We have been invited to relocate to the athletics club at Norman Park Bromley. They are currently building a very impressive "club house" that will, when completed, have toilet facilities, a cafeteria/bar, lounge and most importantly an indoor running track that they have agreed we can use to shoot indoors when we cannot go outside. The outside area is large enough to accommodate our normal range, and we would have the option to shoot either inside or outside a we choose.
They propose to open in January 2023 which would fit well with or booking schedule at Lennard Road.
Unfortunately our current shooting times would not be available. The athletics club members have priority (they have contributed a large part of the cost) and Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings are already popular times with them. Other evenings than Tuesday could be available.
We are going to incur some significant cost increases if we remain at Lennard Road. The managing agents are continuing to pursue their maximise the revenue programme and have said that the discount that we currently enjoy, having been "existing customers" when they took over will be withdrawn in the near future. The cost at Norman Park has not been finalised but they are adamant that their rate/hour will be significantly lower than our current hire cost.
Another cost implication is the emmisions zone penalties being extended to include all London Boroughs. It is some time before it is introduced (October 2023?) But it's going to happen! My vehicle is not compliant and very few and then only very expensive electric cars are rated for towing, to say nothing of their efficiency with a trailer. Commercial electric vehicles are even worse.
What follows is only a suggestion but your comments would be very helpful.
I propose that we consolidate the two groups and that our shooting time should be say a three hour session starting after 12:00 on Sunday when the indoor area would be free. If the two groups merge, shooting would inevitably be slower between ends but three hours would give everybody at least two hours plus of arrow time. The club intends that the venue be closed at 17:00 on Sundays and have said that any session length on Sunday p.m. would be O.K.. Obviously outside session would not be influenced by the use of the indoor track, but different times for different weather conditions would be a logistics nightmare,
Although Tuesday evenings will not be available I will, if an evening meeting is preferred, enquire for alternatives.
We do not have to make any decisions immediately but I predict that this venue will be very attractive and our options reduced if we take too long.
I am happy to answer any questions and put any suggestions to the athletics club.
Share your thoughts.
Happy loitering at Gatwick or Dover!!
Regards
Dave
Apparently Friday evening could be made available. The usual closing time is 21:00.
For a two hour session the start time would have to be 19:00 and we have started at 19:00 thro' the summer.
The running track area was designed with storage space, but again the athletics club would have priority. From what I saw n site I Don't think it would leave much space for them if we used it.
Cost wise; the figures that have been mentioned would allow our current term cost to cover the emmisions charges (assuming they stay at £12.50).
The new venue sounds like a good option. I personally would be happy to pay an increased cost to cover the ULEZ charge for David’s vehicle if we could still have the evening shoots as well as the Sunday shoots. Are there any options for equipment storage at this new venue??
The group merge would only happen if we join the athletics club