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Post by browny on Jan 14, 2008 16:32:23 GMT
Confirmation that local councillors Rae Humberstone, Bob Timbs and County Councillor Val Smith will be present at our meeting tomorrow evening. Sadly Andrew Smith MP has business in London but is wife Val will convey his support for our fight.
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Post by hammy48 on Jan 16, 2008 11:22:38 GMT
Chris & Colin, Sincere apologies that we did not thank you both and SOS for arranging last night's meeting. I think it was an excellent turnought(though not surprising) on such a filthy night.
Anyway I feel sure I speak for everyone who attended. Many thanks and keep it up.
Brian
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Post by browny on Jan 16, 2008 12:51:02 GMT
Thanks Brian
I can confirm that the councillors present have started the work they committed to do and representation has today been made to the Head of City Planning for clarification of many aspects of planning
A really encouraging start
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Post by Tonyw on Jan 16, 2008 16:44:49 GMT
Hi Chris I was not able to make last nights meeting. I'am glad there was a large turn out of supporters.and the meeting was such a success Keep up the good work. Regards Tony.
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Post by browny on Jan 17, 2008 16:26:08 GMT
Thanks Chris, but I cannot understand why someone has not just turned up at his office for a face to face discussion. Mr Feltham's attitude has changed quite cosiderably for some reason; he has always been a tough cookie but was always approachable in the past. Anyway thanks again Brian In your line of business, should a person turn up at your office insisting that you should see them, would you agree to it. I wouldn't and wouldn't expect someone else to. Just my view on it Nothing major but all little bits of progress I have been given the opportunity to address a full meeting of Oxford City Council this coming Monday. This has been granted as an emergency measure and gives me 5 minutes to inform the full council and tell them what we want from them Proof that the councillors there on Tuesday are fulfilling their commitments
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Post by hammy48 on Jan 17, 2008 16:42:47 GMT
Chris, Unfortunately this can happen in any line of business and to avoid an unpleasant scene we sometimes have to concede and hear someone out.
This is excellent news, I am sure you will give it your best shot!
Well done
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Post by jasperwasp on Jan 17, 2008 21:15:22 GMT
all the best on monday chris. we will all be thinking of you .keep fingers crossed.
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Post by browny on Jan 23, 2008 12:39:14 GMT
We will be issuing a pre release later today but I can confirm that we have received contact from the GRA who have confirmed that they will not be making the stadium available in 2008 for league racing. We are told that the decision is not reversible.
A major blow for the campaign but certainly not the end. We will isue a more thorough release later which outlines the reasons given
The story will carried through the day today on the half hour by Radio Oxford with an interview with myself
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Post by hammy48 on Jan 23, 2008 13:06:10 GMT
Chris, Bad news but not altogether surprising.
Do they say that it is not available at all, even for a few 'Open' Meetings?
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Post by browny on Jan 23, 2008 15:09:33 GMT
PRESS RELEASE
Oxford Speedway has today received the news it was dreading as notification came from the Greyhound Racing Association that league speedway will not take place at the Cowley Stadium in 2008.
Confirmation was received in a telephone call made by GRA Managing Director Clive Feltham, who called Councillor Bob Timbs to inform him of his decision. He said that the GRA had made their decision and the decision was not reversible. Clearly this has come as a massive blow to the campaign to maintain speedway in Oxford in 2008. Feltham declined the opportunity to talk to supporters groups to further explain his decision.
In outlining his reasons for the decision, Feltham outlined a number of factors which led to the decision. Firstly not enough people were coming into the stadium to make it worthwhile for the GRA to open up the stadium and the lack of revenue was leading the GRA to lose money of speedway. He felt Oxford needed to run in a higher level of speedway to ensure that the required people entered the stadium. He also claimed that the GRA had been let down by recent promoters at Oxford with bills being left unpaid. While declaring that the stadium would not be made available for league racing in 2008 he did not discount the running of major meetings in the stadium, saying that he was willing to talk about any proposals regarding this.
Oxford Speedway had been given a deadline of Thursday 24th January, the date of the Conference League Promoters meeting to have an agreement in place with the GRA. With this deadline now here an extension to this deadline has been requested from Peter Toogood, the Chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Association who will seek this extension on behalf of the club tomorrow. It is however felt that even if an extension is granted this is unlikely to lead to Oxford being able to enter a league in 2008.
