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Gambo

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Everything posted by Gambo

  1. Gambo

    Scunthorpe 2024

    Ooops! " I can't thank the team at ScorpionsTV....." Perhaps a word or two missing?
  2. THE Campaign to Save Coventry Speedway and Stox has been given a double boost in the space of less than a week. Rugby Borough Council announced yesterday (May 7) that their Local Plan had been given the green light by the Government Inspector, and this follows a referendum on the Brandon and Bretford Neighbourhood Plan last Thursday (May 2). Crucially, the Inspector’s final report into the Rugby Local Plan will lead to a significant amendment which will further protect Brandon Stadium against development. We are delighted to report that the Government Inspector recognised the importance of Brandon Stadium for both speedway and stock car racing, and that the lack of protection against the loss of sports facilities made the Local Plan initially ‘unsound’ requiring an amendment to be made. The Inspector stated that there was a key omission in Policy HS4, referring to “the absence of any protection against the existing built sports facilities, which is necessary to ensure provision in the borough is not diminished over time. “Paragraph 74 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) expects that existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land should not be built on unless they are surplus to requirements, or would be replaced elsewhere by equivalent provision or by alternative sports and recreational provision. “Policy HS4 as submitted includes these provisions for open space but not for built sports and recreational facilities.” The Inspector then refers directly to Brandon Stadium and concludes that changes to the wording of Policy HS4 are required in order to be consistent with national policy for sports and recreational buildings in general. He says: “Although many sports facilities are in public ownership, some are privately owned and therefore vulnerable to closure and redevelopment for alternative uses. “I heard evidence at the hearings about the proposals for the residential redevelopment of the Brandon or Coventry Stadium, which was until recently in active use for speedway and stock car racing. “The Plan would not be unsound without a specific policy to protect or allocate the stadium. “However, the absence of a policy to safeguard existing sports and recreational buildings generally in the borough from being built on unless surplus to requirements or replaced elsewhere, in line with paragraph 74 of the NPPF, does render the Plan unsound.” The Inspector has confirmed the revised wording published by RBC as draft modifications. For completeness, the relevant changes made to Policy HS4 of the plan are as follows, shown in bold and underlined: Policy HS4: Open space, sports facilities and recreation C. Public open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields (REMOVED: assets identified) within the Open Space Audit evidence and/or defined on the (REMOVED: Proposals) Policies Map and/or last in sporting or recreational use (REMOVED: will be protected from development) should not be built upon unless: • An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, building or land to be surplus to requirements; or • it can be demonstrated that the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or • the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss. The Inspectors’ Report recognises the case made by the Campaign Group at the Public Examination held last year and the time and effort taken. It marks a significant milestone and should now allow the Campaign to move on as well as enabling the Council to consider – and hopefully reject – Brandon Estates’ planning application for housing redevelopment on the stadium site. We currently await the report of the Independent Consultant appointed by Rugby Council to assess discrepancies between the planning documentation and the material provided by ourselves. But this is perhaps an appropriate time to review the weight of evidence which is now stacked AGAINST the speculative Planning Application: *Changes to the Rugby Local Plan instigated by a Government Inspector, who conducted his own site visit, resulting in the fact that the Plan now offers protection to existing sporting facilities where there is clear ongoing need. *The Brandon and Bretford Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted at last week’s referendum, which clearly states that it is the wish of the community for the Brandon Stadium site to remain as a sports venue. *A submission from 11 MPs/Lords, including four from the local area, urging Rugby Council to reject the Planning Application and support efforts to bring the sports back. This letter was drafted by MP for Rugby Mark Pawsey and other local MPs to sign were Colleen Fletcher, Jim Cunningham and Marcus Jones. *Public consultation to the Planning Application resulted in an unprecedented response of over 1,800 letters and e-mails, all but seven of which called for the rejection of the planning application. *The response included submissions from speedway riders and stock car drivers past and present, including World Champions, locally, nationally and internationally – as well as from the vast majority of local residents who view the iconic stadium as a much-loved local facility. *A local newspaper poll in mid-2018 resulted in 96% of over 2,000 votes supporting the return of the sports to Brandon – fully endorsing the public consultation. *Official bodies of both sports, including the BSPA, SCB, ACU, BriSCA and the BSCDA have all voiced their opposition to the plans. *These comments were noted by Sport England, who raised a number of concerns with the applicant’s Viability Statement. *The Campaign Group have made several significant submissions in response to planning material, highlighting with evidence an astounding number of errors, inaccuracies and untruths. *Planning consultants Framptons have already been forced to withdraw a section of their Needs Assessment under threat of action from the former site owners as their account of the events of 2016 was found to be unsatisfactory. Two-and-a-half years after speedway and stock cars were ejected from the stadium, with no serious consideration given to their future, the determination to see them return is stronger than ever. The latest developments in the Rugby Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan add further weight towards the need for the rightful outcome to be reached in the speediest possible time. As to what happens next, we believe that once the Independent Consultant’s report is received, it will enable the senior Planning Officer Erica Buchanan to complete her own report and recommendation for consideration by the Planning Committee. Though we have not had confirmation, we would reasonably expect that to take place in June or July of this year.
  3. Perhaps the Referee did not have access to the TV footage?
  4. Gambo

