frigbo

Abbey Stadium last day of operation confirmed as December 27th. The final greyhound meeting will take place on that day.

Tried that approach at Swindon. Let's hope Rugby Council can create robust S106 conditions, unlike the ones Swindon Council must have asked a 5-year-old to draw up!

Excellent letter from Brian Buck in the latest edition. It nicely encapsulates the disgraceful behaviour of Councils and Developers across the country - and not just with speedway stadia!

It's also pretty much identical to the ruse they pulled-off with the Abbey.

Absolute tosh! Do not be fooled. This is straight from the DPP Planning playbook

Given his previous, I don't expect Mario Hausl or Antonio Lindback to be on his fave rider list.

Sir Philip Davies is also Chair of Star Sports Group. They were (allegedly) one of the parties interested in buying the Abbey Stadium, but were put off by being given a valuation by the stadium owner, which was over double the actual value quoted in the planning docs which have been submitted.

Swindon does... Problem is, dear old Mr Osborne has priced out any interested stadium buyers by asking for over double the valuation he quotes in his own planning application!

News on Social Media that former rider, team manager and promoter Brian Havelock has passed away.

I am often amazed by those business who ignore, and often ridicule, their most important asset - their paying customers!

Riders need to take their fair share of the brunt of this mess too.

Spot on. So much is made of alleged lack of 'viability' when in truth, viability is a rare commodity in most sports - the vast majority of football teams are losing bucket-loads of money. Most recent speedway track losses are because the sport / stadia are seen as an easy target for rapacious developers.

The issue must be down to local sorting offices. In Swindon, I haven't had a late delivery for months.

I agree. My experience of Swindon fans getting mobilised is a challenging one. There's still plenty of interest (petition over 2.300 signatures, social media groups very active) and they all want the sport back - until they have to actually do something to help make it happen! The sport's governing body are dragging their feet and doing next to nothing to help fight to resurrect these clubs or even participate in the ongoing battles.

The counter-argument could be that plenty of these had larger fanbases than some of those that currently still operate and therefore they are of more benefit to the sport in general.

Yeah, it's Mark Seabright. What an insensitive idiot Doyle is.

Not a clue.. Guess the other chap is a sponsor or mechanic that Doyle renewed with. Pretty insensitive post if that is the case.

Plus Milton Keynes and Torquay United. They'll play every card going, so it's critical to get Council and MP hearts and minds on your side and paint a very clear picture of their back-story.

Anyone know much background about those who were behind the demolition and planning application?

Osborne and Lewis are both Directors of Steel Life Group. Also, are you aware they set up a 2nd Poole Motorsports company in September this year? Poole Motorsports (No2) LTD. This one has Osborne and Lewis in it, whereas the original Poole Motorsports was Osborne only.

Lewis is also part of his team working on the destruction of the Abbey and was at the public consultation for Studley Grange. He also worked with Osborne at MK and Torquay...

Aware of that. I really hope your Council is as strong as Torbay's was. He will be laying the groundwork with the local authority and was openly talking about a "great new site" for Poole when he was at the public consultation for his current Abbey Stadium plans.

Local plans are as worthwhile as toilet paper these days. Just ask Peterborough!

The clock is ticking at Poole. Osborne will move as soon as Swindon sorted. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/25622111.poole-pirates-ticking-over-financially-ford-gives-update/?fbclid=Iwb21leAOFkDdjbGNrA4WQL2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAhjYWxsc2l0ZQIyNQABHrU-Trqjy-CwF7WZHKyD83V2qvaACYJJqgmZJSyXxkv22sUiGBFTN-icngpE_aem_ISWTTWHeaaAV8YtVf_LSzQ

It's a fantastic little feature and really captures how different life was in the mid-70's compared to now. Reg comes across as a lovely, sincere bloke.