Save Coventry Speedway-Encouraging news from recent Government appointed independent inspector's interim report and recommendations...Greater protection for Brandon Stadium.

[NSSC News]

For more info on this very positive outcome, look here:

http://www.savecoventryspeedway.com/news.php?extend.152

[The White Knight]

This looks like a tiny glimmer of light for Coventry.

Very best wishes to you all in your battle to return Speedway to Coventry - you deserve success.

I lost my Track 45 years ago and I still remember how it feels.

UP THE'BEES'!!!

[RobMcCaffery]

Good luck. It seems the crucial point is to totally reject Brandon Estates' claim that the site is redundant, that both sports have moved on to alternate venues and that there is no professional interest in running the sports at the stadium. 

This is where the supporters can make a difference in proving there is still a demand for the sports, that the running of the Bees at Leicester is and can only be a temporary move, rather like Coventry City's enforced short-term move to Northampton, and that there are promotions waiting to take it on. In the case of the stock cars I would imagine there would be quite a queue.

Bear in mind for BriSCA stock car racing Brandon is their equivalent of Manchester's NSS and if it is their leverage that is needed then it must be totally embraced. Brandon is one track where speedway and stock cars have shared in harmony for decades. That unity is never more vital than now. 

[brianbuck]

Well done the "Save Coventry Speedway" group. It will be a major achievement to turn over "Big Business" and there is still a long way to go, but if anyone can do it, then this group can. I wish them every success - and I really hope that Coventry supporters who have vowed not to support their team at Leicester, will think again.

[Gambo]

Excellent turn out at the Brandon Hall Hotel tonight for a presentation by the S.C.S. Group detailing the continuing fight against Brandon Estates.

Over 300 people attended, standing room only, to hear how the group are to counter the 'ahem' *inaccuracies* in the developers claims about viability and alternative sites.

Almost a two hour presentation with no-one calling for a refreshments break, such was the interest in the well prepared (and delivered) presentation.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Gambo

[IainB]

Was Mick there?

[Gambo]

Mick was not there but did send a letter that was deemed to be quite helpful in the S.C.S cause.

[B.V 72]

Really glad to read this news.In this time of doom and gloom for many speedway clubs if Brandon can re-open it would put a big smile on every speedway fans face across the country.I for one have really missed Coventry's visits to Belle vue you were always the club I loved to hate lol.Wishing you all the very best in your quest and will keep my fingers crossed that you are soon back at the tapes. KEEP UP THE FIGHT.

Edited November 7, 2018 by B.V 72

[naffer]

6 hours ago, Gambo said:

Mick was not there but did send a letter that was deemed to be quite helpful in the S.C.S cause.

 

Resignation  letter from anything to do with Speedway 

[Gambo]

