Difference between revisions of "Citygrove Leisure"
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Citygrove Leisure was a London-based property development company, with a branch in the Czech Republic, that traded between 1985 and March 2010.<ref> Companies House [http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/b0436ebe00800ed4fd0196eb90f4e4d2/compdetails Citygrove Leisure Ltd], accessed 22 November 2010. </ref> Its chief executive and chairman until 2003, [[David Woolf]], donated £2,500 to the [[Labour Party]] every year between 1995 and 1998, and £5,000 in June 1999. He apparently made these donations in the company's name without consultation with his colleagues. <ref> Email correspondence from Claire Hawtin, Administration Manager, Citygrove Securities PLC, 22 November 2010 </ref> | Citygrove Leisure was a London-based property development company, with a branch in the Czech Republic, that traded between 1985 and March 2010.<ref> Companies House [http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/b0436ebe00800ed4fd0196eb90f4e4d2/compdetails Citygrove Leisure Ltd], accessed 22 November 2010. </ref> Its chief executive and chairman until 2003, [[David Woolf]], donated £2,500 to the [[Labour Party]] every year between 1995 and 1998, and £5,000 in June 1999. He apparently made these donations in the company's name without consultation with his colleagues. <ref> Email correspondence from Claire Hawtin, Administration Manager, Citygrove Securities PLC, 22 November 2010 </ref> | ||
| − | Woolf | + | Woolf, known as the "Grandfather of the Retail Park Industry", co-founded Citygrove with [[Toby Baines]] in 1990 'from the ashes of the original Citygrove company that went bust the same year.'<ref> Laura Chesters [http://www.propertyweek.com/a-spanish-acquisition/3071052.article A Spanish acquisition], PropertyWeek.com Out of town Retail Supplement, undated. </ref> He was Citygrove Leisure's chief executive in 2003 but remained a company director until 23 November 2009. <ref> Companies House [http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/citygrove-leisure Citygrove Leisure Limited]</ref> |
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| + | In 1998 Citygrove had a development programme of 9 "entertainment parks" and 5 "retail parks", including 3 in Watford: Colne Bridge Retail Park in Watford (sold for £5.5 million), Woodside Entertainment Park (sold for £14 million) and Watford Arches Retail Park (sold for £20 million). They have also completed Apex Retail Park in Twickenham (sold for £8 million) and are developing schemes in Belfast, Stockport, at the former Croydon Water Palace in South London and a £25 million complex in Chichester. | ||
Citygrove's attempts to redevelop the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove into a £30 million multiplex cinema with restaurants, casino and nightclub raised questions about local consultation and the terms of the lease involved, in a deal handled by the local Labour Council (headed by [[Steve Bassam]], until [[Tony Blair]] made him Lord Bassam). The development was abandoned in November 2000 after the casino operators pulled out and Citygrove tried to scale down the scheme by cutting out re-development of the site's council-run sports facilities. | Citygrove's attempts to redevelop the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove into a £30 million multiplex cinema with restaurants, casino and nightclub raised questions about local consultation and the terms of the lease involved, in a deal handled by the local Labour Council (headed by [[Steve Bassam]], until [[Tony Blair]] made him Lord Bassam). The development was abandoned in November 2000 after the casino operators pulled out and Citygrove tried to scale down the scheme by cutting out re-development of the site's council-run sports facilities. | ||
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Citygrove Leisure Ltd was dissolved in March 2010. The company Citygrove however still continues with Toby Baines as Chairman and has been registered as [[Citygrove Securities]] PLC since 2003 at the same address as the dissolved company. Regarding Woolf's past donations, Citygrove's administration manager states that the practice "does not relate in any way to the existing Citygrove companies nor our current policies. We pride ourselves on being impartial with no political allegiances." <ref> Email correspondence from Claire Hawtin, Administration Manager, Citygrove Securities PLC, 22 November 2010 </ref> | Citygrove Leisure Ltd was dissolved in March 2010. The company Citygrove however still continues with Toby Baines as Chairman and has been registered as [[Citygrove Securities]] PLC since 2003 at the same address as the dissolved company. Regarding Woolf's past donations, Citygrove's administration manager states that the practice "does not relate in any way to the existing Citygrove companies nor our current policies. We pride ourselves on being impartial with no political allegiances." <ref> Email correspondence from Claire Hawtin, Administration Manager, Citygrove Securities PLC, 22 November 2010 </ref> | ||
Revision as of 12:50, 22 November 2010
Citygrove Leisure was a London-based property development company, with a branch in the Czech Republic, that traded between 1985 and March 2010.[1] Its chief executive and chairman until 2003, David Woolf, donated £2,500 to the Labour Party every year between 1995 and 1998, and £5,000 in June 1999. He apparently made these donations in the company's name without consultation with his colleagues. [2]
Woolf, known as the "Grandfather of the Retail Park Industry", co-founded Citygrove with Toby Baines in 1990 'from the ashes of the original Citygrove company that went bust the same year.'[3] He was Citygrove Leisure's chief executive in 2003 but remained a company director until 23 November 2009. [4]
In 1998 Citygrove had a development programme of 9 "entertainment parks" and 5 "retail parks", including 3 in Watford: Colne Bridge Retail Park in Watford (sold for £5.5 million), Woodside Entertainment Park (sold for £14 million) and Watford Arches Retail Park (sold for £20 million). They have also completed Apex Retail Park in Twickenham (sold for £8 million) and are developing schemes in Belfast, Stockport, at the former Croydon Water Palace in South London and a £25 million complex in Chichester.
Citygrove's attempts to redevelop the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove into a £30 million multiplex cinema with restaurants, casino and nightclub raised questions about local consultation and the terms of the lease involved, in a deal handled by the local Labour Council (headed by Steve Bassam, until Tony Blair made him Lord Bassam). The development was abandoned in November 2000 after the casino operators pulled out and Citygrove tried to scale down the scheme by cutting out re-development of the site's council-run sports facilities.
Citygrove Leisure Ltd was dissolved in March 2010. The company Citygrove however still continues with Toby Baines as Chairman and has been registered as Citygrove Securities PLC since 2003 at the same address as the dissolved company. Regarding Woolf's past donations, Citygrove's administration manager states that the practice "does not relate in any way to the existing Citygrove companies nor our current policies. We pride ourselves on being impartial with no political allegiances." [5]
Contact
- Website: http://www.citygrove.com/
Notes
- ↑ Companies House Citygrove Leisure Ltd, accessed 22 November 2010.
- ↑ Email correspondence from Claire Hawtin, Administration Manager, Citygrove Securities PLC, 22 November 2010
- ↑ Laura Chesters A Spanish acquisition, PropertyWeek.com Out of town Retail Supplement, undated.
- ↑ Companies House Citygrove Leisure Limited
- ↑ Email correspondence from Claire Hawtin, Administration Manager, Citygrove Securities PLC, 22 November 2010
