Speedway campaigners hope sport's return is near
Jeff DaviesCoventry speedway campaigners are hopeful the sport could soon return to the area after a ten-year absence.
Rugby Borough Council's draft local plan supports proposals to bring Brandon Stadium back into use for speedway and other motorsports.
Jeff Davies, chairman of Save Coventry Speedway and Coventry Stocks, told the BBC if the plan was approved by inspectors and adopted, there could finally be light at the end of the tunnel.
He said the group was lobbying people to write in to support the local plan, which is currently in a six-week consultation phase before it is submitted to the government.
Brandon Stadium was shut in 2016 when Coventry Bees stopped racing at the stadium after failing to reach a deal to continue there.
The stadium's owners Brandon Estates previously planned to build 124 homes and a football pitch with a pavilion on the site off Rugby Road, but the plans to demolish the circuit for housing were rejected in January 2024.
Rugby Borough Council submitted a proposal as part of its Local Plan to support the restoration of Brandon Stadium for speedway or stock car racing, as well as other motorsports and community uses last year.
Davies said: "The recent boost is the Rugby Council approved the local plan and in that plan there's a policy which specifically states Rugby Council support the reinstatement of Brandon Stadium and Speedway racing and other communities - and any planning application submitted will not be considered if it's contrary to that.
"So it would be multi-purpose."
Once the six-week consultation is over, the plan will be submitted to national inspectors, followed by a public hearing.
The group is hoping people will rally together to support the plan.
He said: "What we're doing now is lobbying people to write in, they have to send an email to send in support.
"We hope thousands of people will do it - already 700 have done so and it's only been a matter of four to five days.
"We are asking people to do it by the end of February. I am optimistic."
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