Exeter Speedway Press release-2009 Guys

[Nevs]

Exeter Speedway Press Statement Wednesday 22nd August 2007


Exeter Speedway owner Allen Trump has today confirmed that there will be no speedway at Exeter Racecourse, Haldon in 2008. Despite spending over £20,000 of his own money on the planning application so far the Falcons boss has been unable to meet the strict environmental requirements placed on the club in time to obtain the necessary planning permission that would have enabled them to run in April next year.

After the original planning application was submitted in May last year it soon became clear that the major obstacle would be environmental issues. The proposed site for the speedway track is in the proximity of Haldon Forest SSSI and took in 2 acres of lowland heath land. The subsequent Ecological Survey required by Teignbridge DC identified the existence of two protected bird species on the perimeter of the racecourse and numerous reptiles in the heath land, all of which are protected by law.
Part of the track and grandstand would have been built on the heath land and it subsequently become clear that there would be serious problems in building on this type of land. These were:

1. The requirement of a Management Plan to replace the 2 acres taken by the Falcons with provision and management by the racecourse of 5 acres. The annual management cost of this would fall on Exeter Speedway.

2. The removal of all reptiles from the 2 acres, which proved more difficult and costly than originally envisaged and even now has not resulted in a noticeable reduction in the reptiles, all of who would have to be removed before the end of September.

It was clear therefore that the track would have to be repositioned to avoid all heath land and after discussions with the racecourse owners, the Jockey Club, and with their considerable help an alternative site that did not require heath land approval was located within the racecourse. However Teignbridge Council still require a fresh planning application and whilst much of the original application is still relevant there are new time consuming aspects that must be dealt with and incorporated.

Trump said today: “ I am particularly disappointed with the current state of affairs, having spent the last eighteen months working on this project. However I believe the new site offers the opportunity to overcome the ecological problems and enable the Exeter Falcons to be ready for the 2009 season. I know that there are many fans that share my disappointment and it is difficult to understand how 2 acres of heath land and a few birds can threaten a pastime enjoyed by thousands, the balance seems all wrong. Nevertheless we continue to fight on and in the end Exeter Speedway will be resurrected.”

[wealdenwillie]

Mr Trump is quite right to wonder how a few birds can threaten a pastime enjoyed by thousands. After all these are not exactly golden eagles. Trouble is, the animal lobby , in all its forms is very powerful these days. We seem to have gone collectively daft over such matters. However, I do wonder why so much time and money was spent on a site which, if my reading of the press release is correct, had little chance of succeeding.

[squibby]

As you say, the influence of bodies such as Natural England
( English Nature as was ) is probably far greater than it should be.

When one looks at an area of heath, it gives the impression of being inhospitable and a place where no self-respecting bird, animal or reptile would choose to inhabit, but look closely and it is amazing what can be found there. I suspect that the initial site was the one ideally favoured by the Racecourse owners, hence 'we' ran with it, at great expense to Mr. Trump, only now to fall at the last.

I guess we must be grateful that the Racecourse people appear to have accommodated Mr. Trump as to an alternative site which is not on heathland or anything similar, and that he seems confident that the planning approval will be forthcoming in time for a track to be built for the 2009 season.

I very much doubt he would be contemplating spending yet more funds on the project unless he strongly believed it would succeed this time - yes he is a speedway nutter like the rest of us poor deluded souls but first and foremost he is a successful businessman and they are rarely known to flog a dead horse.

So, here we go again - holding our collective breath and praying for good news for 2009 !!

To Mr. Trump - good luck, sir !!!

[Nevs]

squibby said:

So, here we go again - holding our collective breath and praying for good news for 2009 !!

To Mr. Trump - good luck, sir !!!

I couldn't agree more Squibby.

After hearing the news yesterday whilst at work initially from Peregrinner in a text through to receiving the press release later in the evening I must admit I was a right old grumpy git to say the least.--Wife and kids will testify to that!!-sorry guys

Today has been a bit like the" morning after the night before" as it was the day after the End of Era meeting - Am sure people understand what I mean

As you say its a case of here we go again.
We been doing that for years since the initial shock of the rugby club saying they were going to evict us -how many years ago was that?? 2001??
Well lets all go again for 2009.

