Ultra Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Leicester City Council tonight approved plans which will see speedway return to the city for the first time since 1983. A purpose-built track, which will be the only one of its type in the whole of the East Midlands, will form part of a sports complex to be developed at Beaumont Park. The complex will also include a BMX track, a velodrome, 12 five-a-side football pitches, a bar/restaurant and extensive car parking. It is expected to open in early 2011. The Council's decision represents a victory for speedway fans who have fought a long campaign to restore the sport to the city since the previous track at Blackbird Road was closed. Many of those fans packed the public gallery in the council chamber at the Town Hall, and watched with great interest as councillors gave unanimous support to the development, which will extend the city's already-impressive sporting portfolio still further. I'm sure that once opened, this complex will become yet another asset for our city! PS Despite coverage on ITV Central Tonight, you won't see ANY mention of this in tomorrow's Mercury. Despite whinging long and loud, earlier today, about the Council "denying them information", the tabloid, a stablemate of the Daily Mail, decided to exclude itself by not sending anyone to cover this event.
CosbehFox Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Cracking news can't wait. Coventry first meeting please in a challenge
Tomassi Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 A cracking decision by the Leicester Council, good idea to have 12 5-a-side pitches as there will be prolonged interest for many lads around the Beaumont Leys cachement
Ashley Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Didnt Leicester used to be the best speedway team when we had one?
Ultra Posted 4 August 2009 Author Posted 4 August 2009 A cracking decision by the Leicester Council, good idea to have 12 5-a-side pitches as there will be prolonged interest for many lads around the Beaumont Leys catchment Absolutely. The success of Goals on the other side of the city has obviously been noted. It's good that the site will be multi-use, so folk will visit it on a daily basis.
CosbehFox Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Didnt Leicester used to be the best speedway team when we had one? In terms of honours, no not really but we had some fine riders (world champions) and one of the best racing tracks in the country. It's good that the site will be multi-use, so folk will visit it on a daily basis. It's a major positive having British Cycling involved given their recent success plus BMX becoming an Olympic event too. And going off comments on a Speedway forum from the supporters club, 2010 it will open!
isaidno Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 brilliant news, I love speedway. I usually go and watch the Coventry Bees. Anyone know what league we will be in?
CosbehFox Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 brilliant news, I love speedway. I usually go and watch the Coventry Bees. Anyone know what league we will be in? Premier League which currently is for the better given it's format and finances.
lou Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 I love speedway too and will deffo be attending at the earliest opportunity. FT speedway night out beckons I reckon??!
Ultra Posted 4 August 2009 Author Posted 4 August 2009 Here's what the speedway supporters club secretary had to say.. I can confirm that the Planning Application for Beaumont Sports Complex received UNANIMOUS APPROVAL from the Leicester City Council's Planning Committee. Given the council's position regarding motor sports just a few years ago it was incredible to sit there and listen to them enthuse fully about the application as a whole but most specifically, the return of the Leicester Lions speedway team. One by one they got up and pledged their support giving praise to the professionalism of the submission, painstakingly and meticulously prepared by David Hemsley of S&P Architects and Beaumont Sports Complex Ltd. They also offered up admiration for the sheer amount of public consultations that the Supporters Club have undertaken over the last couple of years - all that effort has finally paid off! They recorded that there were 104 letters of support (and we thank everyone who did so), 565 names on a supporting petition and just 9 letters of objection. 669 against 9 was considered more than sufficient when considering all the benefits the facility will bring to the local community and to Leicester as a whole. Hear hear! It was amusing to hear one councillor 'declare an interest' because he signed one of our petitions six years ago! It was considered not to be a conflict as this was a different site. He was relieved and said he used to support the Lions back in the days of Ray Wilson and John Boulger! Talking of Ray, he sent me a text as soon as we were outside saying how thrilled he is. He'll be there on opening night! With reference to the comment about Exeter earlier... I'd just like to confirm that Leicester have no financial deals to negotiate. All the land lease deals were secured in advance of the planning being submitted - something we felt that was crucial. It did cause delays in submitting the planning but was definitely something we needed to do. Also, our race night will be a Saturday and like any new club, we would not be allowed to enter the Elite League straight up. Leicester will be making a formal application to join the Premier League through the proper channels at the correct time. Next up is that we are holding a formal press conference tomorrow at Beaumont Park when the local media outlets such as the Leicester Mercury, Radio Leicester, Central News etc will all be there, as will former team managers Vic White and Norman Hunter. By the way, if anyone from the Speedway Star is reading this.... please get down there! I've sent you the details and as the UK's only speedway publication you should be there. Anyone who can get Radio Leicester (104.9FM) can also hear me on Ben Jackson's show tomorrow morning at the god awful early time of 7.07am. I'll be in the studio nice and early (with hangover) and giving some feedback. Hopefully it'll be on further news bulletins later too. A new track, especially in a big city such as Leicester is fantastic news for UK speedway - particularly during a season that has had it's difficulties. The passion for the Leicester Lions is burns as strong as it always did and we can't wait for next March. We obviously hope that we get all the old supporters as well as a completely new generation who have never seen speedway in this city. That is another big challenge and one we'll be working hard to achieve. A new track, especially in a big city such as Leicester is fantastic news for UK speedway - particularly during a season that has had it's difficulties. The passion for the Lions is massive and we can't wait for next March. Best wishes from a very elated Supporters Club Secretary!
