brianbuck

Birmingham City Council's Planning Committee will be considering the application to demolish Hall Green Stadium on Thursday of this week 23rd June. The "Save Hall Green" campaigners will be represented by Mr Stephen Rea the (now retired) General Manager of the stadium, who will be speaking against the application with the objective of having it declared a Community Asset. If he can achieve this, it would give the stadium at least another five years (the amount of time remaining on the current lease) and the chance to negotiate either a new lease or an extension to the existing one.

Birmingham City Council's Planning Committee will be considering the application to demolish Hall Green Stadium on Thursday of this week 23rd June. The "Save Hall Green" campaigners will be represented by Mr Stephen Rea the (now retired) General Manager of the stadium, who will be speaking against the application with the objective of having it declared a Community Asset. If he can achieve this, it would give the stadium at least another five years (the amount of time remaining on the current lease) and the chance to negotiate either a new lease or an extension to the existing one.

That's absolutely true. There is a direct train line from Cradley Heath to Hall Green and the journey takes only about 30 minutes. Not only that, there are four trains every hour on this line and the last train back leaves Hall Green at 11pm. The stadium is no more than 5 minutes walk from Hall Green station. Hall Green is on the opposite side of the City to Perry Barr and in my opinion, speedway there would have a minimal effect on Perry Barr attendances. In 1929 and 1930, there were teams from both tracks in the Southern League - and this was during the worst economic recession this country has ever known!

I visited Hall Green stadium with John Hart last Monday week when we unveiled a wall plaque to commemorate the fact that the stadium was the home of Birmingham Speedway from 1928 until 1938. This was the first time I have been inside the stadium for about 30 years, and I must say that we were made very welcome by the manager and his staff who were extremely interested in the history of speedway at Hall Green. None of them has ever seen live speedway although several had watched it on television and I got the distinct impression that they wouldn't be averse to having it back at their venue if this were ever to become a possibility. Although Hall Green stadium is over 90 years old, it is a modern venue with facilities and a degree of spectator comfort that would match any existing speedway stadium in the country, and despite it being sited in the middle of a residential area, it seems to be very well shielded by the large two-tier grandstand/restaurant which extends the length of the home straight, by a huge totaliser board about 60/70 feet high which goes right round the first and second bends, and the 48 room hotel block which is owned by the stadium, all round the last two bends. Along most of the back straight is the snooker club with just two short exposed areas on either side of it which I think could be shielded by a bit of high fencing. The whole of the stadium is also surrounded by a large car park and some tall, dense trees, so my opinion is that noise would not be the major issue that people think it is. In the past, there have been several half-hearted attempts to reintroduce speedway to Hall Green. These have been met with virtual uprisings from the residents with the usual emotional and exaggerated claims of noise nuisance which have frightened away the would-be promoters concerned. Hall Green is not the "select" district that it once was, but no doubt the same reaction would recur if someone tried again, but my view is that a potential promoter with a bit of clout and perhaps a bit of influence within the City Council, could possibly be successful with a planning application, and if this were the case, I think that the residents would find that it was not so impossible to live with a couple of hours speedway a week there. In addition to the super grandstand which gives excellent views of the track, there is quite a bit of outside terracing on the home straight although the lower parts are below the level of the track (rather like the home straight at Coventry) and wouldn't give a very good view of the racing. On the third and fourth bends is a sloping tarmac terrace which from the quantity of grass and weeds growing through it, hasn't been used for some years - but it wouldn't be a massive job to clean it up. A big surprise for me on my visit was to find that even though it has been 78 years since the last speedway meeting at the stadium, the old pits are still there - being used as store sheds these days. The old 302 yard speedway track has long been grassed over, but its outline is still clearly visible from the high point of the grandstand. New floodlighting sited on high masts on the outside of the dog track, seems to have been installed fairly recently and these would adequately illuminate a new speedway circuit as well as the dog track. This is all supposition of course. The obstacles are many and would be very difficult to overcome, but if the "Save Hall Green" group do prove successful in getting the planning committee to turn down the plans to demolish the stadium - then there is the chance for someone like me to dream and think "why not!"

The planning committee have deferred a decision on whether or not to allow the application to demolish the stadium until the end of June.