Its only another year but damned frustrating.--We have all got through the past few and hopefully there is a light at the end of the tunnel this time

On a personal note if it involves badgering people to write letters etc for new planning application then I'm ready to bore people to tears again.

I remember Tony Lethbridge saying at the time we want 1000 letters of support--Just laughed and emailed him back saying wont happen mate-and what did we get??

Over 1000 letters or emails of support-Thats what!!!-Highest for any planning application that Teignbridge have ever received if my memory serves me right.You were right Tony and lets all do it again as and when needed and instructed to.

As it will be a new planning application will the letters of support from last time count or does it all start again??-I fear it all starts again judging by what happened at Weymouth??

I still have all the forums I joined and sent requests to help to for letters last time, still on a built in whiteboard next to PC-thank goodness they were never wiped off.!!!!

So look out Yahoo forum,BSF,Exeter,Plymouth,Somerset,Hull,Poole,Kings Lynn,Birmingham,Weymouth,Berwick,Rye,Cradley,Oxford,Swindon and Reading along with others and the guys in the chatroom and email.I'm coming to bore you again chaps!!!

Got to try and remember all the various passwords now!!!!

Just let us know what we should do next as and when appropriate Allen.

Very best of luck to you,am 100% certain that you will do all anyone can to get us flying again.

[tonyl]

Thanks for that Nevsy and everyone else for their positive comments. I will try and clarify a couple of the points that have been made. The original site was selected as it did not block the view of the racecourse from the grand stands. Allen was also told by the planners that no ecological survey was required. It was only when Natural England appeared on the scene, after the Fireman's objections had been overcome, and barely a month before the planning application was due to be heard that the bird and reptile problems began. Natural England are not a bunch of tree huggers, they are a government body, and not easily dismissed. The only way around the reptile problem, which I for one thought had been overcome last autumn at considerable expense, was to move the stadium a short distance on to the foundations of the old long track, for which we have to be grateful to the jockey club as it takes some of the ground they use. Teignbridge now want a new planning application and that is what has really messed up Allen's time schedule. The one advantage this offers is that Speary's boys will have next summer to build the stadium. Lets hope it is drier that this year.
This whole project has cost Allen a pile of money, not to mention an enormous amount of work and time. Incidentally he has become a total expert on the wildlife of the Haldon Hills because he really studied the subject as well as planning law. We are extremely fortunate to have someone with such passion. In my innocence I believed that we could carry on after Colin's death and achieve the dream. No way. Without Allen's knowledge and business acumen we would have failed miserably. Make no mistake he is the ONLY person who can save our Falcons, and we must all support him to the hilt. As soon as we know what is required to help the planning application as regards more letters etc I will let everyone know. Finally regarding all Nevsy's Forums I hope we have all signed Cradley's on line petition to re-establish the Heathens.

[Nevs]

tonyl said:

Finally regarding all Nevsy's Forums I hope we have all signed Cradley's on line petition to re-establish the Heathens.

Signed the paper copy at Cardiff myself after being approached by a Cradley fan who spotted the Falcons polo shirt and wished us all the best for 2008.
Online link below.
If you were approached at Cardiff and signed there is no need to sign the online one again.For those of you that have not signed anything now is the time to do so.

www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/bring-back-cradley-speedway/sign.html

[slipslider]

Many thanks to Nevsy and Tony for the information - it does help to understand more about what problems there are. I and my daughter are extremely grateful for all the work that people on this site maintain for all of us. it does help to maintain the conviction that Speedway will return to Exeter in the not too distant future. As long as there is hope - our support will be there, as long as we have Allen we have belief.

[Nevs]

Full Express and Echo Report below on link.

thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137332&command=displayContent&sourceNode=137087&contentPK=18178321&folderPk=79935&pNodeId=137010