WIMBLEDON PETITION TAKEN TO NUMBER 10
Signatures handed in to Prime Minister
Campaigners fighting to keep Wimbledon Stadium open took their pleas to Downing Street last week.
The group, lead by Michael Burnage and including Motorsport News’s National Hot Rod correspondent Graham Brown, went to Number 10 on Friday to hand over the petition against the demolition of the venue. The petition has been signed by than 13600 people.
Wimbledon has hosted short oval racing since 1962, but developers are planning to demolish the track and build an 11000 all-seater football stadium on the site for AFC Wimbledon. There are also plans for a business complex on the venue.
Initially, the plans were called in by then-london Mayor Boris Johnson for further examination, but that was scuppered when new mayor Sadiq Khan was elected in May.
“Since we became aware of the extent of the plans for the stadium and the surrounding site, we have been battling relentlessly to protect what we have,” said Burnage. “Over the past year, we have approached the task with a level of determination that we don’t think our opponents ever thought we could muster.”
Burnage said he hoped that the chance to hand in the petition at the highest level would mean that the case will be examined once more.
“The petition can now be reviewed by Prime Minister Theresa May,” explained Burnage. “Alongside that, we have an appeal to have the building listed, and that is still being considered by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.”
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1 Billy Wood; 2 Chris Haird; 3 Rob Mcdonald
■ Round two, Birmingham, August 20
Final: 1 Carl Waller-barrett; 2 Haird; 3 Dick Hillard
■ Round three, Northampton, August 29
1 Dave York; 2 Kym Weaver; 3 Gavin Murray
■ Round four, Ipswich, September 24
1 Bradley Dynes; 2 Haird; 3 Murray Final: 1 Aaron Dew; 2 Jason Kew; 3 Haird
■ Round six, Ipswich, October 22
Final: 1 Haird; 2 Adam Maxwell (non-points scorer); 3 Dynes; 4 Mikey Godfrey
■ Round seven, Hednesford Hills, November 6
Final: 1 Rob Mcdonald; 2 Murray; 3 Dynes