SCS campaign group outlines its objections to the demolition of the Coventry Bees stadium - The Coventry Observer

SCS campaign group outlines its objections to the demolition of the Coventry Bees stadium

Coventry Editorial 26th Aug, 2021   0

THE GROUP campaigning to save the Coventry Bees Speedway has submitted an 86-page document objecting to controversial plans to demolish the historic stadium.

That would be replaced by 124 homes and access to the site via Rugby Road, along with open space, a sports pitch and pavilion and car park.

Save Coventry Speedway and Stox Campaign Group (SCS) have accused developers Brandon Estates of closing the stadium without considering the Government’s national planning policy requirements which, it says, protects sports and recreation facilities from redevelopment.

They have accused Brandon Estates of ‘evicting Speedway and Stock Car Racing’ from the Brandon Stadium at the end of 2016, despite a continuing need for both sports to remain at the stadium.




The group also claims the site is within confirmed green belt land and a development of 124 new homes is not compatible with it.

It says the ‘Coventry Stadium Speedway Viability Appraisal’ is poorly researched, ‘littered with embarrassing errors and untruths’, is flawed in almost every respect and is biased in the extreme.


It also argues there is no need for the planned 3G pitch in the area as there is already sufficient provision and the floodlights will impact on those living in the residential area.

The developer’s plans, the group says, are still extremely vague despite the ample time Brandon Estates has had to work them up.

And SCS concludes by saying Rugby Borough Council, which will determining the plans, could and should have refused the original planning application and negotiations over a two-year period do not appear to be justified.

When the first application was submitted, it generated 1,800 responses from the public with just seven of those in favour.

They said the Brandon Stadium was ‘the best venue in the country for oval-racing motorsport and staged all the top events, adding the closure was totally unjustified.

The Observer has contacted both the agent representing Brandon Estates and Rugby Borough Council for a time frame for the planning application but no-one was available for comment at the time of going to press.

We will bring you responses and updates as and when we get them.

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