Full details of the meeting content:-

THE Save Coventry Speedway & Stox Campaign Group held a hugely successful Public Meeting at the Mercure Brandon Hall Hotel on Tuesday.
Over 300 speedway and stock car fans, and local residents, packed in to hear the latest updates on the battle against the plans to demolish the iconic Brandon Stadium and replace it with a housing estate – with no provision for any replacement.
The meeting was also supported by speedway riders including former British Champions Chris Harris and Danny King, stock car drivers and as many as five local Councillors.
There was live coverage on BBC Midlands Today in their early-evening programme and a further follow-up in the late bulletin, as well as coverage and interviews on local radio stations BBC Coventry & Warwickshire and Touch FM/Rugby FM.
The meeting opened with brief speeches from the leader of Rugby Borough Council, Michael Stokes, and the MP for Rugby, Mark Pawsey.
Cllr Stokes, whilst naturally having to declare impartiality in the case of an ongoing planning application, did confirm that in all of his time on the Council – over a decade – there has been no other local issue which has provoked a reaction on this scale.
Following our submission earlier in the day of our reaction to the Framptons ‘Needs Analysis’ document – seeking to make the case that Brandon Stadium is surplus to requirements in line with National Planning Policy, as other ‘alternative’ stadiums exist in the Midlands – Cllr Stokes was able to deliver an encouraging update.
He stated that due to the volume of material and the clear discrepancies between the submissions of the developers and ourselves, the Council will appoint an independent party to fully scrutinise both and seek expert advice in order to provide an informed conclusion to the Planning Officer.
We welcome this news, and having subsequently heard our assessment of the Turley (viability) and Framptons (needs assessment) documents, we are sure all those present at the meeting will share that opinion.
Cllr Stokes also confirmed the Planning Application will not be heard until after the Local Plan is finalised.
Mr Pawsey grew up in Binley Woods so has a full affinity with the area and the stadium itself, and he has always offered ongoing support to the Campaign.
He spoke as passionately as ever on the issues and his continued engagement, both locally and in Westminster, is of huge value to us.
The meeting presentation took the form of a descriptive slideshow which first briefly summarised events leading up to the previous Public Meeting in October 2016.
We then updated the events of the last year, including the further inadequacies of security at the stadium prior to the settlement of the Council’s Community Protection Order, the submission of planning documents and public reaction, the Local Plan hearings, media coverage, and other events/meetings attended.
There was then a discussion of the Local Plan process, why we sought to strengthen it in terms of protecting facilities such as Brandon, and what the Government-appointed inspector said following the hearings.
We then provided a selection of material produced either by or on behalf of the developers seeking to prove the stadium was disused and unviable with no interest forthcoming for re-opening – and then their subsequent, recent submissions stating there was no ongoing need for Brandon due to an apparent range of ‘alternative’ venues elsewhere in the Midlands.
Whereas much of the developers’ information was based on misinformation and untruths, we were able to provide clear, indisputable evidence to disprove their claims.
We also discussed the ongoing Brandon & Bretford Neighbourhood Plan, and following a brief Q&A session we ended with the following conclusions and recommendations:
This meeting:
1. Endorses the ongoing activities of the Save Coventry & Stox Campaign Group including its representations on the Rugby Local Plan, Brandon Estates’ planning application for residential redevelopment on the site of Brandon Stadium, and the Brandon & Bretford Neighbourhood Plan;
2. Calls on Rugby Borough Council to a) reject Brandon Estates’ Planning Application and b) support reinstatement of Brandon Stadium for Speedway and Stock Car Racing at the earliest opportunity.
3. Confirms that the Coventry/Brandon Bees should race in the Rugby/Coventry area and that the relocation of the team to Leicester Speedway is not a realistic solution.
But the most important part of the evening was the reaction and turnout from the sporting and local communities. To fill a room with over 300 people on a midweek evening was further proof of just what this issue means to everyone, even though there has been no racing for over two years – something the developers will never understand.
Campaign Group Spokesman Jeff Davies said: “From our perspective, the meeting could not have gone better. The media coverage with local radio stations and BBC Midlands Today present throughout was brilliant and the messages of support, both directly and via a massive social media response is incredible.
“People who attended the meeting are now better informed about the situation, understand what the issues are and why the process is taking so long.
“We have put an immense amount of time and effort into this fight and to see so many passionate people supporting the campaign makes all that effort worthwhile.
“Speaking on behalf of all the members of the Campaign Group, I promise speedway fans, stock car fans and local residents, we will fight this to the very end and will not give up.
“Despite being up against wealthy developers, with their PR people, their solicitors and their consultants, it's a battle we've always believed we can win and eventually bring the sports 'home' for future generations to enjoy.”
*WE have had various requests to make the slides from the presentation available to view online. We have respectfully decided that would not be appropriate, due to the fact that taken in isolation they could cause confusion – we ran the meeting with the slides complementing the narration, and they by no means provide a full record of what was said. However, we are more than willing to engage with anyone who contacts the Campaign Group, and are happy to take them through any of the issues discussed in as much detail as they wish.