    Speedway Season

    At the Leicester P&P the riders were advised not to ride the inside line on the bends, and they all heeded that advice. You don't get that option when there are 4 riders on the track.
  5. Gambo

    Brandon Update

    NO APPEAL FROM BRANDON ESTATES! As posted by the SCS group. WE have now received official confirmation that stadium owners Brandon Estates have not chosen to pursue a High Court challenge to the outcome of the recent planning inquiry. The appeal against the refusal of planning permission, arising from the November 2022 Planning Committee decision at Rugby Borough Council, was dismissed by inspector Helen Hockenhull in mid-January, after evidence from all parties had been heard last autumn. The remaining option available to the appellants would have been a Judicial Review based on a legal challenge (rather than a challenge to the decision itself). We understand speedway and stock car fans, and local residents, have been eager to know what might happen next, and there has been plenty of speculation; however, we had to wait for a six-week period to expire, which was the window in which the High Court challenge could be submitted. Recent correspondence with the Planning Inspectorate has confirmed there has been no challenge. We are naturally delighted that this marks the end of this particular part of the process, and also that our approach to each stage has been vindicated. We must once again place on record our thanks to everyone from the sporting and local community who stepped up in such spectacular numbers last summer to assist us with the cost of legal representation. Anyone who watched the planning inquiry, and will therefore now understand the way it was conducted, will have seen how being represented in this manner was crucial to our chances of success. Likewise to our witnesses and those who spoke in support of the stadium at the inquiry, your honesty and passion shone through under difficult scrutiny, and it is sincerely appreciated. There is now much for us to consider as a Campaign Group, doubtless with further meetings to be arranged over the coming weeks. At this stage it is too early to give any clear indication over what is to follow, or any timescales, other than to say that at every stage of the planning application we have worked through potential scenarios and considered our strategy under every likely circumstance. We thank everyone for their support – it has been hugely appreciated, and never more so than during the time of the Appeal – and can assure you that with this huge hurdle cleared, we retain an unstinting commitment to get speedway and stock car racing back to their rightful place at Brandon Stadium, and finally bring this saga to an end for the benefit of both the sports and the local community.
  6. Gambo

    Workington 2024

    But if they go up to the PL it is only 2.71.
  7. Gambo

    Transponders

    Transponders bring little to domestic Speedway at the moment. I would have thought that they would have put more emphasis on rev limiters which could save engine wear and therefore maintenance costs.
  8. I beg to differ. The old rule was that a rider had to be on track and making his way towards the tapes.
  9. Gambo

    Brummies 2024...

    Oh yes it does!
  10. Gambo

    Rick France

    A very likeable character who partnered Ron Mountford in a Garage in Bloxwich. If my memory serves me right I recall that he had a troublesome shoulder injury that hampered his progress. Didn't he dislocate it one time in a fall at Coventry and put it back in place by running into a wall? (Or something like that?)
  11. Gambo

    Brandon Update

    I thought the situation was that Sandhu had been 'forced' to sell as a Bank had called in a loan/mortgage on the site?
  12. Gambo

    Australia

    My AVG Spotted an 'infection'!
  13. I think that all that talk of Star Sign defining how people think, live, act etc. is just a load of baloney. But then again, that is typical of us Capricorns.
  14. Gambo

    Cardiff 24

    Bad news for those of us who usually book the University rooms. They are no longer offering the rooms.
  15. Gambo

    Leicester Lions 2024

    Having seen the progress Ashton has made through 2023, I would personally not be disappointed to see him as a RS.
  16. I believe the 2024 Rule Book will include conversion rates for assessed PL to CL averages, and all foreign Leagues averages too.
  17. Gambo

    Brandon Update

    (17) Rugby Borough Council - YouTube Rugby Council Planning Inquiry schedules. 27th & 28th November. 10:00am. I believe that Monday's meeting is more to do with the NHS element and Tuesday is for 'Summing Up' from both sides.
  18. Phew! Was dreading him re-aligning with Leicester!
  19. Gambo

    Promoters Conference

    So how did the more professional business-like promoters allow themselves to be outnumbered by the MM amateurs?
  20. Gambo

    Promoters Conference

    Make your mind up! Are they Mickey Mouse amateurs, or 'more professional business-like promoters'? Would be interesting to see which promoters YOU put into each group!
  21. Gambo

    Promoters Conference

    And why shouldn't they go to Tenerife?
  22. Gambo

    Promoters Conference

    So blinkered, some posters! Are promoters not allowed to have a working holiday, or even a holiday then? If they have made a 'profit' from their Speedway business, how do they plow even a penny back into facilities at a stadium where the majority are merely tenants? If the costs are, as someone suggested around £1000, to attend, what difference would that mean, adding £1000 to a track's overall budget for the year? That £1000 (and more) can be wiped out in quick time by a rain off.
  23. Now to be re-staged Saturday 21st @Cowley. 7:45pm.
  24. It wasn't meant to be an "I know something you don't know." statement. It was just in response to the question as to whether Phil has achieved anything this year. Just saying that there are some positives that will hopefully bear fruit.
  25. It is not my place to give details, but there are some innovative plans being put into place.
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