There really isn't the need to bring in more rules - just to enforce the existing rules more rigidly. Riders will keep trying it on and team managers' will keep encouraging them to do so whilst the penalties are so lenient. What should happen is that a rider excluded at the start should no longer be replaced by a reserve or get a 10 metre handicap - he should be excluded fullstop. (The same should be the case for failing to beat the two minutes time allowance.) There will be the old excuse that "the public pay to see four riders in a race" but this is tripe - the public pay to see fair starts - not a selection of riders trying to pull a fast one.

I wouldn't like to go back to those days when the starts were a total fiasco. The only change I would like to see would be to have no reserve replacement for a rider excluded at the start, and no 15m handicap either! More and more riders are trying it on at the tapes these days, and they are being encouraged to do so by team managers' who know that there is a 50/50 chance of either getting away with it, having another chance or sending out a stronger reserve as a replacement. The same should apply to riders who fail to meet the two minute warning. The hard and fast rule should be that riders excluded should be excluded - without being replaced. This happens in Cycle Speedway and although I agree that Cycle Speedway has many, many problems with the way the rules are interpreted (and enforced) bad starting isn't one of them!

Sometimes when we do things in a rush, we make the odd mistake, which is what I did when I typed the initial message. This is no excuse, I should have checked the details more carefully, which I didn't so I have left myself open to being criticized which is fair enough. All I can do now is apologise and hope that this does not put people off sending in their E-Mails. Just to clarify things, the E-Mail address is: planningandregenerationenquiries@birmingham.gov.uk and the Application Reference is 2016/01219/PA The commemorative plaque is being unveiled at the stadium on Monday 23rd May at 11am (anyone free on this date is welcome to attend), and the planning application is being heard by the planning committee on Thursday 26th May at the Council House. The committee meeting starts at 11am but as yet we don't know how far through the agenda the subject is. Stephen Rea, the retired General Manager at Hall Green Stadium, has booked time to speak against the application but the council rules only allow one person to speak for or against, and for a maximum of three minutes. Again, anyone can attend this meeting. Many thanks to those who have supported the campaign.

Many thanks for this information Arthur. You are obviously much more clued up on this kind of business than I am am so I'm grateful for your input. I can't speak for Oxford or Wimbledon although I obviously fully support all the efforts being made to save both of them, but locally, we need to convince Birmingham City Council that Hall Green is a profitable greyhound stadium and a valuable community asset that shouldn't be lost to the City. There are influential people who are supporting the campaign such as the three Hall Green Councillors and the MP Roger Godsiff, and there is reason to believe that several senior members of the planning committee are likely to be sympathetic - but we can't just leave it to these few - that's why I urge as many people as possible to E-Mail the Council and object to its destruction. Just a reminder: E-Mail's to planningandregenerationenquiries@birmingham.gov.uk quoting application reference 2016/01219/PA - just urge the committee to reject the application - no need to go into details. The Planning Committee will consider the application on Thursday 26th May, so no time to be lost.

I am pleased to add my name to the petition, and have urged Rugby Council not to allow Brandon's destruction without a cast iron guarantee that a replacement venue will be provided - and to make it a condition that Brandon continues to operate normally until such time that the replacement venue is constructed and ready to use. I don't believe that Rugby Council are unaware of the strength of feeling over the impending loss of Brandon and I hope as many people as possible will give their support to this campaign.

Thanks very much all - hopefully plenty more will do the same. Regarding Deano's point. The situation is a bit more complex that this. The GRA's parent company Risk Capital Partners, are the ones calling the shots. They are just speculators who bought the business in the expectation that they could re-sell it at a big profit. The GRA's core business is greyhound racing but they are having their arms twisted in this instance.

Thanks for the correction John - apologies for the error.

I do apologise - the correct address should have .co at the end of it. planningandregenerationenquiries@birmingham.gov.uk Sorry again - I hope my blunder doesnt't put anyone off from E-Mailing.