[Gambo]

Updated Newsletter:

PLANNING consultants acting for Brandon Estates have been forced into the correction of a key paragraph of evidence from their most recent submission to Rugby Council.
Framptons recently completed a ‘Needs Assessment’ which seeks to make the case that Brandon Stadium is surplus to requirements in line with National Planning Policy.
In addition to the error-strewn report itself, an item in the covering letter accompanying the document raised major concerns, and has now been amended.
Those who attended our recent Public Meeting will be aware that Jeremy Heaver spoke briefly on behalf of Coventry Racing Club Ltd during the question and answer session.
Mr Heaver stated that having had sight of the most recent documentation, Coventry Racing Club had contacted Framptons to inform them they would take action against them should it not be withdrawn.
Co-incidentally, the day after the Public Meeting, Coventry Racing Club received an apology from Framptons together with a correction to paragraph 1.15 in their covering letter.
The paragraph concerned initially read:
“In mid-2016 negotiations between the applicant and Coventry Racing Club Ltd ensued with respect to agreeing a new lease for 2017 onwards.”
Framptons have now stated there was an error in the instructions received, and that the paragraph should have referred to mid-2016 negotiations with Coventry Speedway Ltd and not Coventry Racing Club Ltd.
We find this single retraction peculiar for a number of reasons, not least because the relevant paragraph appears in a section of the report entirely devoted to (and headed with) Coventry Racing Club Ltd.
It goes on to cast doubt over the financial position of Coventry Racing Club Ltd in a bid to explain why a lease deal was not agreed, and subsequently why they stopped running stock car events ‘on tour’ after four such meetings in 2017.
Coventry Racing Club Ltd have always disputed the notion that they were given the opportunity to agree a lease for 2017 and beyond, an issue we pointed out in our initial response to the planning application, and the correction of this paragraph has a major effect on the timeline of what followed later, leading up to the forced closure of the stadium.
Given that the Turley Report (focusing on viability) also contains the following paragraph, we assume that this should now also be amended:
1.13 …New lease/licence terms were offered to Coventry Speedway Limited (owners of Coventry Bees speedway team and racing licence holder) and Coventry Racing Club Limited (owners of Coventry Stox stock car/banger racing and associated licence holder) in mid-late 2016.
Any possible action taken by Coventry Racing Club Ltd against Framptons is not a matter for our concern, but we will be further scrutinising both the original and most recent documents to ascertain which items could now be further challenged as a result of this correction, and we will make the appropriate representations.
It is clear that if it is now accepted that Coventry Racing Club Ltd were in fact prevented from continuing as leaseholders, it totally invalidates sections of reports which state that no parties were willing to continue staging sporting events at the stadium beyond 2016, leading to the false narrative which states the stadium closed because no credible businesses wished to operate there.
This notwithstanding, we already have evidence of third parties who wished to discuss operating at Brandon in 2017/18, and the response they received from the owners, via Howell & Co Solicitors, under the guise of ‘willing engagement.’
The actual content of the ‘needs assessment’ – which embarrassingly attempts to argue that there is suitable alternative provision for both Coventry Bees speedway and stock car racing elsewhere - is another matter entirely, and one which was covered in great detail at the Public Meeting.
Members of the Campaign Group met with the Principle Planning Officer last week to take her through our concerns, and we have been reassured by Rugby Council’s pledge to seek independent, expert advice in order to investigate all documents to ensure that decisions are made in full knowledge of the facts.
We will be happy to co-operate with whoever is appointed to lead this enquiry, should that be required, and are absolutely confident that statements made in our representations are indisputable.
Brandon Estates, Framptons and Howell & Co should be aware that they cannot, and will not, be allowed to make statements which fail to present a fully accurate account of events both before and after the closure – and whose analysis of viability and alternative provision are both wholly unsatisfactory.
We have already shown that we have extensive documentary and photographic evidence to dispute, or dispel, many of their claims, several of which are made with no apparent understanding of the much-loved sports they are scandalously attempting to permanently evict from the area.
We will continue to challenge, in the strongest possible terms, any document which indicates there is no requirement for speedway and stock car racing in the Coventry/Rugby area, and that no parties are interested in operating.

