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Plymouth 2012


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I refer all reading the forum to my post of Oct 21st - "

 

Any developments regarding Plymouth speedway need to be seen along with the widely reported financial issues reported in the press towards the end of 2011 for the landowner. If I had surplus land and a shortfall I'd be looking to rationalise my assets, serve reasonable notice using any potential break clauses in the leasing arrangements and sell the land to the highest bidder ( probably a supermarket chain...). So disapointing as it is - with 2 years to run on the lease, the landowners might seem to have some reasonable grounds for calling it a day and advising speedway that they should be grateful for what they've had. Add in a bit of concern about the nature of the promotion and its hard to see speedway in Plymouth having a long -term future... "

 

So no surprises in the information thats surfaced in the press today, - the next point to face up to is " who has got the deeper pockets - supermarket chains ? housing developers or the " 4-man consortium". Sad to say I think we all know the answers........pure commercial reality. Like the County Ground in Exeter it might be possible to limp on for the odd year or two but ....

 

And the most pleasure I could take from this would be if I was totally wrong..........

 

Only one thing i can say about that is, if Mike Bowden can find a site for speedway then anything is possible, we all know the support is there, so it's not a gamble for anyone who is interested.

Edited by Devildodger
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With regards to keeping up to date with the latest news on the SBA and such like. I have tried to access the Plymouth Devils Forum (plymouthdevils.proboards.com) this evening and Im getting an error message ? Has anyone any idea whats going on or is it just me?

 

Appreciate any who can help or advise me.

 

Regards

 

snafu

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With regards to keeping up to date with the latest news on the SBA and such like. I have tried to access the Plymouth Devils Forum (plymouthdevils.proboards.com) this evening and Im getting an error message ? Has anyone any idea whats going on or is it just me?

 

Appreciate any who can help or advise me.

 

Regards

 

snafu

 

I like your Username 'snafu'. I saw a Spitfire at Duxford with that on the side. I know what it means too. :wink:

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I refer all reading the forum to my post of Oct 21st - "

 

Any developments regarding Plymouth speedway need to be seen along with the widely reported financial issues reported in the press towards the end of 2011 for the landowner. If I had surplus land and a shortfall I'd be looking to rationalise my assets, serve reasonable notice using any potential break clauses in the leasing arrangements and sell the land to the highest bidder ( probably a supermarket chain...). So disapointing as it is - with 2 years to run on the lease, the landowners might seem to have some reasonable grounds for calling it a day and advising speedway that they should be grateful for what they've had. Add in a bit of concern about the nature of the promotion and its hard to see speedway in Plymouth having a long -term future... "

 

So no surprises in the information thats surfaced in the press today, - the next point to face up to is " who has got the deeper pockets - supermarket chains ? housing developers or the " 4-man consortium". Sad to say I think we all know the answers........pure commercial reality. Like the County Ground in Exeter it might be possible to limp on for the odd year or two but ....

 

And the most pleasure I could take from this would be if I was totally wrong..........

 

Whilst I don't doubt your post I have a view for optimism myself.

 

Firstly the land is right next to the main line railway, a disused railway, the A38 (dual carriageway into Plymouth) and a pallet yard that seems to go up in smoke a few times a year which does make me think the place is pretty undesirable as a residential area, not impossible though of course.

 

Secondly whilst there has been plenty of talk about a supermarket chain being interested in the land, again I have large doubts about this. The access is poor and you can only access the site off a one way road and in my opinion when you consider parking, the site simply isn't big enough for a major store. Add to that a huge Sainsburys is 100 metres one way and a new Morrisons is opening 200 metres the other way makes me think it would be a poor business decision with all of these factors in mind to build a supermarket.

 

Personally I think the College are simply trying to drive the price up to make as much as possible from the sale but actually the interest isn't that great.

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Whilst I don't doubt your post I have a view for optimism myself.

 

Firstly the land is right next to the main line railway, a disused railway, the A38 (dual carriageway into Plymouth) and a pallet yard that seems to go up in smoke a few times a year which does make me think the place is pretty undesirable as a residential area, not impossible though of course.

 

Secondly whilst there has been plenty of talk about a supermarket chain being interested in the land, again I have large doubts about this. The access is poor and you can only access the site off a one way road and in my opinion when you consider parking, the site simply isn't big enough for a major store. Add to that a huge Sainsburys is 100 metres one way and a new Morrisons is opening 200 metres the other way makes me think it would be a poor business decision with all of these factors in mind to build a supermarket.

