BuzzCagney

I'm very sorry to hear that Phil isn't too well. Total Legend. Turn 4 at the new stadium needs to be called Crump Curve! He used to make such great use of the banking at the Abbey. How many matches did he win for us with a last bend burst of speed to pass a pi$$ing- themselves-because-they-knew-who-was-behind opponent! Back when Happiness Was... anybody....anybody?? Another amazing memory- Gordon Kennetts 21 point maximum in, if memory serves, 1980?. Totally invincible. Nobody would have touched him that night.

or is it Oxford Robins?! Yep, I didn't do Reading's last meeting but I did feel more than sad when I left my last visit there just a few week before it ended, so I know the feeling you are taking about. I seem to only remember the kickings the Robins always got down there! Not a good hunting ground! Smallmead was my first ever away match. Season's opener in 1980. I remember my hero Bob Kilby having a great night. I think he only dropped 1 point. Of course Reading went on to have a brilliant year. Lanning and that £40,000 bet are legend!

Come on, come on, we have enough Swindon fans doing the negativity thing. Behave yourselves! I'm sure it will be a huge crowd. There is a great deal of affection for the Abbey. My first meeting was a birthday treat when I was 7- so 1971! I was squeezed in the tight space behind the seats in a Frogeye Sprite for the drive up there! Looking at them years later I don't know how I got in! Through the 1970's I would go with my speedway mad brother on the bus. That was an adventure in itself! I started seriously going in 1979, so have many happy memories of the old place. Crowds so big they had to have turnstiles on the back straight. 10,000 for England v USA in, I think, 1980 or 81? John Davis (pretty girl whatever happened to her?!) getting upset because of the support the Yanks got! I sympathised as I recall! Hot dogs with onions from that shack on the back straight! Lovely! haha Best race? That's a hard one to answer. I'd say any that had Phil Crump in. The guy was just magnificent around Swindon. I know the track is a bitc.h to prepare but when it was in tip-top shape there aren't many better.

A few of us have been trying to whip us some noise. Not easy when so many seem more inclined to just lay down and roll over and brag about how they were right all along. The local paper seem to have zero interest- I have tried- and the council are hamstrung by rules and red tape. I'm not sure which way to turn now??

That's where I'm at with it now, Hagon. I fear this will turn into a slanging match between fans and I don't want that. I'm going to keep following goings on and chasing anyone who might be able to help and, should I hear anything I will, of course, pass it along. Stay hopeful.

I'm not entirely sure why a couple on here seem to be more interested in being proven correct in their doubts than actually pushing to get answers and a stadium built, as per agreement. Its pretty dispiriting. I, personally, remain hopeful. That's not naivety, that's positivity. We shouldn't give up so easily and as glibly as some seem to have.

I got a reply for the Council today.... Thank you for your recent email concerning the lack of progress to date to deliver a new Speedway stadium. I share your concern regarding the delays that have affected the re-development; however progress is being made. A major factor　in moving the scheme forward was the economic downturn post-2008 that affected the implementation of the development insofar as the housing element that was to lead the overall scheme was delayed. However, we are now in a position where two house builders, Barratt Homes and Persimmon are building at the site, together with Castle Oak which is developing the care home site. The original planning permission was framed to enable the re-development of the site and permitted housing and other development to contribute to funding a new stadium.　The planning legal agreement that accompanied the planning permission includes triggers to ensure the delivery of the new stadium. In addition, a recent new planning permission to replace the previously permitted business units with housing included a new clause that prevents any further applications for reserved matters permission for housing to be submitted until the reserved matters application for the new stadium is submitted. A　second new clause in the legal agreement introduced a "long stop" date (12 months from the date of the legal agreement in April 2014) such that the stadium owners must use their reasonable endeavours to obtain planning consent for the new stadium. As such, the legal agreement prevents the occupation of any housing (on the new areas replacing the business units) until the practical completion of the stadium has occurred. The Council has sought to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between the needs of the site’s owners to fund the re-development of the stadium whilst also ensuring that an important sporting asset that is highly valued in Swindon is retained and re-developed. Council Officers continue to maintain a close dialogue with the site owners to ensure that the re-development comes forward in accordance with the agreed timetable. I trust this information is of assistance to you, but please contact me. Yours sincerely Richard Bell Mr Richard Bell Head of Planning, Regulatory Services, Heritage and Libraries It seems to be a case of sit back and see and trust that things work out. 　

Sir Humphrey! Thank god you are here. Things should really get clarified now! My point is, Humpy, we are all powerless, pretty much, aren't we. Up to and including the promotion. But if they don't see the need to ring the alarm bells who are we to second guess them. If the club is in real peril they'd have nothing to lose by doing so, would they. No, if the promotion tell us things are fine, and to now they have, then I will believe them..

I don't think anybody particularly trusted GI but until our doubts have been realised there was little that we could do. Lets face it, the biggest cheer-leaders for the stadium have been Tel and, in particular, Rosco. If they are telling us its all good what are we supposed to think? It will be one to add to Rosco's list. Mascot. Rider, Captain. Manager. Final Ever Promoter. In all fairness that can go back in. Question: Do we have a Fan club these days? They were so good back in '06 but they are conspicuous by their absence now.

I'm happy to see you can book a Christmas visit to the Greyhounds. Hopefully you will be able to see the new Stadium taking shape!

