Post by thevicar on Apr 23, 2009 22:34:18 GMT
Forgive me for ranting but I spent two hours of my life which I can never get back in a Development Control Committee meeting at Sutton Council last night. I could have been doing something useful like cutting my toe nails or reorganising my sock drawer.
Here's the story - being a tinpot little club in the middle of a mixed lower / upper middle class estate we have to get such boring things as planning permission to use floodlights. Trying to be realistic about worst case possibilities, we applied for a limited extension in certain circumstances and a reduction in others over when and how often the evil floodlights could be lit. Having NIMBYish neighbours, the idea of any change to the usage was met with horrified terror. Not of the lights but of the idea that football matches might be played at a football club.
Now I wouldn't mind dealing with neighbours who are worried about living next to a football club. In some ways its understandable even if you have to be completely fscking mental to move next door if you don't like a small amount of noise. I don't mind compromise over usage - heck we consulted with their councillors when the residents refused to meet with us. What really pissed me off was being verbally abused for having the audacity to live in the same road as some of the complainers and say so. Equally being called a liar got on my nerves. Having proof to hand on the internet did make them look rather silly, but that's life for them.
After much long and boring debate about how often the floodlights were used and the complaints about football being played on a Sunday (it already is). The got what it had asked for, the local concillors had agreed to and the planning officers had said was unblockable and couldn't be successfully fought if the club had appealed. The club has tried engaging with these people the only response we get is complaints about football being played at a ground that's been there for 83 years.
Then they really made me angry in two incidents outside of the meeting.
Firstly, because the club asked to use floodlights on Sundays I was told that I was devaluing Sundays (by a councillor on the committee) and that people like me were ruining the Christian traditions in this country. I'm called the vicar at Carshalton for a reason (and not for molesting choirboys), maybe something to do with my religious faith. I asked this Daily Mail reading political heavyweight when he last observed the sabbath. Apparently he doesn't attend church regularly. I imagine he's quite happy shopping on a Sunday but then it's rarely middle class local councillors who have to work on a Sunday. thingy.
Secondly one of the cowardly little pricks decided to suggest that there may be retaliation towards myself and my family because I represented the club. I don't mind being sworn at (its happened before from this group when I've been wearing my club shirt) but my wife does not need that sort of treatment. Certainly she doesn't need to feel intimidated in a neighbourhood she has lived in since she was born and her family have lived in since it was built. I will happily report each and every instance of an attack on me to the police and let the legal system take its course. If any one of the little shits attacks my wife or daughter either verbally or physically I am fairly certain that I'll be looking for a swifter resolution.
Here's the story - being a tinpot little club in the middle of a mixed lower / upper middle class estate we have to get such boring things as planning permission to use floodlights. Trying to be realistic about worst case possibilities, we applied for a limited extension in certain circumstances and a reduction in others over when and how often the evil floodlights could be lit. Having NIMBYish neighbours, the idea of any change to the usage was met with horrified terror. Not of the lights but of the idea that football matches might be played at a football club.
Now I wouldn't mind dealing with neighbours who are worried about living next to a football club. In some ways its understandable even if you have to be completely fscking mental to move next door if you don't like a small amount of noise. I don't mind compromise over usage - heck we consulted with their councillors when the residents refused to meet with us. What really pissed me off was being verbally abused for having the audacity to live in the same road as some of the complainers and say so. Equally being called a liar got on my nerves. Having proof to hand on the internet did make them look rather silly, but that's life for them.
After much long and boring debate about how often the floodlights were used and the complaints about football being played on a Sunday (it already is). The got what it had asked for, the local concillors had agreed to and the planning officers had said was unblockable and couldn't be successfully fought if the club had appealed. The club has tried engaging with these people the only response we get is complaints about football being played at a ground that's been there for 83 years.
Then they really made me angry in two incidents outside of the meeting.
Firstly, because the club asked to use floodlights on Sundays I was told that I was devaluing Sundays (by a councillor on the committee) and that people like me were ruining the Christian traditions in this country. I'm called the vicar at Carshalton for a reason (and not for molesting choirboys), maybe something to do with my religious faith. I asked this Daily Mail reading political heavyweight when he last observed the sabbath. Apparently he doesn't attend church regularly. I imagine he's quite happy shopping on a Sunday but then it's rarely middle class local councillors who have to work on a Sunday. thingy.
Secondly one of the cowardly little pricks decided to suggest that there may be retaliation towards myself and my family because I represented the club. I don't mind being sworn at (its happened before from this group when I've been wearing my club shirt) but my wife does not need that sort of treatment. Certainly she doesn't need to feel intimidated in a neighbourhood she has lived in since she was born and her family have lived in since it was built. I will happily report each and every instance of an attack on me to the police and let the legal system take its course. If any one of the little shits attacks my wife or daughter either verbally or physically I am fairly certain that I'll be looking for a swifter resolution.