[Dave Jones]

Thanks to all at the Campaign Group for their tremendous  work.. 

[Gambo]

THE Save Coventry Speedway & Stox Campaign Group send their compliments of the festive season to all supporters. As we head towards a third year in which our sports will be absent from their rightful place, we want to assure everyone that our determination to see them return remains as high as ever. There have been few formal developments since the Public Meeting in early November, but we have remained active and can confirm Rugby Council are now in receipt of even more information to counter the statements made by Framptons on behalf of Brandon Estates. The Planning Application for Brandon Stadium was submitted in January 2018 but a date has still yet to be set for it to be taken to committee. This will not take place until the completion of the government Inspector’s Report into the Rugby Local Plan (which we believe is imminent), or until the Council have received specialist sporting advice regarding the application itself and the myriad of responses opposing it. We remain totally convinced that the Planning Application is intrinsically flawed as it fails to satisfy the criteria required for the development of established sporting venues under National Planning Policy Framework. Framptons were required to submit further information making the case that there is no ongoing need for the two sports to be operating at Brandon (or in the immediate area). This was finally submitted after a five-month delay, and we made our views very clear both in our response to the Council and in our presentation at the Public Meeting. Since then, it has been confirmed that there will be no Coventry Speedway team competing next season, giving a final answer to the ludicrous claims that the club was perfectly well accommodated at Leicester. The stock car analysis was equally controversial, and we have submitted aerial photographs of all of the venues which Framptons claim could be alternatives to Brandon, which totally disproves their ‘desk-top analysis’ which contains very little in the way of actual evidence. Additionally, if you were at the Public Meeting you will remember the case of Perry Barr, which is listed in Framptons’ covering letter to their Needs Analysis as a possible alternative venue, on the basis that it stages “similar kinds of uses.” That statement is incredible enough if you know Perry Barr, but even more extraordinarily the stadium is then included in a list of current, active stock car venues during the content of the Needs Analysis, leading to a completely inaccurate mathematical exercise over the total number of venues. In addition to the responses which had already been submitted pointing out the fallacies of these statements, we have now been able to submit the actual planning documentation from Birmingham City Council granting permission for speedway to be staged at the stadium from 2007. This makes it quite clear that no motorsport with the exception of speedway can be staged at the venue. In our view it is totally unacceptable that a Planning Application and associated documents seeking to destroy an iconic, successful and viable sporting venue, where there is a clear case of ongoing need, can be so disgracefully deficient. There have been numerous other responses to the Needs Assessment, including from both the speedway (BSPA) and stock car (BRISCA and BSCDA) governing bodies, all of which highlight the inaccuracies and untruths contained within, and stress the importance of Brandon to their sports. Framptons have also been forced to withdraw a section of the report relating to Coventry Racing Club and the negotiations which did or did not take place in 2016, and this also has an impact on the Turley (viability) report submitted in January which made the same incorrect assertion. It is the belief of the Campaign Group that both the original Planning Application and the subsequent Needs Assessment documents are absolutely riddled with inaccurate, misleading and untruthful statements, and we have therefore considered making a formal complaint to the Royal Town Planning Institute under Sections 11 (Accuracy) and 12 (Errors and mis-statements) of their Ethics and Professional Standards Advice document. We have decided however, as Rugby Council have committed to the appointment of an independent body to look into the various claims and our response to those claims, we will defer a decision until the independent body completes their investigation. We already have meetings confirmed for the early part of the New Year where we will be seeking assurances over the exact process going forward. We will be ready for any situation and can assure Framptons and Brandon Estates that our opposition will only increase until they do the right thing and agree that the sports should be allowed to return. We do ask all supporters to stay as positive as possible – we have a huge amount of firm evidence in our favour, and we will keep fighting for as long as it takes. The Campaign Group wishes you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and please be assured we will update you as soon as there is further news.   *FOLLOWING the news that Coventry Bees would not be racing in 2019, we were asked by the Coventry Telegraph on December 4 to provide a statement. As only half of that statement was printed, we now reproduce it in full: We stated when the Bees were accepted into the National League, running at Leicester, that we could only offer our full support if we could be convinced that this was part of a genuine plan for the club to eventually return to its rightful location. It is patently obvious from the most recent planning documentation that the developers were happy to regard Leicester as an appropriate long-term solution, in an attempt to absolve them of any responsibility to provide an alternative in the Coventry/Rugby area should they receive permission to build on Brandon. Although the club has issued no statement, the Bees have not been included in the list of National League starters for 2019, which will be largely down to the poor attendances and associated losses suffered this year – none of which comes as any surprise, and does not lessen the demand for speedway or stock car racing in the area. This totally invalidates the representations of Framptons, who argued in their initial application in January that Leicester was “better suited to its use as a speedway stadium for a number of reasons including its accessibility...” and their subsequent remarks claiming that alternative provision for the previous speedway use at Brandon had been satisfactorily made, along with their inaccurate analysis of alternative stadia for both sports. The failure of the Coventry Bees project at Leicester merely highlights the totally unsatisfactory nature of that solution, and the clear ongoing need for the club to be operating in the Coventry/Rugby area. The Planning Application continues to directly contradict the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework with regard to sports facilities, and the developers must not be permitted to proceed on that basis. The absence of Coventry from competition in 2019 in no way changes that position.   ENDS

