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The land close to the old Smallmead site which was earmarked for the new speedway stadium in 2008, was approved for the development of Warehouse & Industrial units last night by Reading Council. Which ends the tiny glimmer of hope for the sport being bought back to the town anytime soon.

 

Even more frustrating is that the old Smallmead site remains barren land 7 years after Smallmead was closed!

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What happened to the commitment Reading council made to find an alternative site for the speedway?

 

Also, what is stopping the resumption of speedway at the old Smallmead site if it is barren land seven years on?

1 stadia UK (Clark Osbourne) strung them along for years and it`s no wonder that the council finally went in another direction

2 Prudential developments own that land and will eventually do something with it.

 

Sadly there doesn`t appear to be any Greyhound promoting company willing to spend millions building a new stadium in Reading.

If anyone wanted to do a "Somerset" it would I`m sure have to be out of town.

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What happened to the commitment Reading council made to find an alternative site for the speedway?

 

Also, what is stopping the resumption of speedway at the old Smallmead site if it is barren land seven years on?

 

Money - if a stadium needs to be built.

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As a regular at both tilehurst and smallmead, I hold very little hope that speedway will be seen in the town again. As the years go by the sport slips further into decline and becomes less financially viable. The fact that belle vue are building a new stadium is a miracle in itself.

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So what was the plan for Smallmead? Why has nothing happened there?

You can't blame the council, they made a site (Island Road) available, and granted Stadia UK planning consent (the so called "racino").

 

But Stadia UK never built anything... sounds familiar?

 

However the great tragedy is that some time in the 1990s Bill Dore/Pat Bliss surrender the 99 year originally granted to Reg Fearman.

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Very sad.

 

If I ever win 150 million on EuroMillions, sorting out Reading is No 2 on the list behind Oxford, and just ahead of Exeter and Newport.

 

All the best

Rob

Cradley? Wimbledon? Come on Rob, don't be selfish.
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Very sad.

 

If I ever win 150 million on EuroMillions, sorting out Reading is No 2 on the list behind Oxford, and just ahead of Exeter and Newport.

 

All the best

Rob

 

 

Cradley? Wimbledon? Come on Rob, don't be selfish.

Eteläpuisto...

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Yeah OK, Cradley as well. You can be in the PL as a feeder team for EL Oxford :P

 

Not sure about Wimbledon, though. Even 150 million might not be enough to set up a stadium within London. :o

 

All the best

Rob

Thanks. To be fair you could probably build a replica version of the old Dudley Wood and all it's plush amenities and still have change from a grand!

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Thanks. To be fair you could probably build a replica version of the old Dudley Wood and all it's plush amenities and still have change from a grand!

 

The toilets at Dudley Wood were an "experience" :D

 

Actually, I liked really liked Cradley Speedway - the place had a unique atmosphere. It felt a little like walking into the Lion's den, especially when things got heated, but it was still fantastic getting out of there (a) alive and (b ) with a win. ;)

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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The toilets at Dudley Wood were an "experience" :D

 

Actually, I liked really liked Cradley Speedway - the place had a unique atmosphere. It felt a little like walking into the Lion's den, especially when things got heated, but it was still fantastic getting out of there (a) alive and (b ) with a win. ;)

 

All the best

Rob

Yep, the good old days at Dudley Wood (for me 1959 to 1995)...........Pity they can't be replicated at a Dudley Wood 2.0 in the Black Country BUT with 21st Century toilets! But, at least Nigel is doing great work first at Monmore Wood and now at Perry Wood! He is giving me the Heathens dream, albeit through circumstances in the NL, and long may it live on!

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Going to Swindon last Sunday for the Ben Fund meeting made me realise just how much I miss my speedway. Could't support any other team than the Racers though, and as other Ding people have said, it looks unlikely that we'll see the sport in the town again any time soon :(

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Yep, the good old days at Dudley Wood (for me 1959 to 1995)...........Pity they can't be replicated at a Dudley Wood 2.0 in the Black Country BUT with 21st Century toilets! But, at least Nigel is doing great work first at Monmore Wood and now at Perry Wood! He is giving me the Heathens dream, albeit through circumstances in the NL, and long may it live on!

Hopefully, the way Cradley Heath are going in the National League, the good folk of Dudley will sit up and take notice. Belle Vue have proved that new Stadia can be built.

 

Here's hoping.

Edited by The White Knight
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Back onto topic, and I miss Smallmead. Yes, the place was a complete tip, but I have some good memories of meetings there, especially when stood on the back straight (before it was comdemned).

 

In fact, I think had it remained open, it's the local track where I would have ended up the most, because the Oxford vs Reading rivalry was never quite as intense as with Swindon or Coventry.

 

It's also such a shame that committed fans walk away from the sport, because their track has gone. I wish dear old Racer X was still on here.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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Back onto topic, and I miss Smallmead. Yes, the place was a complete tip, but I have some good memories of meetings there, especially when stood on the back straight (before it was comdemned).

 

In fact, I think had it remained open, it's the local track where I would have ended up the most, because the Oxford vs Reading rivalry was never quite as intense as with Swindon or Coventry.

 

It's also such a shame that committed fans walk away from the sport, because their track has gone. I wish dear old Racer X was still on here.

 

All the best

Rob

Some of us didn't. Not even after FORTY ONE years. :sad: :sad: :sad:

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Hopefully, the way Cradley Heath are going in the National League, the good folk of Dudley will sit up and take notice. Belle Vue have proved that new Stadia can be built.

 

Here's hoping.

 

But do their attendances justify somebody building a new stadium, which would need to ne used for other events besides speedway, if the backers of the venture are to make a substantial return on their investment.

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