THE next phase in our fight to restore speedway and stock car racing to the world-famous Brandon Stadium comes with the consultation process for the new Rugby Local Plan.
We made representations on the previous Local Plan process, and aided by a tremendous response from the public, we secured greater protection for the stadium.
The new Local Plan, however, seeks to go further and we are delighted with the proposed wording of policy W1(B) which is unequivocal in its support for the stadium in its established use as a motorsports venue.
The proposed policy reads:
“The council supports the restoration of Coventry Stadium, Brandon for speedway and stock car racing and other motor sports together with other community uses. Planning permission will not be granted for development proposals which would conflict with these objectives.”
The consultation period runs until May 19, and we are asking all speedway and stock car supporters – plus local residents who also want the site to remain as a motorsports venue – to please send an e-mail or letter of support to the Council.
Your response does not need to be lengthy, but we would ask you to state your support for the Council’s designation of Brandon as a significant motorsports venue in the emerging Local Plan, and to possibly add some brief explanation as to why the stadium is important to you personally.
The previous Local Plan consultation resulted in one of the largest responses in Rugby Council history with specific regard to Brandon, and it is absolutely crucial that we now look to match or exceed that response.
We cannot stress enough this is a critical moment in the Campaign, and every single response really is important.
Emails should be sent to localplan@rugby.gov.uk with ‘Preferred Option Consultation’ in the subject line; or responses can be sent by post to: Preferred Option Consultation, Development Strategy Team, Town Hall, Evreux Way, Rugby, CV21 2RR. Whichever option you choose, you must include your name and address.
We have already seen some excellent responses on social media – these will not be counted unless they go through the official e-mail or postal channels, so if you have made a supportive posting on Facebook or elsewhere, please do so to one of the addresses above.
The deadline is May 19 but responses sent as soon as possible would also be helpful.
You may well have read the social media posting of the Leader of Rugby Council, Michael Moran, who is proactively seeking to resolve the issue of Brandon, and this can be found at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelMoranRugbyLabour .
As we confirmed in our previous update, discussions over Brandon have been held since his appointment as Leader, and these will continue with a further meeting scheduled for later this month.
In his statement, Cllr Moran refers to the need for “a viable business plan for a new stadium must be put forward and underpinned by external independent professional advisers.”
We want to reassure speedway and stock car supporters that ever since Brandon Estates failed on appeal to secure planning permission for the site, our focus has been on the ways we can move from successfully objecting to planning, to being able to deliver a long-term solution.
Supporters will remember that in 2020 an offer to buy the stadium was made by businessman and stock car enthusiast Warren Hunter – an offer which was never accepted or refused by the owners, despite the inferences made at the Appeal.
It is now an appropriate time to confirm that we are working with a consortium of committed individuals, which includes Mr Hunter, all of whom are credible businessmen and who possess the financial, technical and operational capabilities to firstly secure and clear up the site – which remains subject to appalling security breaches engineered by the owners – in a timely manner, and then to restore the site for racing.
These discussions have been ongoing since the summer of 2024, and we are fully confident that with the support of Rugby Council to gain control of the site, it will be possible to speedily end the years of misery for local residents and motorsports fans following the forced closure of the stadium.
Support for the Local Plan Policy as referred to above would be of significant benefit to this process, and we therefore urge everyone wishing for the return of the stadium to please e-mail or write in to the addresses above.
We have a further meeting with the Council scheduled for later this month and will update with further information as soon as we are able.
