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  • 3 weeks later...

Because there is more profit to be made from building houses on the land than running a greyhound/speedway stadium.

 

The land around the existing stadium had a covenant designating it for employment use. It was originally owned by Motorola who also used to own the futuristic looking building next to the stadium. A consortium of Stadia UK and property developers bought the land and through clever lobbying and a promise to build a new stadium were able to get planning permission to build houses.

 

Some argue that too much money had been spent on the stadium plans for it to be simply a ruse to get planning permission to build houses. Those more cynical think that investing a few hundred thousand in plans for a pretend new stadium in order to unlock tens of millions of pounds worth of housing developments is a good long term strategy.

 

Those of us who live near the stadium will have noticed that the house building has progressed with gusto, while the stadium development is conspicuous by its absence.

 

I guess only time will tell.

Confirmed by Mike Bowden on Wiltshire Radio that the Robins will start the new season off in the Abbey stadium & that builders can not demolish it until such time as the new stadium is completed. As they wish to build new houses on the site of the old stadium, it indicates to me that they will build a new stadium, it's just their time frame that it is not certain. However, there will come a time that they will have to get their act in order or they won't get their new houses as their is a strict covenant to comply with the building plans passed.
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Confirmed by Mike Bowden on Wiltshire Radio that the Robins will start the new season off in the Abbey stadium & that builders can not demolish it until such time as the new stadium is completed. As they wish to build new houses on the site of the old stadium, it indicates to me that they will build a new stadium, it's just their time frame that it is not certain. However, there will come a time that they will have to get their act in order or they won't get their new houses as their is a strict covenant to comply with the building plans passed.

Just hope it is built sooner rather than later.

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Interesting chat i had with someone who works for Conlon saying that Osbourne has no intention of having a new stadium built instead he wants retail outlets put up? Really does make you what the f**k is actually going on, btw just typing what ive been told today

Well If that does happen I just hope the council grow some balls and stop the house building.

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Confirmed by Mike Bowden on Wiltshire Radio that the Robins will start the new season off in the Abbey stadium & that builders can not demolish it until such time as the new stadium is completed. As they wish to build new houses on the site of the old stadium, it indicates to me that they will build a new stadium, it's just their time frame that it is not certain. However, there will come a time that they will have to get their act in order or they won't get their new houses as their is a strict covenant to comply with the building plans passed.

 

I'd like to see that in writing. Lots of people have said it but no one seems to be able to provide evidence that it actually exists as part of the planning permission.

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Interesting chat i had with someone who works for Conlon saying that Osbourne has no intention of having a new stadium built instead he wants retail outlets put up? Really does make you what the f**k is actually going on, btw just typing what ive been told today

My views on Clark Osbourne are well chronicled. He tried to sell off Cowley Stadium back in 1976 for development but the Oxford SOS Committee (including a certain Bernard Crapper) stepped in and saved the Stadium.

 

I wish all those at Swindon the best of luck. I spent many happy evenings at Blunsdon.

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I thought the footprint (if that's the correct terminology) overlapped the footprint of the existing stadium

But not the legendary back straight toilet facilities which are now approaching world heritage site status

On the original plans it did but the latest plans seem to show it a bit further south and now not overlapping the present one. It is all this chopping and changing of the plans etc that makes one a little concerned as to, do those designing the stadium know what they are doing.

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On the original plans it did but the latest plans seem to show it a bit further south and now not overlapping the present one. It is all this chopping and changing of the plans etc that makes one a little concerned as to, do those designing the stadium know what they are doing.

I wouldn't bank on it!
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I'd like to see that in writing. Lots of people have said it but no one seems to be able to provide evidence that it actually exists as part of the planning permission.

So are you saying that Mike Bowden was lying when he said that on the radio?

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The back straight toilets must surely be listed by now, which will no doubt delay the new stadium building project further.

Having never visisted the much bally-hooed Blundson back straight toilets, which I would still describe as 'of recent vintage', one can only imagine what they were like. Being more familiar with the back straight loo facility at the Boulevard, which built almost a full century earlier in 1865 as opposed to the much more modern 1949-ish Blundson. I would describe the Boulevard loos as 'un-lit and open to elements cess-trenches'. Sarcasm (who me?) aside, one visit was more than enough much bettter to 'go' before leaving home....

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So are you saying that Mike Bowden was lying when he said that on the radio?

A more relevant question would be has he actually seen the planning conditions or is he repeating what he has been told.

Rosco was on the radio Sat talking about the new stadium, did anyone hear what he said.

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So are you saying that Mike Bowden was lying when he said that on the radio?

 

I think he has been told it by one of the many people who have repeated it as fact. Yet despite asking both representatives of Swindon speedway, the council and our local MP, no one has been able to produce this clause in writing.

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Well If that does happen I just hope the council grow some balls and stop the house building.

They wont do that. They are thinking of all that Council tax over a period of time...

A more relevant question would be has he actually seen the planning conditions or is he repeating what he has been told.

Rosco was on the radio Sat talking about the new stadium, did anyone hear what he said.

I couldn't quite hear that. Please speak up..

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They wont do that. They are thinking of all that Council tax over a period of time...

In which case with Wimborne Rd in his sights next, you may have to watch Somerset or IOW each week, or if we do get the stadium you may find Poole riding at Swindon.

Edited by A ORLOV
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In which case with Wimborne Rd in his sights next, you may have to watch Somerset or IOW each week.

No complaints about watching Somerset. But i doubt it will happen.

Edited by Starman2006
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