Great team and stadium. A terrible loss to speedway. Wimbledon's visits were always a highlight of the season. Mauger, Larry Ross and Simmo and, of course, Briggo! Great riders all, and plenty more besides them. I am trying to get some answers but fear I'm wasting my time. What struck me about that reply was the line "I note your concerns about Gaming International". We all know GI but having the concerns "recognised", for some reason, made my stomach turn! Weird!

Had this from Councillor Renards office... Thank you for your email of 19th September about the proposed new Speedway Stadium in Blunsdon. I note your concerns about Gaming International. Planning enforcement is not an executive matter and so it falls under the remit of the Planning Committee. I have passed your email to Councillor Colin Lovell, the chair of that committee, and to Richard Bell, the Head of Planning. One of them will respond to you in detail about how the Council may enforce any planning obligations. Yours sincerely, As soon as I get something I will post it.

Both great questions. Wouldn't it be good if somebody would get us an answer. My understanding is they can't knock the Abbey down without Abbey:2 in place. But we know from history they don't give one for leaving stadiums idle.

The Robin mascot that looks like its surrendering just about sums the play-off performances up. In all fairness it has been a horrible season really, with one thing and another, so even making the play offs was a result. Lets just hope that wasn't the last ever competitive match in Swindon.

Where the speedway is concerned 2006 is still very fresh in my memory. And we need to tap into that same good-will that was so in evidence back then.

That's very kind. I appreciate that. Honestly, this is no trouble to be doing this though. Work is likely keeping me away tomorrow. I'm not sure until I take a look at the schedule in the morning. But no schedule will keep me away from the Final and the Big Farewell to the Abbey. Maybe we can have a get together of Forum users that night? I sent Justin a thank you for his reply and he sent this back..... No problems at all! We all want this to be sorted asap – vital for not just the fans, but for the town itself! Will keep pressing!!! Cheers, Justin Maybe i'm gullible but having met him on more than one occasion I am inclined to trust him on this. I know Justin was on the Parliamentary Group, Skidder, but is no longer involved. I'm not sure what kind of clout they'd have to be honest. If you guys think that would be a good idea, though, I'll happily look into it. I'm hoping that Terry will come on the mic tomorrow with some positive news so we can forget all about this. I know that he hates online chatter like this so hopefully he will take the opportunity to put peoples minds at rest.

Which is exactly why we need to be making these people know that there are those that want it, Matt. In all fairness the local residents have been almost entirely behind the continuation of speedway. And I was at the meeting in 2006 when the council passionately spoke in favour of the speedway, so I would take issue with your doubts on that one too.

I don't suppose GI will be too bothered about the club letting the BSPA down. I have emailed the Advers Chief Sports Reporter to see if they can shake things around a bit. As Haydon Hat say's they were great back in 2006.

That's nice of you to say that but its only letter writing. Like every Swindon fan, I'd walk across burning coals to ensure the club has a home.

I don't know what else to do other than letter write I've just sent this one to the leader of the council.... Dear Mr Renard, If I may have a moment of your time to voice growing concerns with regards the proposed new Speedway Stadium in Blunsdon. It would appear that the developers are dragging their feet starting the new stadium whilst ploughing on with the house building. I understand clauses inserted by the council are now activated and the developers must begin the new stadium before they can proceed further with sales. The problem is this is classic behaviour from the owners of the stadium. Gaming International have done this up and down the country with little regard to the local sports fans or, indeed, the local authority involved. The worry is they are going to leave the speedway club without a home and let the current stadium stand idle and increasingly derelict so that they can, in time, just build houses on the whole site. Many of us felt we were being hoodwinked when this all first blew up in 2006 but we were powerless to put a stop to the poor plans. It is to be hoped that the Council will not be outmanoeuvred by the stadium owners, as has happened in other places around the country. Can you offer any assurances that the Council are aware of the situation and what you may be able to do to protect the Speedway Club? I do thank you for your time. Kind Regards If I get a reply I will post it. If anybody has any suggestions of who we should write to let me know. I'm sorry, but its about all I can bring to the table.

We all know the history of GI. So what do we do to stop it happening again? I'm damned if I have the answer.

ah, I didn't know that Matt. Thanks.

I will be taking a look up there at the weekend to gauge whether building on houses has stopped. I've heard too many tales of builders not giving a stuff and just plodding on as they please and Council officers be damned. If anybody else can also keep an eye that would be great.

I've had a reply from Justin. Dear Buzz, Thank you your email and apologies for the delay. We have been making urgent enquiries on the current situation. As it stands Swindon Borough Council (SBC) are still waiting on the reserved matters application. This would confirm the exact details of the building, drainage and all other associated works. This would also trigger the work commencing. This has now been due for some time, hence why there is concern at the delay. Gaming International maintain that the flood alleviation works and the sound attenuation barrier have taken longer than hoped to organise and they will be submitting the reserved application shortly. I have double checked and the rules built into the original application have now been triggered, that no more new development can continue until the stadium works begin. This was put in place to make sure the stadium would be developed. If they were to walk away at the moment, a significant development area / opportunity would be lost. As an aside we know Gaming International have spent quite a lot of money on the preparation work, which if they were never intending to redevelop the stadium, they would not have bothered wasting the money. As ever once we have something more concrete we will let everyone know. Kind regards, Justin I was happy to see the Regulations have been triggered now. So no more building until the Stadium is solid. I understand that people are sceptical given past events elsewhere but we have little alternative than to trust things will work at intended. But we must stay on it too.

Too far. I emailed Tomlinson but as yet haven't received a reply as regards what he may know about the new stadium and its proposed start date.