[Gambo]

January Update:

OUR first meeting of 2019 saw members of the Campaign Group back at Rugby Council offices on January 9.
Attending the meeting were the Leader of Rugby Council Michael Stokes; the new Head of Growth and Investment Stephanie Chettle-Gibrat; the Development and Enforcement Manager Nick Freer; and the Principal Planning Officer dealing with the Brandon Estates application, Erica Buchanan.
One of the main reasons for the meeting was to take the officers through our latest document to be submitted.
Given the volume of material which has been generated over the last two years, and especially since the planning application, we have pulled much of it together – and also included new information – into a single document summarising the errors and untruths contained within the planning material submitted by Framptons. Unsurprisingly, this is once again a hefty document!
Those who were present at our Public Meeting last November will recall Cllr Stokes’ announcement that an independent consultant was to be appointed, at considerable expense to the Council, in order to go through the material from all sides and provide an informed response from within the sporting sector.
We warmly welcomed that news as we are 100 per cent confident that the information we have submitted, which is accompanied by clear and indisputable evidence rather than vague jargon, will stand up to examination.
Supporters are reminded that Framptons/Brandon Estates are attempting to make the case that Brandon Stadium closed down due to the non-viability of running speedway and stock cars (which had successfully run together for over 60 years); and that sufficient alternative venues exist elsewhere in the Midlands to ensure there is no ongoing need for either a return to Brandon or for an alternative site to be provided in the Coventry/Rugby area.
We believe their application and follow-up material are totally non-compliant with National Planning Policy Framework regarding open space, sport and recreation facilities, and we welcome the fact that they will be subject to outside scrutiny.
The independent consultant has now been appointed, and we already have a meeting scheduled with him for later this month.
As to the question of when the planning application will go to committee, we can say that it is not currently imminent for two reasons.
Firstly, it clearly cannot happen until the independent consultant has completed his report, and although this extends the time period we see the appointment as a positive step and proof of how seriously the Council take the matter.
Secondly, the final Local Plan report from the Government Inspector had not been received as of last Wednesday, and another pledge from Cllr Stokes at the Public Meeting was that the application would not be heard until this has been completed.
So although we do appreciate the frustration that this process has so far taken nearly a year from the submission of the application, we urge supporters to be patient – and we can assure them that we have options in mind to react to several potential scenarios in future.
Once again our thanks are due to the senior members of the Council for making the time to meet with us, and fully engaging with what we had to say.
As ever, we will endeavour to update supporters whenever possible as matters develop over the coming weeks and months.

