Speedway ‘could return to Brandon’
THE campaign group set up to save Coventry Bees speedway team insists a return to Brandon Stadium remains a possibility.
Save Coventry Speedway responded to an article in the Telegraph on September 5 in which Bees owner Mick Horton said there was no chance of the speedway team ever returning to race at Brandon.
Mr Horton added that the focus had now shifted to creating a new home for the Bees and land had been identified for a new track, which could be built by 2019.
In a statement released by Save Coventry Speedway following the story, the campaign group said: “It is important to stress that a return to Brandon – however unlikely – is not completely ruled out at this stage.”
The group pointed out that stadium owners Brandon Estates will face a battle to get planning permission to build houses on the site as it has not been earmarked for housing in the local plan.
Save Coventry Speedway confirmed a pre-planning application had been made to Rugby Borough Council for a possible new stadium but said it would have been better for that to have been kept quiet until a full planning application is made.
It said: “We would have much preferred for this development to remain confidential and, pending a positive reception from the planning officer, the matter could then have gone into the public domain ahead of the formal planning process – rather than the possibility of building up false hopes amongst speedway and stock car fans.”
Save Coventry Speedway also disagreed with Bees owner Mr Horton for saying the team would have to drop down the leagues and secure a track sharing agreement next season, if it were to survive. Its statement said: “We do not go along with the view that Coventry Speedway must run in 2018 – at whatever venue, or at whatever level of racing – in order for it to survive. “However, we would always support the return of a Coventry team, as long as it was viable and could operate in the full traditions of our proud history of racing at the top level of the sport. “Birmingham and Leicester are two recent examples of clubs which have returned after decades away from racing – although naturally we hope our own absence is nowhere near as lengthy. “It may be the case that it is important for the current ‘on ice’ Coventry Speedway promotion to get on track in 2018, but this should not be confused with the main issue of seeking a sustainable long-term future at a stadium in the Coventry area.”
It is important to stress that a return to Brandon – however unlikely – is not completely ruled out at this stage. Save Coventry Speedway