AMBITIOUS plans to create a £6m new speedway stadium in Swindon have been put on hold.
Just last month councillors waved through plans to create the new stadium for Swindon's speedway team at Blunsdon.
But now Government inspectors have temporarily put the stoppers on the project.
They want to see more detail about the application before it can proceed.
David Potter, director of planning and transport strategy at Swindon Council, said the inspectors' decision was not entirely unexpected'.
"The Government office is asking for more time to examine the evidence to ensure policy is being followed," he said.
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"This could be the beginning of a long road for this application."
News that the development plans had hit a snag worried fans.
Darcia Gingell, chairwoman of the Robins Pit Crew, Supporters Club, said: "We are obviously very concerned.
"Anything that is going to slow down this process is a worry. If it affects the future of the Robins then we are all affected.
"I am hoping that the Government does decide to go along with the decision made by our council.
"It puts our future into doubt again and who knows how long it would take?
"I do think it would add on a few years to the process and then who knows if the development will go ahead."
Plans for redeveloping the site have been bandied around for years.
It was believed that building a new stadium would be the only way to guarantee the future of Swindon's Robins speedway team, one of the best in the country.
The stumbling block for the stadium scheme is a multi-million pound linked application to build 450 houses on land close to the venue.
The Government inspectors have hauled the plan in for a closer look at two problems.
One of them was linked to worries over the road network aired by the Highways Agency and the other was if by approving the scheme did the council give sufficient weight to objections.
"When the council determined the planning application in February it decided that speedway was important to the borough," said Mr Potter.
"The councillors felt that the cultural and recreational value of speedway outweighed the objections to the scheme.
"What the Government is now doing is reviewing if that decision gave sufficient weight to the objections.
"We as a council never want this to happen. We would hope that the recommendations made by officers in their reports are comprehensive and balance all the arguments.
"We would hope that Government office will conclude that the work done here at Swindon Council was sufficient to determine this application and that the local decision was made properly."
No-one from Gaming International, which owns the stadium, or London developer Thistle, was available for comment.
Posted by: Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon on 8:41am Fri 21 Mar 08
[bold]David Potter, director of planning and transport strategy at Swindon Council, said the inspectors' decision was not entirely unexpected'.[/bold] This seems rather an odd comment, is Mr Potter implying they knew the scheme was really unacceptable. This is indeed a shame. The Town is in a sate of decay and when a scheme like this comes along it should be grabbed with both hands. Another reason UKIP believe local planning issues should be just that.
David Potter, director of planning and transport strategy at Swindon Council, said the inspectors' decision was not entirely unexpected'. This seems rather an odd comment, is Mr Potter implying they knew the scheme was really unacceptable. This is indeed a shame. The Town is in a sate of decay and when a scheme like this comes along it should be grabbed with both hands. Another reason UKIP believe local planning issues should be just that.
[bold]The Government inspectors have hauled the plan in for a closer look at two problems.
One of them was linked to worries over the road network[/bold]
What the heck are they building there now then? I hope that there is some reason that they are screwing up my journey to work every day!
The Government inspectors have hauled the plan in for a closer look at two problems.
One of them was linked to worries over the road network
What the heck are they building there now then? I hope that there is some reason that they are screwing up my journey to work every day!
Posted by: Robin Harris, Swindon on 10:06am Fri 21 Mar 08
Labour government and local MP's versus Conservative council. What do you expect? The local MP's know they are at the end of their terms so why should they bother.
It will boil down to a political decision which again will ignore the views of the people.
Labour government and local MP's versus Conservative council. What do you expect? The local MP's know they are at the end of their terms so why should they bother.
It will boil down to a political decision which again will ignore the views of the people.
Posted by: old_town_cynic, old town on 10:11am Fri 21 Mar 08
Unbelievable the government inspectors get involved in trying to stop something which people actually want. However they seem powerless to stop the surge of apartments and flats round old town which causes increased road congestion and as we saw last week leads to tragic consequences.
Unbelievable the government inspectors get involved in trying to stop something which people actually want. However they seem powerless to stop the surge of apartments and flats round old town which causes increased road congestion and as we saw last week leads to tragic consequences.
Posted by: Ian13, Swindon on 12:41pm Fri 21 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Robert Feal-Martinez[/bold] wrote:
Ian13 doesn't the new road by-pass Blunsdon. Just sounds like more lame excuses to me.[/quote] There's a brand new spur road and bridge that leads straight to the Speedway site. Tarmac going down yesterday.
Robert Feal-Martinez wrote:
Ian13 doesn't the new road by-pass Blunsdon. Just sounds like more lame excuses to me.
There's a brand new spur road and bridge that leads straight to the Speedway site. Tarmac going down yesterday.
Posted by: stfc4eva, swindon on 5:14pm Fri 21 Mar 08
[quote][bold]who dat?[/bold] wrote:
Typical interference from this lame excuse for a government - have ever been ruled by a such a bunch of incompetents?[/quote] O yes,Tories from 1979-1997.
who dat? wrote:
Typical interference from this lame excuse for a government - have ever been ruled by a such a bunch of incompetents?
Posted by: stfc4eva, swindon on 5:15pm Fri 21 Mar 08
[quote][bold]who dat?[/bold] wrote:
Typical interference from this lame excuse for a government - have ever been ruled by a such a bunch of incompetents?[/quote] O yes,Tories from 1979-1997.
who dat? wrote:
Typical interference from this lame excuse for a government - have ever been ruled by a such a bunch of incompetents?
Posted by: TonyJanson, Chippenham on 8:18am Sat 22 Mar 08
O.T.Cynic :Old Town traffic congestion ? Canal to be installed through the town during the next few years. Swondonians you aint seen nothing yet ! By the way , 2468 -UP THE ROBINS !
O.T.Cynic :Old Town traffic congestion ? Canal to be installed through the town during the next few years. Swondonians you aint seen nothing yet ! By the way , 2468 -UP THE ROBINS !
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