Plans to bring speedway back to Swindon at a new venue near the town are still very much in place despite a recent licensing development, it has been confirmed. 

The Advertiser recently reported that the Terry Russell-owned company that has run speedway in the town for years no longer held the licensing rights to promote the sport in the area, with the sport's national body revoking them. 

Ever since it was announced that speedway would not be returning to its longstanding home at Abbey Stadium in Blunsdon, Swindon Speedway and Gaming International had formed a partnership - Swindon Motorsports Ltd - with the intention of finding a new venue to host races. 

In November it was announced that a location within a 45-minute drive from Swindon had been found and things were progressing well, but the latest licensing development had cast doubt over this among speedway followers in the town.

In a statement in response to the story, Mr Russell has now confirmed that things are still progressing with the new stadium and that he hopes to get the licence back. 

He said: "Further to the recent article in the Swindon Advertiser, the directors of Swindon Speedway can confirm that the club’s licence has been transferred back to the British Speedway Promoters Ltd (BSPL,  the sport’s governing body.

"This is in line with the current procedures in operation. Following the cessation of racing at the Abbey Stadium, the club’s licence had been placed on ice whilst the club carried out searches in the local area for land suitable to develop a new venue.

"The club expect to announce plans for a new venue to race speedway in the Swindon area but is awaiting various legal and planning actions necessary before making an announcement.

"The proposed venue is a similar distance from the centre of Swindon as the Abbey Stadium. The club will communicate information when it can do so, and when it has solid information which it can share.

He added: "The club will continue working with the sport’s governing body and is committed to bringing speedway back to Swindon in the shortest possible timescale.

"BSPL have confirmed that they will welcome the club back with open arms once it is again ready to race."

The financial plight of Torquay United Football Club and Gaming International director Clark Osbourne's decision to step down as chairman also sparked concern last month, but reassurance was provided that this would have no impact on plans either.