 

Personally I think the College are simply trying to drive the price up to make as much as possible from the sale but actually the interest isn't that great.

not forgeting the sewage works only a stones throw aswell mikey"
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I have opened the link supplied by "Keyham", (thank you) and its still saying an error has occurred and it also states i've been banned too!?? Any ideas on who to contact to sort this out as I have not been on the site for a few weeks and not posted anything derogatory on anyone. I read other comments rather than write much myself. I'm puzzled and would like to sort it out. Can anyone supply or forward my problem to David, who I think is a moderator or administrator for the forum?

 

Thank you

 

As for the snafu tag, Ive used it for a number of years now. A colleague and I used it on our shift change over when asked, " is everything in order"!? The reply was snafu!! lol

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Whilst I don't doubt your post I have a view for optimism myself.

 

Firstly the land is right next to the main line railway, a disused railway, the A38 (dual carriageway into Plymouth) and a pallet yard that seems to go up in smoke a few times a year which does make me think the place is pretty undesirable as a residential area, not impossible though of course.

 

Secondly whilst there has been plenty of talk about a supermarket chain being interested in the land, again I have large doubts about this. The access is poor and you can only access the site off a one way road and in my opinion when you consider parking, the site simply isn't big enough for a major store. Add to that a huge Sainsburys is 100 metres one way and a new Morrisons is opening 200 metres the other way makes me think it would be a poor business decision with all of these factors in mind to build a supermarket.

 

Personally I think the College are simply trying to drive the price up to make as much as possible from the sale but actually the interest isn't that great.

 

I agree mike, its not a place i would want to live if they put houses there, next to a railway line and a flyover, and having only one road going into the site over a small bridge with one lane on a slip road would i think stop anyone thinking of putting a supermarket there off, we may think it's a big site but for a super market or a site for houses to be put on it i don't think it is, looking at that like you i think we have a chance for speedway to continue there, if the price is right.

Edited by Devildodger
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I have opened the link supplied by "Keyham", (thank you) and its still saying an error has occurred and it also states i've been banned too!?? Any ideas on who to contact to sort this out as I have not been on the site for a few weeks and not posted anything derogatory on anyone. I read other comments rather than write much myself. I'm puzzled and would like to sort it out. Can anyone supply or forward my problem to David, who I think is a moderator or administrator for the forum?

 

Thank you

 

As for the snafu tag, Ive used it for a number of years now. A colleague and I used it on our shift change over when asked, " is everything in order"!? The reply was snafu!! lol

 

'Keyham' or 'David' is the administrator on the site so he will be the man to contact. We've had a few issues with certain things on the forum over recent weeks but that to my knowledge shouldn't affect your account.

 

:Yells: Daveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

 

For the record I've had a look as I'm a mod myself and your not showing as banned.

Edited by Mikeyt
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I regret to report that the College has reneged on a promise given at our last meeting with them that they would have a detailed valuation of the site by Monday njext, examination of the details provided by the Land Registery reveal that as well as being classified as a flood plain, with the hoops to jump through that that provides (NO impact on water levels at adjoining property caused by the development being the main one, especially as the main adjoining property is the Paddington to Plymouth railway line) the whole right hand side of the site from the pedestrian entrance to the far hedge i.e the area where the vans park, at that hedge turn left and head towards the flyover and then turn left again under the flyover, all that land is actually owned by the Highways Agency as a maintenance route to the A38 flyover and not by the college. The HA also have restrictions on what can happen on other areas to prevent making their job harder, so think any profitable sale to a developer is unlikely, however the college appear to think that option is viable

 

With the time scale left before the AGM it is looking fairly certain that no viable agreement will be possible for Premier League speedway to continue at the Marsh Mills Playing Fields.

 

No one regrets that more than me because we had some exciting plans.

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I might be being very thick here, but where does that leave Plymouth Speedway ?

 

Well with one year to run on the lease, speedway can run in 2013 at the SBA but from what I can gather the Consortium wont buy the club for just a year as it simply wouldn't make business sense if the SBA is to be sold. I guess that means Mr Bowden will remain at the helm and unless the authorities decide to withdraw his licence he will run the club next season if he wants to.

 

Interestingly though I believe the Team Manager has already stated he wont carry on under Mr Bowden unless he is given more freedom and you can bet your bottom dollar no-one will want to ride for him nor will the fans want to support him.

 

Unless another location can be found for the 2014 season and beyond it looks like Plymouth Speedway is likely to close this Winter or next.

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