In advance of Saturday's match, a 'new song' for The Bees
As the deadline approaches (Oct 28) for the consultation on the proposed Brentford Football Club new stadium and enabling development, members of a local residents' group in Chiswick have penned this open letter to Brentford fans.
"The 'Gunnersbury Groundlings' would like to wish Brentford supporters Good luck for the big game against Shrewsbury on Saturday 26th and good luck in achieving your dream stadium at Lionel Road.
"We are sad that the new stadium is being wrongly portrayed as a Brentford versus Chiswick or a fans versus residents conflict. Believe it or not, there are no border control posts between the Chiswick Roundabout and the Brentford Fountain and residents just might be fans too. As we have made clear all along, we are not against a stadium at Lionel Road but we want a sustainable scheme that is good for all of us (fans, residents and visitors) who love this corner of West London and its history.
"Brentford Football Club - founded in 1889 - is rightly proud of its history and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere. The emotional attachment many fans have to the Club is passed from one generation to the next. No wonder that fans are yearning for promotion and a secure future and that these yearnings have been crystalised into hopes for a new dream stadium.
"Likewise, this corner of London is steeped in history and is rich in heritage and natural assets. Local communities are proud of these treasures on our doorstep and have a strong attachment to our homes, our neighbourhoods and surroundings. Our neighbourhoods have a clear identity and real sense of place; our streets – many as old or older than the Club, are the kind where people put down roots. No wonder that we yearn for our treasures to be respected and that, to us, the current scheme with its high-rise blocks of flats is a nightmare vision.
"We know that Saturday is a special “Pay what you can” match for a good cause – Sport Relief Charity. No doubt there will be a good turn out with some great singing from the home supporters. As it is a special match, we would like to offer you a new version of your song:
Hey Bees
Hey Bees, don't make it bad.
Take a sad plan and make it better.
If only you’d let us into your heart,
Then we could start to make it better.
Hey Bees, don't be afraid.
You deserve a dream stadium.
The minute you see through all the hype,
Then you can hope for stadium arcadium.
As, like us, you’ll feel the pain, hey Bees, refrain,
Don't carry out the plans upon the table.
Or soon you’ll know that this mad scheme is not a dream
Big bad blocks will throttle you, not enable.
Hey Matt, don't let fans down.
You have found a site, now go one better.
Expand the stadium at its heart,
Give ground to make it better.
So breath it out and breath it in, hey Bees, begin,
We’re waiting for someone to perform with.
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Bees, you'll do,
The change we need is on your shoulder.
Hey Bees, don't make us mad.
Take a bad plan and make it better.
If only you’d let us under your skin,
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh. Na na na na na ,na na na, hey Bees...
"Please lets come together and find common ground on which to build a truly community stadium."
Gunnersbury Groundlings, October 2013
Aka: West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society
October 23, 2013