On hearing the news, Andrew Smith MP has written to the GRA requesting an urgent meeting to discuss what options there are which would maintain the sport and Councillor David Rundle, the portfolio holder for leisure on Oxford City Council has also expressed his support.
Commenting in the news SOS spokesman Chris Brown said “Clearly this is devastating news and puts us in a position where is looks almost certain that Oxford will not race in 2008. We have not given up the fight though and while it looks an impossible position, the fight will go on. We will work to ensure that should Oxford not take to the track in 2008 then we can secure a long term future for the club. Whether this be at the Stadium or at another venue remains to be seen but the GRA while being clear there will be no speedway in 2008 appear to have not ruled out speedway taking place in future years.”
In closing the door to league speedway in 2008, Feltham did dismiss the idea that speedway would be replaced by stock cars, commenting that Oxford Stadium had no plans to introduce stock cars at Oxford.
Brown also added “it is important that we continue the fight to see the club continue. SOS will continue its fundraising throughout 2008 to ensure we are creating a fund to allow the sport to continue in the future. We cannot let our Diamond anniversary to pass without celebration and we will work to ensure we celebrate this important anniversary”
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Post by jasperwasp on Jan 23, 2008 15:36:40 GMT
what about getting in touch and see if the bspa .want to hold there events there like jon cooke suggested
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Post by patbint on Jan 23, 2008 15:38:38 GMT
Even though both myself and Christopher were born and bred in Swindon over the last 5 yrs we have been made welcome by the people of Oxford! The fact that this is one less venue for Chris to ride at is not my main concern at this moment in time. I feel genuinely sorry for all the fans and the hard working people behind the scenes at the loss of their speedway club. Thank you everybody for 5 good and happy years and would hope speedway will return to Sandy Lane in the near future . Pat and Chris
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Post by browny on Jan 23, 2008 18:10:41 GMT
what about getting in touch and see if the bspa .want to hold there events there like jon cooke suggested In hand Jasper. Peter Toogood is only back from holiday today and he is of course aware of this suggestion.
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Post by johnw on Jan 23, 2008 20:49:43 GMT
As a 1949'er I find all this very sad. Agree with all the comments made both here and on the BSF. I think we should safeguard all the equipment left at the track which makes the running of speedway possible and this may mean appealing to Allen Trump's good nature as the (presumably) current owner of it. Perhaps the SOS can loan out for a fee the "big blade" they own so that some use can be made of it and add capital to the funds. In an earlier post I did raise the possibility that the real problem for the GRA might be debts from previous promoters and sadly this seems to be the case. I still fail to see how getting some money in can be worse than no money!! A thought on this is maybe the SOS becomes a shareholder to the GRA by purchasing a few shares and then this allows attendance at the company's meetings at which the CEO can be questioned on why the maximizing of its assets is not taking place by not renting out the stadium at Oxford to run speedway. If I remember correctly from last Tuesday's meeting at the Green Rd Club it was stated that there is no necessity to run any meetings in one year as any future running of speedway would be covered by the planning permission granted in 1948/49 and no change of use was being sought. Did anyone else hear this or was I having a senior moment. I believe the councillers present were going to check the planning implications for the stadium the day after our meeting. Does anone know what they found out?
Just like to thank Chris, Colin, all the SOS and others who have done their very best to solve this problem for the supporters and people of Oxfordshire. I don't think anyone could have done any more than you all did so please don't feel you have let anyone down 'cause you haven't. The blame lies with others and it is only fear of a certain somebody's lawyers that stops me naming the main problem from the world of speedway who is still allowed to promote!!!
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Post by browny on Jan 29, 2008 23:02:23 GMT
Sadly we received another blow to our survival chances today when the intervention of local MP Andrew Smith failed to gain any progress with the GRA. Mr Smith did receive a call from Clive Feltham from the GRA but sadly he re-iterated the GRA's position on 2008 and declined the opportunity to meet to further discuss how any progress could be made to attempt to save speedway at Oxford in 2008
So while the fight goes on to be honest we are running out of options
It is hoped that a meeting of Oxford fans can take place in the Oxford Town Hall sometime during the middle of February where the local councillors can feed back any progress they have made. Should this meeting happen we will of course extend a invitation to the GRA
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