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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Wakeland Centre row settled</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer West writer
Thursday, August 17, 2006
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=355 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>a sigh of relief. Village United looks set to secure a long-term lease for the Elliston Wakeland Centre</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>National Premier League club, Village United, looks set to secure a long-term lease for the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, with a renewed proposal to guarantee access to the general community.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The renewed proposal is being drafted at the request of the Trelawny Parish Council, which met the club last Thursday in a bid to address its frustrations at being twice turned down for the lease it has been trying to acquire, in an effort to secure funding to develop the centre into a modern and viable stadium.<P class=StoryText align=justify>This failure triggered threats by Village to leave Trelawny, as its multi-million dollar development plan couldn't progress without the security of tenure the lease would afford.<P class=StoryText align=justify>According to Village's president, Steve Bennett, the club has secured commitments for the full cost of the development work, which will include the upgrading of the main field, building of a second one, adding another 4,000 seats, building of a clubhouse and improving the drainage of the entire property.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Falmouth's mayor Jonathan Bartlett told the Observer West that the hold-up was caused by "misinformation and miscommunication", but reported that the meeting was "positive" and they were now looking for positive developments.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Said Bennett: "We had a meeting of the minds and the Trelawny Parish Council got a better appreciation of what we were asking for. We had always agreed that in the best interest of the entire community that no single entity could have control of the venue, but we see this move as a win-win for all concerned."<P class=StoryText align=justify>In an unequivocal endorsement of Bennett's view, Mayor Bartlett reiterated the importance of the access issue. "We discussed it and came to an agreement that Elliston Wakeland can't be given to the group like that without consideration of the general public." The mayor agreed that if all the conditions for the use of the centre were agreed on, "then it would be a big step in the right direction".<P class=StoryText align=justify>He said he really wanted the agreement to work as at the beginning he had advised the Village management to get the public involved in the discussions. "I was waiting on them to tell me how they intended to get the public involved," he said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>He said he really wanted the agreement to work as at the beginning he had advised the Village management to get the public involved in the discussions. "I was waiting on them to tell me how they intended to get the public involved," he said.
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer West writer
Thursday, August 17, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=355 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>a sigh of relief. Village United looks set to secure a long-term lease for the Elliston Wakeland Centre</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>National Premier League club, Village United, looks set to secure a long-term lease for the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, with a renewed proposal to guarantee access to the general community.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The renewed proposal is being drafted at the request of the Trelawny Parish Council, which met the club last Thursday in a bid to address its frustrations at being twice turned down for the lease it has been trying to acquire, in an effort to secure funding to develop the centre into a modern and viable stadium.<P class=StoryText align=justify>This failure triggered threats by Village to leave Trelawny, as its multi-million dollar development plan couldn't progress without the security of tenure the lease would afford.<P class=StoryText align=justify>According to Village's president, Steve Bennett, the club has secured commitments for the full cost of the development work, which will include the upgrading of the main field, building of a second one, adding another 4,000 seats, building of a clubhouse and improving the drainage of the entire property.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Falmouth's mayor Jonathan Bartlett told the Observer West that the hold-up was caused by "misinformation and miscommunication", but reported that the meeting was "positive" and they were now looking for positive developments.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Said Bennett: "We had a meeting of the minds and the Trelawny Parish Council got a better appreciation of what we were asking for. We had always agreed that in the best interest of the entire community that no single entity could have control of the venue, but we see this move as a win-win for all concerned."<P class=StoryText align=justify>In an unequivocal endorsement of Bennett's view, Mayor Bartlett reiterated the importance of the access issue. "We discussed it and came to an agreement that Elliston Wakeland can't be given to the group like that without consideration of the general public." The mayor agreed that if all the conditions for the use of the centre were agreed on, "then it would be a big step in the right direction".<P class=StoryText align=justify>He said he really wanted the agreement to work as at the beginning he had advised the Village management to get the public involved in the discussions. "I was waiting on them to tell me how they intended to get the public involved," he said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>He said he really wanted the agreement to work as at the beginning he had advised the Village management to get the public involved in the discussions. "I was waiting on them to tell me how they intended to get the public involved," he said.
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