Hall Green Greyhound Stadium on the south side of Birmingham, is under serious threat from sport's biggest enemies - the Property Developers, who have submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council to demolish the stadium and build 200 houses on the site. The application is due to be considered by the City's Planning Committee on May 26th/27th. Should we be concerned at the possible loss of a venue which has not staged speedway for the last 78 years? Yes we should! Hall Green is a stadium with superb facilities which include a restaurant, bars, a snooker club, and a 48 bedroom fully equipped hotel. It is probably the most profitable greyhound stadium in the country, attracting over half a million patrons a year, and it provides employment for over 200 people. It is clearly an outstanding community asset and the only possible reason why the landowners (NOT the GRA who are only the leaseholders and who do NOT want the stadium to be lost), is short-term financial greed. Birmingham Speedway promoter Tony Mole is supporting the group fighting to oppose the loss of Hall Green, and with the co-operation of the stadium manager Chris Black and the GRA, is shortly planning to place a wall plaque in the stadium lounge to commemorate the fact that the venue was the home of Birmingham Speedway from 1928 until 1938. (Although the old speedway circuit has long been grassed over, its outline can still be seen on a photograph shown on the stadium website). This will hopefully, provide some much needed media publicity which could help with the fight. Speedway enthusiasts everywhere can also help by E-Mailing Birmingham City Council's planning office and expressing their opposition to the demolition proposals. E-Mails should be addressed to PLANNINGANDREGENERATIONENQUIRIES@BIRMINGHAM.GOV and it is essential that the application reference which is 2016/01219PA is quoted plus your full name and address. There is no need to go chapter and verse into the reasons although it would obviously be helpful to try and emphasise why the application should be rejected - it will be sufficient just to express your opposition to the plan being passed. The more people who are prepared to do this, the greater the possibility of getting the stadium declared a Community Asset. Given the fact that Hall Green Stadium is sited bang in the middle of a good class residential district, the possibility of speedway ever being seen there again in the future is extremely remote, but even so, it beholds us to support the efforts to save another of our leisure facilities which is under threat - and we must bear in mind also, that if a venue like Hall Green isn't safe from the clutches of these greedy property developers then nowhere is. Let's stick together with the "Save Hall Green" group. Please help by doing this. Many thanks.

Hall Green Greyhound Stadium on the south side of Birmingham, is under serious threat from sport's biggest enemies - the Property Developers, who have submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council to demolish the stadium and build 200 houses on the site. The application is due to be considered by the City's Planning Committee on May 26th/27th. Should we be concerned at the possible loss of a venue which has not staged speedway for the last 78 years? Yes we should! Hall Green is a stadium with superb facilities which include a restaurant, bars, a snooker club, and a 48 bedroom fully equipped hotel. It is probably the most profitable greyhound stadium in the country, attracting over half a million patrons a year, and it provides employment for over 200 people. It is clearly an outstanding community asset and the only possible reason why the landowners (NOT the GRA who are only the leaseholders and who do NOT want the stadium to be lost), is short-term financial greed. Birmingham Speedway promoter Tony Mole is supporting the group fighting to oppose the loss of Hall Green, and with the co-operation of the stadium manager Chris Black and the GRA, is shortly planning to place a wall plaque in the stadium lounge to commemorate the fact that the venue was the home of Birmingham Speedway from 1928 until 1938. (Although the old speedway circuit has long been grassed over, its outline can still be seen on a photograph shown on the stadium website). This will hopefully, provide some much needed media publicity which could help with the fight. Speedway enthusiasts everywhere can also help by E-Mailing Birmingham City Council's planning office and expressing their opposition to the demolition proposals. E-Mails should be addressed to PLANNINGANDREGENERATIONENQUIRIES@BIRMINGHAM.GOV and it is essential that the application reference which is 2016/01219PA is quoted plus your full name and address. There is no need to go chapter and verse into the reasons although it would be helpful to try and emphasise why the application should be rejected - it will be sufficient just to express your opposition to the plan being passed. The more people who are prepared to do this, the greater the possibility of getting the stadium declared a Community Asset. Given the fact that Hall Green Stadium is sited bang in the middle of a good class residential district, the possibility of speedway ever being seen there again in the future is extremely remote, but even so, it beholds us to support the efforts to save another of our leisure facilities which is under threat - and we must bear in mind also, that if a venue like Hall Green isn't safe from the clutches of these greedy property developers then nowhere is. Let's stick together with the "Save Hall Green" group. Please help by doing this. Many thanks.

