Kent Curfew

[Vince]

If you can prove that a complainant has lied which appears to be the case here you can have all their comments and complaints removed from future planning consultations.

[blueherb777]

Teaboy - thanks for the explanation. As someone who worked on actual gate figures at Central Park last year from your description I would respectfully suggest you are a little high with your figures and from what I have seen and heard 800 is a good day at CP and some meetings have been down to 400-500.

 

I would also suggest if Mr Ceatns is saying he needs 1000 people to progress he currently doesnt have that yet.

 

As Martin_t says most clubs would love 1000 and that includes EL clubs.

 

However, whatevet the figures great to see the loyal fanbase at the club and long may it continue and lets hope the curfew decision can be overturned.

More common sense talk from Nikko as usual.

If only you were still at Club,it would be much better off.IMHO.

Having gone to meetings earlier in the season,the crowds seemed well down on last year.

Cannot comment on recent gates.

[teaboy279]

Teaboy - thanks for the explanation. As someone who worked on actual gate figures at Central Park last year from your description I would respectfully suggest you are a little high with your figures and from what I have seen and heard 800 is a good day at CP and some meetings have been down to 400-500.

I would also suggest if Mr Ceatns is saying he needs 1000 people to progress he currently doesnt have that yet.

As Martin_t says most clubs would love 1000 and that includes EL clubs.

However, whatevet the figures great to see the loyal fanbase at the club and long may it continue and lets hope the curfew decision can be overturned.

What my estimated attendance numbers don't include is how many people actually get complimentary tickets. So I guess if a thousand people attend then about 850 Would be paying. I have been thinking of ideas to get more engagement from local residents which when I get chance to write up a proposal i will submit to Mr Cearns and Derek Barclay. My dad has been lost to Speedway since he retired racing in 1980 and stopped watching when canterbury closed in 1987. He has not missed a home meeting apart from when we went to world cup event last season and I fear many like him would only follow speedway from their armchairs again if kent closed. Now Eastbourne are in the national league next season that garuntees at least one mega sized gate.

[Nikko]

Great that you have some ideas and are prepared to spend time putting them to the club and I am sure Mr Cearns will take any ideas onboard.

 

The Kings supporters deserve a succesful club to support.

[greyhoundp]

I think if Kent could race on a more supporter friendly day and time, then they would sustain PL or even EL racing, thats why its imperative another day and time is found, but some mouth watering local derbies are in prospect for Kent and Sussex, if i were them i wouldnt bother entering the National Trophy in the NL, just arrange a couple of 2 legged Trophy meetings amongst themselves, the Dudley/Wolves Trophy was always keenly fought out back in the day between Wolves/Cradley.

[tocha]

I think if Kent could race on a more supporter friendly day and time, then they would sustain PL or even EL racing, thats why its imperative another day and time is found, but some mouth watering local derbies are in prospect for Kent and Sussex, if i were them i wouldnt bother entering the National Trophy in the NL, just arrange a couple of 2 legged Trophy meetings amongst themselves, the Dudley/Wolves Trophy was always keenly fought out back in the day between Wolves/Cradley.

 

I take it that here is no restriction in running during the day so what about Saturday afternoons. I know this will clash against local football, Gillingham in league one and Dartford plus Dover in the conference but they don't play at home every Saturday and not extensively throughout the Summer months.

It is possible that more spectator support could be gained than lost. A four team tournament over a weekend is even feasible, Lakeside Friday evening, Kent Saturday afternoon, Eastbourne in the evening and finally Mildenhall on the Sunday.

[teaboy279]

Don't think Saturdays will happen as sittingbourne Fc is based round behind the pits and I imagine the parking would be an issue.

[Mike.Butler]

Sittingbourne FC no longer play at that ground.

[teaboy279]

Your right mate, everyday is a school day.

[teaboy279]

Please all sign below

 

https://www.change.org/p/swale-council-kent-reconsider-a-rejection-for-central-park-speedway-revised-start-times?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false&share_id=rlIunPfwHj

[teaboy279]

https://www.change.org/p/swale-council-kent-reconsider-a-rejection-for-central-park-speedway-revised-start-times?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false&share_id=rlIunPfwHj

[westhamboy66]

 

The crux in the appeal, according to a friend who is a Bromley councillor, rests with how many attending meetings are actually local residents and those from further afield. The council case will rest on proving, most likely, that those who attend are not local residents which would indicate that it is therefore LOCAL people most affected by ANY noise problems. I hope that makes sense?

For all that, IMO what has happened is nonsense and we must hope Kings can win any appeal.

There is normally a counter argument that is more compelling. Like a lot a people attending Meetings at Sittingbourne i am from far away well across the river. Now i,like a lot of others wouldn't dream of visiting a place like Sittingbourne and spending my hard earned money there. But actually i am supporting a local Business that supports local people giving them a source of income, lets also remember i might visit local shops and buy fuel whilst there and as i see it that is helping the local economy. Lets remember this is not only about a noise nuisance but the nuisance has to be weighed against the benefits of such a venture. This is not my opinion but experience gained whilst working at The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and trying to educate Councillors and prompt them past their own interests and needs thus having an appreciation of the overall picture

[arnieg]

 

The crux in the appeal, according to a friend who is a Bromley councillor, rests with how many attending meetings are actually local residents and those from further afield. The council case will rest on proving, most likely, that those who attend are not local residents which would indicate that it is therefore LOCAL people most affected by ANY noise problems. I hope that makes sense?

