I am surprised nobody has yet flagged up the devastating news about the Norwich Union closing this wonderful facility. There are two issues here, firstly how I and many others feel about the company doing this and secondly how to save such a valuable facility not just serving Norwich but the whole county.
How do others feel??
There is plenty of activity / lobbying within the various clubs.....talking to the relevant councils, MP's etc etc.
If it dies it wont be for the want of trying.....but we will always be strugling against the might / spending power of the mighty NU......
We need to keep the profile high......the council cant be allowed to simply do away with this magnificant sporting facility without providing a suitable alternative.....
As one of the younger members of pinebanks i feel that pinebanks shouldnt have to close, oviously if The company Norwich Union itself isnt making a profit with the building they should think of other ways of bringing money to the table. Maybe consider renting out the confrence rooms to other companys?!?!
There has to be ways of keeping pinebanks open and we need to think quick!!!
So everyone think of ideas before its to late!!!
Would it be possible to form a committee from the people who use Pinebanks and then ask if it is possible to rent the building from Norwich Union and then raise this rent in membership fees. If you all are serious in wanting to keep it open then perhaps one of you could start the ball rolling and form such a committee.
My thanks to those who have replied and are like minded about this unwelcome news.
Time is short on what can be done to retain these wonderful facilities but we have to accept that Norwich Union will not change their minds on this.
A small number of members have formed a 'working party' to see if anything can be done to retain all or part of the facilities operational. We are not connected with the current Pinebanks management or have any funds whatsoever. Initially we are asking all the clubs that use Pinebanks to let us know how many members they have regularly using the facilities. We do not have this information as many are not full members but as club members they play at Pinebanks and will be losers too.
If you are a full member, you should be aware that there will be the final AGM at Pinebanks on the 9th. April and you should be there to vote on what you want to do about any payment that might be due to you! We are looking at starting a 'preservation fund' that can be used to promote continued sporting activity on the site. The money will be held by independent trustees.
A meeting is taking place this Wednesday (26th March) at Pinebanks for anyone wishing to put their ideas to the Working Party and to offer assisitance if they so wish. As we have no means of contacing members please attend this meeting or email me to register your interest.
Please make other members aware of what is happening and get them registered on this forum now!
In the meantime please do as some of us have done already and write to Broadland District Council expressing your concerns about the closure. The address is on the internet and you need to write as soon as possible please.
More news shortly I hope.........
Last week I sent off 24 letters to lobby various members of the councils, the local MP's and so forth in the hope that pressure can be maintained in order to save the Pinebanks sports facilities. The more individual letters that these "community representatives" get bombarded with, the better. They must realised that they HAVE to do something to keep the sports fields available for all to use. Please everyone, do your bit: email, write a letter, do whatever you can.
Well done to all those sending 'lobby' letters, they are being noticed !
The 'Pinebanks Preservation Group' met again last night at Pinebanks, last meeting before the AGM.
We are encouraged by hearing that full informaton on the usage of the site is required by those trying to help us (sorry I cannot give more information at this time). This information is not available from the current management.
If you are running a club based on the site please respond to any telephone call you may get asking for statistics relating to your club. We need this information asap!
You can email me with this information if you wish.
Congratulations to the Ladies & Mens Hockey Club on their tremendous efforts! we have your informaton and also from the following:-
Football
Table Tennis
Rugby
Tennis
We DO need to hear from ANY organisation using the facilities.
We are preparing a 'Press Release' and hope this will be passed to the Evening News and the contents published before the AGM on the 9th. April.
Please attend the AGM if you are a club member!!
Pinebanks Preservation Group
' working to preserve sporting activity at Pinebanks'
Wolfie wrote: Last week I sent off 24 letters to lobby various members of the councils, the local MP's and so forth in the hope that pressure can be maintained in order to save the Pinebanks sports facilities. The more individual letters that these "community representatives" get bombarded with, the better. They must realised that they HAVE to do something to keep the sports fields available for all to use. Please everyone, do your bit: email, write a letter, do whatever you can.
It might be worth letting Dame Kelly Holmes know what is happening:-
http://www.doublegold.co.uk/home
She is the Norwich Union 'face of school sport' but probably has not been told about the local controversy in Norwich!
If we all sent a comment to her message board she might just notice? (sent mine but not sure it will be posted.......worth as many as poss. writing though!)
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