Good of you to offer but I'll just about manage!!!! Your brother sounds a bit like me - I'm still a schoolboy at heart! At tracks all round the country there are people like me who do these little odd jobs (or should I have said odd people who do these little jobs) which are useful but non-essential. I can't imagine that not changing the "next match" boards would have much effect on the size of the crowds, but I secretly like to fancy that it does!!! My wife thinks I am not right in the head, but we enjoy doing these jobs so why not? When I was asked by Graham Drury in 2007, what job I wanted to do I said I would clean the toilets or do anything as long as I could watch the racing - and on one or two occasions over the last 9 years I have cleaned the toilets!

The advertising boards always do show the meeting taking place that evening - they are not changed until 7.15pm to show the following meeting - as they were last night! On the subject of supporters cheering when an opposition rider falls, this has gone on from time immemorial. It is a despicable practice but it happens everywhere and there is no point in trying to shame those who indulge - they wouldn't do it if they had any shame and only do it to get a reaction, so the best remedy is to just ignore it.

I wish Adam all the very best in his new role at Eastbourne. He is a quality rider and a very good team man and is certainly not a money grabber. He was exceptional during his time with the Brummies last season and enjoyed a great rapport with the supporters. Eastbourne have done well to persuade him to ride for them and their supporters won't be disappointed with his effort or his commitment.

Very best wishes to the new Isle of Wight promotion for a successful relaunch and a fulfilling and profitable season. Delighted to have the track back on song. Good luck for this evening.

Although it is true that a planning application to demolish Hall Green Stadium and build houses on the site, has been submitted, it is by no means certain that it will succeed. Hall Green is a highly profitable greyhound stadium and employs over 200 staff, and there is a powerful lobby, supported by the Hall Green MP, lining up to oppose the application, and in any case, a guarantee has already been given that greyhound racing will continue there at least until the end of 2018.

If Coventry should need a temporary home for perhaps two or three seasons, they could do worse perhaps, than to sound out the possible availability of Hall Green Stadium in Birmingham? The stadium is on the south (Coventry) side of the City and is about as far away from Perry Barr as it is possible to get without going outside the boundary of Birmingham. What's more, even though the stadium has not staged speedway for 78 years, most of the required facilities are still in place including the track lighting which is on poles that can be swivelled from dog track to speedway track. Admittedly, the old speedway track has long been grassed over but it wouldn't be massively expensive to cut out a new one and many of the fittings such as the safety fence etc, could be brought over from Brandon. There would be strong opposition from the locals as always was the case when speedway ran at Hall Green, but someone like Sandhu could have sufficient clout and finance to overcome this, and as Tony Mole is supporting the group fighting to save the stadium from the developers, I don't think he would object. It's very much a long shot I agree, but perhaps it's just possible? Who knows?

Seems like an error in Speedway Star in respect of the start time for the Good Friday Belle Vue v Wolverhampton match. Belle Vue have confirmed that the start time is definitely 1pm - not 7.30pm as printed twice in the Star.

Error regarding the start time for the Belle Vue v Wolverhampton match on Good Friday 25th March. It is defininitely a 1pm start - not 7.30pm as printed in the Speedway Star. This has been confirmed to me by Belle Vue.

Seems to be the germ of an excellent idea - but would it prevent riders from trying it on and rolling in the same way that too many of them already do? If the laser beam somehow stops any movement until it is switched off, then I'd say bring it on. Alternatively, the starting gate could be replaced with greyhound-style starting traps made of steel and opening forward and upwards away from the riders' front wheels. They couldn't be broken and any rider trying to roll wouldn't stretch them like they stretch the tapes and would then disadvantage themselves by having to pull their bikes backwards. Might sound a fanciful idea but when thought about a bit more perhaps it isn't as daft as it first seems!

Tony Mole has indeed submitted an application for a second speedway night at Perry Barr, and the planning committee is due to consider this sometime this month (although they very often defer a decision when they are uncertain or when they need more information). The plan is to have either Tuesday or Thursday available as an alternative night, but not to run twice a week every week which is something he has tried to emphasise to the Council. We (Birmingham and Cradley Heath) have been very fortunate this season in that there have only been a couple of rain-off's. If there had been a few more, then fitting in re-arrangement dates would have been a major problem, so to have another night available as and when it is needed, would be a big plus for both clubs.