09/11/06 - Cllr Tomlinson, Speedway Update

Cllr Tomlinson & Cllr Stoddart Join The Speedway Campaigners 

Swindon Council is hopeful that a permanent home can be found for speedway in the town.

Leader Roderick Bluh and deputy leader Fionuala Foley met with Clarke Osborne of Gaming International at the Civic Offices last night, to discuss the development of the Abbey Stadium at Blunsdon.

Cabinet member for culture, leisure and recreation Justin Tomlinson attended the confidential meeting.

He said: "We had an extremely constructive meeting. For the first time there were proposals being discussed where the speedway was an integral part of a potential development."

In July the Adver revealed that Gaming International and Thistle Land proposed demolishing the existing stadium and replacing it with a smaller arena without speedway in a development including as many as 350 houses.

A massive outpouring of public support to keep the Swindon Robins in town has seen the developer make a U-turn.

Coun Tomlinson said: "A development of this size and nature is extremely complex, with many challenges and issues, for which Swindon Council is working positively to help support a development that secures the long-term future of speedway."

Discussions are still at an early stage, but the size of the development means that Coun Bluh is getting involved.

Coun Tomlinson said: "In view of potential issues Coun Rod Bluh as leader of the council will be working over the next few weeks to explore these, and we anticipate meeting the developers once again in early December."

Gaming International's chief executive Clarke Osborne said two weeks ago that his company and joint venture partner Thistle Land had agreed to change their plans for the redevelopment of the stadium.

He said: "Since the public consultation we, with Thistle Land, our partners, have put together a scheme that includes speedway in the stadium. The scheme is financially viable and deliverable."

They need planning permission by May next year to be ready for a March 2008 deadline, and Mr Osborne said last night: "It was a positive meeting and we look forward eagerly to the next one."

The meeting was welcomed by Swindon Robins team manager Alun Rossiter.

He said: "It would be great to start the new year being able to tell riders that the future of speedway in the town is secure, and that we have a new home."