Nevs 4 Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) Reported in this week's local press, work has started on building houses on the former home of the Exeter Falcons and speedway is to be remembered with the naming of a couple of developments after former Falcons riders --See below From http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk County Ground works starts Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 08:34 WORKMEN have finally moved on to the city’s former County Ground to start work on a major housing project. The Echo can exclusively reveal the street names chosen to recognise the area’s rich history. After nearly four years of controversy — with two failed planning applications and a failed appeal — building has finally begun at the County Ground in St Thomas. Bellway Homes will build 100 homes at the site of the former Chiefs’ ground, 33 of which are due to be completed by November. Pegasus Homes will also build 53 retirement apartments on one acre of the site. A spokesman for Bellway said: “We are pleased to be on the site and making a start on the scheme. Click here for more “Initially we will be focusing on the ground works and laying down the template for the roads and sewers, prior to development work commencing later in the year.” Rob Hannaford, city and county councillor for St Thomas, said: “It’s excellent that the former County Ground is finally being redeveloped. “This has been going on for far too long and local residents really want this large area tidied up so that St Thomas can move forward with confidence. “In terms of the new street names, I spent some time talking to local people and local historians about what names they would like for the new development. We have now come up with names that honour local people or have a strong historical context.” The names chosen for the Bellway part of the site echo the history of the site and St Thomas’ past. They are Sanford Place, Chieftain Way, Birdall Terrace, and Coles Mews. Chieftain Way recalls the many years the Exeter Chiefs were based at the County Ground. Two roads honour speedway riders — Sanford Place has been named after local speedway rider Tony Sanford who tragically died after an accident at the County Ground in 1981. Mr Sanford was catapulted into a safety fence after the rear wheel of his bike appeared to catch another rider’s machine. He died of head injuries. During his career in Exeter, Michael Coles notched up more points than any other rider for the Falcons. Birdall Terrace recalls the Birdall Bell Foundry which was in operation between 1560 and 1624, where the Exe bridge shopping centre is now. The Pegasus development is to be named Browning Court, after Michael Browning, a long-serving local councillor who died in 2006. He was born around the corner from the County Ground in Princes Street West and was a lifelong rugby fan. Cllr Browning represented Alphington and St Thomas on the city and county councils for many years. Rob Harding, leader of County Ground Concern, a group of local residents which campaigned about the scale of the development is pleased with the names chosen. He said: “It is really good that they have remembered Exeter speedway riders.” Edited May 29, 2009 by Nevs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phlipphlopp 3,912 Posted May 21, 2009 grrrr !!! it still guts the hell out of me ! Shame the likes of Verner , Autrey , or Mauger , or any of the other legends that graced the County Ground wont have avenues or the like named after them.Am glad Tony Sanford will be remembered though.Will be nice to meet up with some old faces at Cardiff next month Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nevs 4 Posted May 21, 2009 Must confess I aint overjoyed about Chieftan way :mad: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinmauger 572 Posted May 21, 2009 grrrr !!! it still guts the hell out of me ! Shame the likes of Verner , Autrey , or Mauger , or any of the other legends that graced the County Ground wont have avenues or the like named after them.Am glad Tony Sanford will be remembered though.Will be nice to meet up with some old faces at Cardiff next month S'pecially Mauger - something or other. I would say that of course but Ivan often said his happiest years were probably at Exeter, though he liked it at Hull too.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 0 Posted May 21, 2009 He said: “It is really good that they have remembered Exeter speedway riders.” Yes, bloody wonderful. Bless them, so kind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 5,890 Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) In all honesty (and forgetting what they could or should be doing to preserve the history of Exeter speedway), I think it is wonderful that they have chosen Tony Sanford to be remembered in this way. It would be easy to go for the Maugers and Autreys of this world, but I believe that to be a very fitting, and very commendable tribute. Steve Edited May 21, 2009 by chunky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobMcCaffery 2,752 Posted May 21, 2009 Must confess I aint overjoyed about Chieftan way :mad: We do have to accept it was their ground though Nevs. At least Tony Sanford's sacrifice has been honoured. Perhaps there might be scope at Haldon to honour others? A Colin Hill stand (or stadium?) with maybe a Mauger bar or even a Vaclav Verner Way as the entrance road? Rob McCaffery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Knowle 50 Posted May 21, 2009 Coles Mews? Surely it should be Coles Close which could be the only anagramed road in the world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lefty 1,248 Posted May 21, 2009 Coles Mews? Surely it should be Coles Close which could be the only anagramed road in the world. Couldn't they have had 'Street Street' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 5,890 Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) Couldn't they have had 'Street Street' Okay, I think we've started something here... What about "Reidar Road"??? Then again, "Mauger Road" would work also! Other cities could do the same, with things like : "Reg Court" (Oxford) "Place Place" (Middlesbrough) Does anyone know of a rider called "Lambeth"? Oh, another for Exeter would be "Cake Walk"! Steve Edited May 21, 2009 by chunky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nevs 4 Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) The main thing is at least Exeter speedway will be remembered for ever in what they build there,there is no point being bitter,The County Grounds time there was up-sure it holds many happy memories speedway wise from people all over the world.People say we could have raced there for another three years,no way once the rugby club sold up. To live 5 minutes away and 35 odd years of memories is hard to digest in terms it will never be the same again-we all knew it was coming,just a bitter pill to swallow for what the ground was sold for and what were the pits and the grandstand and the steel fence etc(all long gone) will now finally become another housing estate-In times of need the speedway kept the rugby club going The rugby club have their new ground,Exeter City Football club have been promoted to league one with two promotions on the trot from the conference and the most succesfull professional team sport in the city is still beavering away to get itself sorted with the guys in the background working away. Bitter? nah not bitter-just jealous. Still,at least speedway has been remembered in the road names and nothing will ever take that away from Exeter Speedway for generations to come-we may not have been remembered at all! I am sure Honey Sanford and her family and Colesy's family will be justifiably proud that these two locals will be remembered in what they gave to Exeter speedway- I am sure Tony would also be so very proud of what his daughter is achieving in the sport clerk of the course wise. Up The Falcons and continued best wishes to those doing their very best to ensure we will fly again!! Edited May 22, 2009 by Nevs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinmauger 572 Posted May 22, 2009 I wasn't being flippant, I just think it's good that the Falcons are at least remembered albeit in small-ish way. It's right of course that a rider, Tony Sanford, who was fatally injured when tackling the County Ground circuit is commemerated in such a way before others .... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil bv 9 Posted May 22, 2009 No doubt they will be having "Mauger Roadworks" around the estate! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ciderman 100 Posted May 22, 2009 Couldn't they have had 'Street Street' What about the main man who kept it going over the last 10 plus years. Surely he desreves a mention. Shame theres no hills. Could have been Hill,s Hill or even more appropriate Colin Hill. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lady s 12 Posted May 22, 2009 Must confess I aint overjoyed about Chieftan way :mad: best one they could have used in my opinion would be seemond stephens viwes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
