The future of Coventry Stadium, Brandon

BringBeesBackToCoventry @KeepBeesOnTrack Busy day for the campaign today. This morning we're at our stadium with @bbcmtd - check it out this evening. Roughly translated - watch BBC Midlands Today this evening

Website link - Planning objections submitted (detailed information) Eleven grounds for the objections are shown in the 'Executive Summary'

Fingers crossed!!!

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire featured the latest Campaign Group efforts during their programming on Thursday March 1. There were various recollections of the sports at the stadium during Vic Minett's morning show, along with a further feature later in the day. The relevant section from the Drivetime show can be found at the following link. Start at around 1:38.50 and the feature lasts for around eight minutes. This is the link to the Vic Minett show.

Having only attended a few speedway and stock car events at Brandon in my lifetime, I was always amazed at the following and the intensity of the support. I sincerely hope the planners find sufficient reasons under planning law to reject the application. But, be aware, if they do, it is unlikely to be the end of the fight as no doubt in line with all 'developers' they will take the appeal route. Keep up the fight, do not be worn down by disappointments and maintain the intensity of adverse publicity GOOD LUCK!!

Latest news from the Campaign Group

From the Speedway and Stox campaign group: THE latest show of support for the campaign to bring speedway and stock car racing back to Brandon has come direct from Westminster. A group of eleven Members of Parliament/House of Lords have submitted a joint letter to Rugby Borough Council, urging rejection of the Brandon Estates planning application. This speculative application, on a site which is not part of the Rugby Local Plan, seeks to destroy decades of sporting heritage and includes no satisfactory provision for the two popular family sports to be relocated elsewhere in the area. The letter not only calls on the Council to reject the application; it also urges them to support efforts to bring the sports back to Brandon. It is signed by a number of local MPs as well as others who have shown solidarity with the unacceptable position all fans of motorsports at Coventry have been placed in, and has been brought about thanks to speedway's All Party Parliamentary Group. The Campaign Group would like to sincerely thank all of the MPs and Lords who have taken such an interest in our fight, and who have signed the letter, and especially Mark Pawsey and his office for co-ordinating this response.

Interesting article from Coventry Observer

. . . . and from the Campaign Group

Thanks for that MR.

From the Save Coventry Speedway & Stox Campaign Group: THE Coventry Telegraph have launched a poll asking whether readers feel speedway and stock car racing should return to Brandon. We would urge supporters to register their views in order provide further confirmation of other such surveys over the last 18 months. The poll can be accessed from this link.

From the Save Coventry Speedway & Stox Campaign Group: LATEST information from the Planning Department at Rugby Borough Council is that the application concerning Brandon Stadium will not be heard this month. The application cannot be taken to committee until various items of additional information and outstanding issues are received and resolved. We are hopeful that this can take place in September, and will advise further when we receive the news. Whenever the application is heard, we are prepared for every circumstance arising and our opposition to the scheme of Brandon Estates remains as strong as ever. Our determination has not been lessened by a 'quiet' few months whilst paperwork is received, assessed and completed. We want to see both speedway and stock car racing restored to an area where there is clearly identified ongoing need, and both can be run viably, as soon as is practicably possible. The forced closure of the stadium, its subsequent deterioration, and the time taken for matters to progress do not in any way alter our aims.

The Save Coventry Speedway and Stox Campaign Group invite all motorsport fans and local residents to a public meeting on Tuesday November 6. In October 2017, we held a very well-attended meeting at the Brandon Club and one year on we feel this is the right time to provide a full update on the current position. The meeting will be staged in the Woodlands Suite of the Mercure Brandon Hall Hotel on Tuesday November 6, starting at 7.30pm. Members of the media are also welcome to attend. Whilst a decision on the future of Brandon Stadium has still not been made, much has happened in the last twelve months. The meeting will take the form of a presentation, followed by questions / discussion, focussing on the following: 1) Recap on the events discussed at the first public meeting; 2) Describe what has happened between October 2017 and November 2018, including the Local Plan process, the Planning Application, the Neighbourhood Plan and the events / damage to the stadium; 3) Highlight some of the outcomes resulting from the work of the Campaign Group; 4) Look at possible future scenarios. Since its formation, the Campaign Group focus has always been forward-looking, and the meeting will therefore NOT discuss the events leading to the closure of the stadium or discuss who is to blame, as it will not help in any way. We are very pleased to say that Mark Pawsey (Member of Parliament for Rugby) and Michael Stokes (Leader of Rugby Council) have both confirmed they will attend the meeting. Admission to the meeting is free, and we would like to place on record our thanks to the Mercure Brandon Hall Hotel for being so willing to accommodate us. VENUE Woodlands Suite Mercure Brandon Hall Hotel and Spa Warwickshire Main Street Brandon Coventry CV8 3FW