Major investment to transform future of English chess announced

[Matt Mackenzie]

Did the dog get a game?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

We want a photo of the "very ugly wooden top with no chessboard".

More seriously, is the implication here that the same company secured the contract for more recent chess concrete furniture that did this other chess table ten years ago? Or is there only really one proper 'concrete furniture' company in the UK? Or did different councils contract out to different companies when spending this money? Actually, was it the councils that made that decision, or central government?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Concrete Sports

[Roger Lancaster]

Concrete Sports

"We deliver and install your tables from £650, excluding VAT"

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Concrete Sports

"We deliver and install your tables from £650, excluding VAT"

From earlier in the thread:

Last year, it was announced the council had won a £5,000 grant for two chess boards and chairs in the borough, but chess pieces will not be provided under the funding scheme.

Assuming VAT at 20%, that is £780x2 = £1560 for installing 2 chess tables.

Maybe the chairs account for the remaining £3,440? Or that is what is needed for maintenance? Or for planning permission? Or something else I have forgotten. (The chess pieces?)

[Roger Lancaster]

Well, yes, Chris, I was wondering along broadly those lines.

[Geoff Chandler]

More about concrete tables here when we discussed it last year.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13130&hilit=concrete#p291409

[Mick Norris]

Concrete Sports

Based on the Wirral according to Companies House, you can view the accounts etc

[Mick Norris]

2023.12 ECF re Local Authorities Chess Tables v01.pdf

[David Williams]

I think you have to look at this from the perspective of the wage slave at the council whose desk this ends up on. Very likely most of the grant has already been eaten up by the wages and overheads of the department. He knows nothing of chess. He's looking for the easiest solution. A couple of minutes research comes up with chess tables. Bingo! Clearly the ECF suggestion of friendly parkies keeping sets and clocks is a nonsense, but a table gives a nice picture to keep the local councillor happy. Everyone pats themselves on the back. No-one is ever going to check up on whether they are ever used. They won't be, and the legacy is a crumbling concrete eyesore.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Did the dog get a game?"

Yes he played the collie system.

[Mick Norris]

ECF with lots of pictures

[Matt Mackenzie]

"Did the dog get a game?"

Yes he played the collie system.

Unless he was a paw to king four player.

(yes, I remember that story in The Complete Chess Addict as well)

[David York]

I think you have to look at this from the perspective of the wage slave at the council whose desk this ends up on. Very likely most of the grant has already been eaten up by the wages and overheads of the department. He knows nothing of chess. He's looking for the easiest solution. A couple of minutes research comes up with chess tables. Bingo! Clearly the ECF suggestion of friendly parkies keeping sets and clocks is a nonsense, but a table gives a nice picture to keep the local councillor happy. Everyone pats themselves on the back. No-one is ever going to check up on whether they are ever used. They won't be, and the legacy is a crumbling concrete eyesore.

Well this is a depressing comment. Frankly you need to be someone who gets out there and suppports an inititive to grow chess rather than whinging. Every local table needs to be adopted by the nearest league chess club. By putting on events and games you draw people to chess.

[David Williams]

I think you have to look at this from the perspective of the wage slave at the council whose desk this ends up on. Very likely most of the grant has already been eaten up by the wages and overheads of the department. He knows nothing of chess. He's looking for the easiest solution. A couple of minutes research comes up with chess tables. Bingo! Clearly the ECF suggestion of friendly parkies keeping sets and clocks is a nonsense, but a table gives a nice picture to keep the local councillor happy. Everyone pats themselves on the back. No-one is ever going to check up on whether they are ever used. They won't be, and the legacy is a crumbling concrete eyesore.

Well this is a depressing comment. Frankly you need to be someone who gets out there and suppports an inititive to grow chess rather than whinging. Every local table needs to be adopted by the nearest league chess club. By putting on events and games you draw people to chess.

Something should be done. This is something. Therefore it should be . . .
Well, therefore nothing, actually. Whether I support it or not, whether I have a better idea or not, it's either worthwhile or it isn't. Could you outline the sort of events centred round a single table in a park that would draw people to chess? Exhibition games between club members to draw the crowds? A lone individual enticing passers-by to a friendly game? You could in any case do it a lot cheaper if the (non-existent) local parkie had a board to lend you along with the pieces and you could play anywhere you liked. It's a long time since I saw a skateboard in my local skateboard park, but at least that was something you couldn't do at home, and doing it elsewhere was dangerous for you and for others.