[Guest]

The Save Coventry campaign makes for interesting reading. And I concede that in the late 1950s and early 1960s when I was adventurous on my speedway journeys I visited Brandon Stadium quite frequently although based in south London.

However, nearer to home I recall similar hopes in saving Wimbledon Stadium. Nuff said there other than flats blocks are to now be built on the site with sport there going to a stadium for AFC Wimbledon.

Sadly, I suspect that with the stadium owners possibly just providing safety measures in compliance with legal restrictions, the stadium will continue to deteriorate. Should it be 'saved' who will meet the costs of refurbishments? A parallel case is Oxford's Cowley Stadium. Secured by the owners it appears to meet legal safety standards but now in a state of disrepair that will cost the proverbial fortune for any new owner to bring back to standard.

I hate to appear so gloomy but if the final ruling goes in favour of saving the Brandon Stadium as such, who will want to buy and refurbish the venue?

Edited January 18, 2019 by Guest

[Gambo]

3 minutes ago, gustix said:

The Save Coventry campaign makes for interesting reading. And I concede that in the late 1950s and early 1960s when I was adventurous on my speedway journeys I visited Brandon Stadium quite frequently although based in south London.

However, nearer to home I recall similar hopes in saving Wimbledon Stadium. 'buff said there other than flats blocks are to now be built on the site with sport there going to a stadium for AFC Wimbledon.

Sadly, I suspect that with the stadium owners possibly just providing safety measures in compliance with legal restrictions, the stadium will continue to deteriorate. Should it be 'saved' who will meet the costs of refurbishments? A parallel case is Oxford's Cowley Stadium. Secured by the owners it appears to meet legal safety standards but now in a state of disrepair that will cost the proverbial fortune for any new owner to bring back to standard.

I hate to appear so gloomy but if the final ruling goes in favour of saving the Brandon Stadium as such, who will want to buy and refurbish the venue?

The Save Coventry campaign has had promises from a large number of people/companies/tradespeople to help restore the stadium, as well as financial support for the work involved.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Gambo said:

The Save Coventry campaign has had promises from a large number of people/companies/tradespeople to help restore the stadium, as well as financial support for the work involved.

That is encouraging news. And then if you win support to save Coventry's Brandon Stadium, you will have to agree with its owner rental terms and also the charge incurred in regard to security costs. I presume these and all other similar matters in regard to your rent or lease of the stadium and relevant costs have been carefully considered? Have you thought of the fact that the present owners  could consider your tenancy on a long-term lease which may be extremely costly?

[Gambo]

13 minutes ago, gustix said:

That is encouraging news. And then if you win support to save Coventry's Brandon Stadium, you will have to agree with its owner rental terms and also the charge incurred in regard to security costs. I presume these and all other similar matters in regard to your rent or lease of the stadium and relevant costs have been carefully considered? Have you thought of the fact that the present owners  could consider your tenancy on a long-term lease which may be extremely costly?

I doubt that the present owners would still be the owners if (and hopefully when) their lucrative plans were rejected. I believe that here have already been offers from motor sports oriented people to purchase the stadium, which would still give the current owners a substantial profit on their 'investment'.

[Byker Biker]

Who dug him up?

 

[The Doctor...]

6 hours ago, gustix said:

That is encouraging news. And then if you win support to save Coventry's Brandon Stadium, you will have to agree with its owner rental terms and also the charge incurred in regard to security costs. I presume these and all other similar matters in regard to your rent or lease of the stadium and relevant costs have been carefully considered? Have you thought of the fact that the present owners  could consider your tenancy on a long-term lease which may be extremely costly?

For goodness sake - you tried to disrupt the lakeside thread on a similar subject, why don't you just leave the things you mention to the folks who put their hard earned time and money on the line for this cause. 

It's actually an insult imo for you to post something like this.  So pompous.

Best wishes to everyone connected with the Coventry cause - don't let such negativity from pillocks like this disrupt the passion you all have.