The H Man Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 (edited) The track is about a mile from where I work, 12 miles from Reading, 8 miles from Basingstoke. It is on the main A340 opposite AWE Aldermaston, not near Greenham Common as some suggest. It is flanked by business units and a recycling centre. No housing in immediate vicinity, but, potential for localish residents to whinge I'm sure. It's certainly got much of the infrastructure required, a concrete oval track, pits area, small terracing with few seats and plenty of parking. I understand there is already planning permission for a dozen banger racing meetings and that the stadium owner has good relationship with local and parish councils. I know of one well known speedway party that have already met with the owners. My personal opinion is that the stadium would need to be upgraded as facilities very basic, but if someone is prepared to invest it could have good potential. If they already have permission for Motor Sports why would they need to reapply? I'm sure when Wimbledon reopened they didn't need planning permission as they were already running stock cars there. I understand that a certificate of lawful use would have to be applied for where the venue is already licenced for motor sport. Edited January 24, 2013 by The H Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 If they already have permission for Motor Sports why would they need to reapply? I'm sure when Wimbledon reopened they didn't need planning permission as they were already running stock cars there. You're dead right Mark - we didn't need PP, as the Stocks/Bangers had - of course - been running at Plough Lane throughout the period. I do though remember Ian mentioning that subsequently it was said maybe LB Merton might have not got this completely right...? Regardless though, can't think PP or EHO objections would be any sort of problem bearing in mind the Bangers are there already. This really sounds hopeful and is just excellent news. The track is about a mile from where I work, 12 miles from Reading, 8 miles from Basingstoke. Cheers for the details mate. Let's hope this one can get off the ground. Hope you'll be there as presenter as we need you back!!! Take care, D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydog Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 This would be great for me, i could walk there! I do think though that the residents of Aldermaston village, which is about half a mile down the road would kick up. Some people will see a big difference between cars on a sunday and the evil of motorbikes running late into the evening (think someone said it would be weekdays). There is lots of housing half a mile in the other direction (where i live) and the sound can carry big time. Someone is bound to object aren't they? There's also a gypsy site next to the raceway for good measure... Having said all that, as a lifelong Reading fan who misses his speedway, and knowing one of the Roberts family, bloody good luck to them. Ibwould love to get involved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 10 miles from Reading surely means Reading Racers makes sense. Nobody would know where Alermaston is so it needs to be Reading or Basingstoke and Reading has history. 10 miles is pretty clsoe int he scheme of things, probably as close as Eastbourne and Edinburgh are to the towns/cities they're named after! Even Coventry is not in Coventry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 10 miles from Reading surely means Reading Racers makes sense. Nobody would know where Alermaston is so it needs to be Reading or Basingstoke and Reading has history. 10 miles is pretty clsoe int he scheme of things, probably as close as Eastbourne and Edinburgh are to the towns/cities they're named after! Even Coventry is not in Coventry. surely any potential investor would be looking to eventually step up into at least premier league , 14 meetings a year would prevent that . also weekday racing in the NL?? . it's much easier to build a NL team with weekend racing from a work point of view and I would think to most riders /mechanics preferable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydog Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 Nice idea calling it Reading, but the track is actually closer to Basingstoke than Reading... And its right on the edge of Tadley. And its not like Aldermaston is right next to Reading, there's a town in between. I can tel you now, Eastbourne speedway is a lot closer yo Eastbourne than Paices Hill is to Reading. These things get political don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin_t Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 It`s not that from Slough but will it be on Sky? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 surely any potential investor would be looking to eventually step up into at least premier league , 14 meetings a year would prevent that . also weekday racing in the NL?? . it's much easier to build a NL team with weekend racing from a work point of view and I would think to most riders /mechanics preferable Weekday racing is fine in the NL! Five out of the eight clubs in the 2013 NL are weekday tracks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 (edited) The track is about a mile from where I work, 12 miles from Reading, 8 miles from Basingstoke. It is on the main A340 opposite AWE Aldermaston, not near Greenham Common as some suggest. If you zoom the map out, you can see the runway at Greenham Common to the West. That is what Tsunami was referring to. I worked at AWRE (as it was then called) for many years and live in Newbury, so know the area well. They used to have trials riding along there too. With Greenham and AWE so close, perhaps we could see a return of "The Bombers"!! Would they dare? Edited January 25, 2013 by Grachan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 I can see objections coming in from the management at Slough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 surely any potential investor would be looking to eventually step up into at least premier league , 14 meetings a year would prevent that . also weekday racing in the NL?? . it's much easier to build a NL team with weekend racing from a work point of view and I would think to most riders /mechanics preferable When I read the article, it seemed to suggest that the council would not support more than 14 meetings a year. I took that to mean automatic support. But a full application could go for more meetings couldn't it? With good reasons to back up why the sport may need more than 14. After all, 14 is an arbitary figure. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 I can see objections coming in from the management at Slough. Slough to Aldermaston is 30 miles, King's Lynn to Norwich is 43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 When I read the article, it seemed to suggest that the council would not support more than 14 meetings a year. I took that to mean automatic support. But a full application could go for more meetings couldn't it? With good reasons to back up why the sport may need more than 14. After all, 14 is an arbitary figure. Just a thought. sure thing and even if they couldn't get more it's good news to have a potential new track anyway , I dont see why they think speedway should be moved to weekdays though , those of us who have lads in the NL understand well enough that getting time off for midweek meetings is already hard enough , without adding another midweek team if it's not necessary , of course theres always some who will think that because they can get off work at 4.30 and make it to 1 meeting a week ,that its easy for young lads and their dads/ mechanics to keep taking days off work . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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