SOS fans forum meeting - 15th January

[Jemma]

Hi everyone.

I've just got back from the SOS fans forum meeting at the Green Road Club in Kidlington. The meeting was very well attended on what turned out to be a very wet evening. In attendance to offer their support and expertise were Oxford City Councillors Rae Humberstone and Bob Timbs, and Oxfordshire County Councillor Val Smith.

Although in spite of massive effort there's been no further progress in contacting the GRA, I felt the meeting overall was a positive one. I did (of course!) take notes from the meeting, and I'll be posting those up here in due course for those who weren't able to attend to see. As always if anyone has any corrections to make to my notes, or can add bits I missed, please feel free to do so.

[browny]

Thanks for recording what happened Jemma, that will be very useful. Our Press Release from the nights events is contained below

MP & COUNCILLORS PLEDGE THEIR BACKING TO FIGHT TO KEEP SPEEDWAY AT OXFORD...

Despite horrendous weather in the area, there was a massive turn out at the meeting of Oxford Speedway Fans that took place at the Kidlington Green Social Club last night.

And whilst representatives of both the 'Save our Speedway' organisation and the Supporters Club were unable to bring any positive news regarding the continuation of the sport at the Cowley Road venue, those present heard County Councillor Val Smith and City Councillors Rae Humberstone and Bob Timbs all pledge their support to the cause.

Val's husband Andrew, the local MP, couldn't attend the meeting because he was required at Westminster but he too has vowed to do all he can to aid the cause.

Speaking to the meeting Rae Humberstone, the city councillor for Blackbird Leys said, "Blackbird Leys gets a bit of a bad press at times - which is, to a large extent, undeserved. Speedway shows the good side of Blackbird Leys - and it would be a tragedy if it was lost. "It's a unique sport - with a friendly atmosphere and no tribalism between sets of supporters. Segregation is not necessary and everyone admires the skill of the competitors."

Fellow city councillor Bob Timbs said: "Andrew Smith would have loved to be here tonight, but had to be in Westminster. But he will give the fight to save Oxford Speedway his strongest possible support. He'll do everything he can to find out the stance of the GRA and then take it from there."


And speaking of rumours of the possibility of stockcar racing replacing speedway at the venue Timbs added: "We would not be happy for stock cars to take place at Oxford Stadium.
Sandy Lane is not a big enough road for the large trailers to travel down. Also I've been to a stock car meeting and it's very noisy - much louder than speedway. I've spoken to the head of environmental health, and the introduction of stock cars would be blocked - it's a definite no-go."

County councillor Val Smith said: "There are certain areas set aside for leisure and recreation. The stadium is a sporting facility - and we will making enquires and then taking the appropriate action to make sure it remains that way. Speedway & Greyhounds have worked together well in the same stadium for years. We can be very persistent. We'll keep on going until we get the answers we need."

And in that respect it is understood that it is the intention that an emergency motion appertaining to the situation be tabled for discussion at next Monday's Council meeting.

Reflecting on the night's event SOS spokesman Chris Brown said, "We were staggered by the turn out especially given the horrendous weather and a huge thanks must go to Val, Rae and Bob in particular for coming along and adding their weight to the cause together with MP Andrew Smith. The fight to keep speedway at the venue will very much go on although whether that will include any action taking place in 2008 remains to be seen of course. One thing we have investigated is whether six meetings have to be staged at the stadium in 2008 in order to maintain planning permission and we believe this is a myth. There's no such requirement. The only concern is if we missed a year would be the environmental concerns - i.e. noise but such are the strict regulations in that regard within the sport itself nowadays, that should present no real problems.

So the fight to save speedway in Oxford very much goes on and we pledge to keep you informed of ALL future developments as and when they happens.

CAN OXFORD SPEEDWAY BE SAVED? WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT IT IS!

[Tonyw]

Hi Jemma / Chris
I was not able to make tonights meeting so any information would be much appreciated.
I'am glad there was a large turn out of supporters.
Keep up the good work.
Regards Tony.