Have to agree ddjamo. Slow, means I don't do any quick reading of posts dueing the working day (not when it takes 30seconds + to load a thread - which means it is slower than the BBC on my work machine (which is why I don't use the BBC anymore, but all other sites are instant, even video/tv streaming. Speed of internet connection isn't an issue - we rely on speed for out trading platforms). Also - seems the switch to the new site has led to a drop in the number of posts. Yes it is the summer, but with 3N, RWC etc, would expect more. And most those posts seems to be Robbie starting them. Maybe it is a co-incidence, maybe it is imagined, but there it is.
I don't need any of the flash functionality, just a quick forum. So I would say it appears to be a backwards step, despite the best intentions. Personally I would resist the urge to develop more for the site until you can get the speed of it back up.