Cobbo Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Didnt Leicester used to be the best speedway team when we had one? Cycle speedway are very very good This is great news
davieG Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Excellent news - are there any plans to put a roof on the Velodrome either now or in the future?
Corky Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Great news for the city- always good to have as many sporting teams as possible. Hope it proves a success.
Poakey Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 Great stuff,any news on the stock cars coming back aswell?
Lillehamring Posted 4 August 2009 Posted 4 August 2009 great news - hope that they do a good job and give us a track to be proud of, that will augment the excellent motor racing facilities already existing in the county... out of interest, who will be paying for this? ...now all leicester needs is an athletics track, an indoor sports arena, an ice rink and a city centre swimming pool....
CosbehFox Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 Great stuff,any news on the stock cars coming back aswell? No. great news - hope that they do a good job and give us a track to be proud of, that will augment the excellent motor racing facilities already existing in the county...out of interest, who will be paying for this? ...now all leicester needs is an athletics track, an indoor sports arena, an ice rink and a city centre swimming pool.... Paying for it will be a consortium of parties - some paid by the Speedway, some lottery money, some British Cycling, some Goals. We have an Athletics track at Saffron Lane which was cleaned up for the Special Olympics and recently had a new clubhouse built next to it and a city centre swimming pool is looking odds on with the Bow Bridge being demolished. An Ice Rink was suggested in an extension of the Culture Quarter in that area there with a Bowling alley.
davieG Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 No. Paying for it will be a consortium of parties - some paid by the Speedway, some lottery money, some British Cycling, some Goals. We have an Athletics track at Saffron Lane which was cleaned up for the Special Olympics and recently had a new clubhouse built next to it and a city centre swimming pool is looking odds on with the Bow Bridge being demolished. An Ice Rink was suggested in an extension of the Culture Quarter in that area there with a Bowling alley. I wouldn't call that City Centre certainly not if you travel by bus into Charles St or St Margarets from the North, East or South side of the city. We also have no idea as to the level of access for the general public.
Kilworthfox Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 Brilliant, I will definitely go along for some speedway, even though I am not a massive fan........ YET!
CosbehFox Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 I wouldn't call that City Centre certainly not if you travel by bus into Charles St or St Margarets from the North, East or South side of the city. Come off it....it will be 5 minutes from a bus terminus at Castle Park. You call the 'Curve' city centre even though, it's a good ten minute across town from my direction of home.
Lillehamring Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 Come off it....it will be 5 minutes from a bus terminus at Castle Park. You call the 'Curve' city centre even though, it's a good ten minute across town from my direction of home. fair enough, but it's a far cry from being a public venue... and even then for a city of leicester's size it's still a pretty poor show... hopefully, if the speedway is succesful it might promote some more investment in leicester's sports facilities.....
lou Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 Come off it....it will be 5 minutes from a bus terminus at Castle Park. You call the 'Curve' city centre even though, it's a good ten minute across town from my direction of home. They wont say if the public are even going to be allowed to use it yet!
davieG Posted 5 August 2009 Posted 5 August 2009 Come off it....it will be 5 minutes from a bus terminus at Castle Park. You call the 'Curve' city centre even though, it's a good ten minute across town from my direction of home. Still doesn't help those coming into St Margarets & Charles St. and hardly warrants the patronising thank you! Well Curve has been subject to many complaints about it's lack of accessibility by bus so hardly supports your answer.
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