will be what the people of Herefordshire want, not the wishes of a property development company.
Yours sincerely,
TERRY JAMES
LEADER OF THE COUNCIL