For all that, IMO what has happened is nonsense and we must hope Kings can win any appeal.

No it doesn't. the appeal will be heard by a planning inspector in Bristol who couldn't give a flying fig for where the fans come from. The inspector will look at the material issue - which is it a 'noise nuisance' (answer - yes) and is the condition (the 8.30pm curfew) a proportionate response (I'd hope not but given the hostility in the officer's report I won't be putting any money on it).

 

Where the spectators come from may play a role in the thinking of the Swale councillors (it shouldn't), but the appeal will not be in their hands.

[Halifaxtiger]

There is normally a counter argument that is more compelling. Like a lot a people attending Meetings at Sittingbourne i am from far away well across the river. Now i,like a lot of others wouldn't dream of visiting a place like Sittingbourne and spending my hard earned money there. But actually i am supporting a local Business that supports local people giving them a source of income, lets also remember i might visit local shops and buy fuel whilst there and as i see it that is helping the local economy. Lets remember this is not only about a noise nuisance but the nuisance has to be weighed against the benefits of such a venture. This is not my opinion but experience gained whilst working at The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and trying to educate Councillors and prompt them past their own interests and needs thus having an appreciation of the overall picture

 

Weymouth is a seaside town and there is a difference between that and Sittingbourne, but when planning permission was granted at the Wessex a few years ago it was stated that every signature counted wherever people were from.

 

I think you are dead right.

[cityrebel]

Petition signed.

[Guest]

There is normally a counter argument that is more compelling. Like a lot a people attending Meetings at Sittingbourne i am from far away well across the river. Now i,like a lot of others wouldn't dream of visiting a place like Sittingbourne and spending my hard earned money there. But actually i am supporting a local Business that supports local people giving them a source of income, lets also remember i might visit local shops and buy fuel whilst there and as i see it that is helping the local economy. Lets remember this is not only about a noise nuisance but the nuisance has to be weighed against the benefits of such a venture. This is not my opinion but experience gained whilst working at The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and trying to educate Councillors and prompt them past their own interests and needs thus having an appreciation of the overall picture

If non-local people attend the speedway - go directly there and at the end of the meeting leave for home, apart from the speedway promotion to what extent are they supporting business and trade in Sittingbourne?

[teaboy279]

We travel up from ashford straight after work. I normally stop at a local shop in sittingbourne prior to the meeting and get 20 fags, and some crisps and fruit shoots for my 4 year old girl. Then after the meeting we go to Ossie's fish bar so local businesses get around 30 quid a week just from me that they would not if speedway was not there. Even if only another 50 people do similar that's a few grand over a season.

Glad to hear the appeal will be heard in Bristol as both independent and council tests showed the noise was under the agreed levels. And the reason why the residents group got involved against the speedway was because of the leaflets being pushed through doors suggesting speedway would be run from 3 pm to 10pm every week. No the council did not question either piece of those evidence, so on paper the appeal if we are appealing should really favour the speedway.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

No it doesn't. the appeal will be heard by a planning inspector in Bristol who couldn't give a flying fig for where the fans come from. The inspector will look at the material issue - which is it a 'noise nuisance' (answer - yes) and is the condition (the 8.30pm curfew) a proportionate response (I'd hope not but given the hostility in the officer's report I won't be putting any money on it).

Hi Arnie,

The answer to, is it a noise nuisance isn't 'yes', it's 'no'.

To be a noise nuisance the sound levels have to exceed certain agreed levels and they have NOT.

The promotion's testing confirms this and you'll note (despite indeed the hostility by the Officers in the report - a hostility which is totally unprofessional, as I'm sure as a former Cllr you'll agree),the EHO does NOT disagree with these findings. From that one can deduce that the EH's sound tests also confirm no 'noise nuisance' is being caused.

 

The lack of any empirical evidence of noise is why the report had to rely on the ludicrous statements of residents along the lines of "we can't hear each other talk in our living room when the racing is happening"...

 

As for patronising local businesses, I call in at Bobbing MaccyDs every Monday!! Oh and more often than not buy diesel at a local petrol station!

[raymondbudd]

I've just been involved in a planning appeal on a separate issue. Any decision will be based entirely on its merits taking into consideration planning policy, past appeals and case law.

 

The appellant will state their case, with local council given the opportunity to respond. A period of time will follow at which point all parties will be given the file and asked for final comments. Interested parties will also be given a small window to provide their views/evidence.

 

It is also fair to say that the planning inspectorate will not be swayed in any way by political pressure. In my situation a local MP was involved and to a certain extent a government cabinet minister.

 

Since Kent Kings will realistically only get one shot at this (unless they lose and go through a very costly appeal court process). I'd suggest they get the best lawyer in they can and spend as long as they can producing the best case possible.

 

Whatever happens this will take a long, long time to resolve.

[RedcarRacer]

Why would running at 630 not be manageable in the PL? Away fans dont need to be taken into consideration in speedway so - if your getting say 800 now for NL at 630 - you would surely get that in PL, and given some crowds in PL that would be up there with some of the best.

 

I for one wished Redcar started earlier than 730 - getting kids home sometimes at 10 on a school night simply doesnt work IMO - everyone talks about speedway stuck in dark ages but most are unwilling to imagine it starting before 730...

 

But good luck to everyone at Kent, hope Mr Cearns et al get what they want and clearly deserve.