Swindon Needs Speedway Response to Swindon Motorsports’ Studley Grange Plans

Swindon Needs Speedway has been reflecting since Swindon Motorsports Ltd held their recent public consultation on the proposed development of a new Motorsports Hub at Studley Grange.

Firstly, we would like to thank Swindon Motorsports Ltd for the private session they offered us. It was a welcome opportunity to discuss, first-hand, our concerns and frustrations relating to the Abbey Stadium situation and the circumstances which have led to the loss of the sport in the town. It also allowed an important insight into Swindon Motorsports’ motivation and plans behind the Studley Grange proposal.

We have seen the very mixed reaction from the online Swindon Robins fanbase to the plans, and we share some of those concerns. We know scepticism is driven by the failure to deliver on similar plans elsewhere, coupled with the disappointment of numerous false dawns and broken promises with the redevelopment of the Abbey Stadium.

Questions about perceived likelihood of delivery and motivation aside, there are some areas of the plan we believe need to be reviewed or clarified to give the best chance of obtaining planning permission, and ensure it is not set up to fail.

Onsite parking, compliance with traffic management requirements, access to the site for large numbers of vehicles, 99-year lease specifics, detailed plans for the onsite multi-use options and potential land contamination are all areas that need particular focus

We call on both Swindon Borough and Wiltshire Councils to work collaboratively to utilise the National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024 section 104) to protect the existing facility at the Abbey Stadium from development and compel Swindon Motorsports to deliver on their promises of building and operating the new facility at Studley.

Terry Russell has said he doesn’t want to be the man “who closed Swindon Speedway”.
Therefore, Swindon Needs Speedway call on him and his Swindon Motorsports colleagues to demonstrate that, by putting our Robins back on track in 2026 as promised, and delivering future development plans to give the town’s people back a team operating in its rightful place - amongst the sport’s elite.

With such promises, actions will speak louder than words. Winning back the trust of Swindon Speedway fans must be a top priority for Swindon Motorsports to make their plans work. Open, honest and regular dialogue is key. Swindon Needs Speedway therefore request visibility of the 99-year lease, pre-planning report from Wilts Council and detailed Business Plans for the Studley Grange proposal.

Swindon Needs Speedway will continue to work on multiple fronts for the return of our sport, and the important community and heritage asset that is Swindon Speedway. We look forward to ongoing engagement with Swindon Motorsports Ltd, local authorities and any other interested parties to make that happen.

16/02/2025

Committee Statement 

Swindon Needs Speedway were very encouraged to see so many fellow Robins' fans attend the Swindon Motorsports Consultation event yesterday. The numbers clearly demonstrated, once again, that the need and desire for speedway in Swindon still burns strongly.

Irrespective of any reservations, we would encourage all fans to take the opportunity to provide feedback on the Studley Grange plans, emphasizing how important the sport is to the town and its people.

Securing planning permission is the first step towards ensuring the plans can come to fruition, and Swindon Motorsports are expected to deliver. Our focus as a group has always been to secure the return of the sport and keep as many options alive until that happens.

Failure to obtain planning permission from Wilts Council will only achieve the removal of one of those existing options.

So, please submit feedback to ensure a lack of public demand isn't a reason, should Studley Grange not be delivered.

Feedback can be sent via Email to consultation@thirty47.co.uk Freepost to TC Consultation

Via website at https://swindonmotorsports.co.uk/

Over the coming week, Swindon Needs Speedway will take the time to sit down as a group and discuss the information given to us during our meeting with Swindon Motorsports. We will then issue a statement with our views on the proposals for Studley Grange.

In the meantime, we look forward to maintaining dialogue with Swindon Motorsports through the continued process.

Thank you.

22/11/2024

Committee Statement 

Thanks to all who supported us at the full Swindon Borough Council meeting last night.

For those who couldn't make it, the streaming of the meeting can be found here.

The speedway related discussions are at 12:45 and main petition presentation and debate from around 30:00.

Whilst there wasn't a definitive outcome for an imminent return of the Robins., the cross-party support for speedway gives some encouragement, and something for us to work on.

#SwindonNeedsSpeedway

22/11/2024

Committee Statement 

IMPORTANT!

We are due to present our petition to Swindon Borough Council at their Full Council Meeting on Thursday 28th November at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street, Swindon. The meeting is due to start at 19:00.

It would be fantastic to demonstrate the community need for speedway to return to Swindon with plenty of Official Swindon Speedway fans , wearing team colours if possible, turning up to view the debate from the public gallery.

If you are able to attend, please represent the group in the appropriate manner. There may well be comments or statements that are contentious, disagreeable or in conflict of our cause, but we must remain dignified and professional and refrain from shouting out or heckling at all times.

The details of the meeting can be found here

And the Council's proposed petition response here

We look forward to seeing you there, as we continue to fight for the return of our sport to our town.

Swindon Needs Speedway

14/10/2024

Committee Statement 

Today, members of our group met with Heidi Alexander and Will Stone, MP’s for Swindon North and South, along with their assistants.

A productive meeting was held. At the forefront of discussions were the ongoing situation at the Abbey Stadium and any alternative options via which third parties are looking to facilitate the return of speedway to the town of Swindon.

Both declared their desire to publicly back a return of the sport and offer support in their capacity as the serving Members of Parliament for Swindon.

We would like to publicly thank Heidi and Will for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet us today, and look forward to maintaining dialogue as agreed.

#swindonneedsspeedway

22/09/2024

It has come to our attention that our article on the Swindon Robins official website (screen shot below) has been removed.

This decision to remove the article was taken at the direct request of Steve Parks of Swindon Motorsports Ltd.

We are disappointed that the former promotion of Swindon Speedway feels the need to dictate what articles can or cannot be placed on this website.

We have been advised that the website is under the jurisdiction of the BSPL and its use comes with the licence to operate Swindon Speedway and is currently open to use to champion the return of Swindon Speedway.

This licence is currently held by the BSPL following its decision to revoke it from Swindon Speedway 2013 Ltd.

With these latest actions, we once again would ask Swindon Motorsport Ltd to sit down with us in person and engage in open conversations. So far we have only been met with holding responses to our emails with no commitment to engage with us.

We question why Swindon Motorsport Ltd would request such actions if their focus is to return the sport of speedway to Swindon and fail to engage with a group representing the fans that they will depend upon to return if they succeed in delivering their Studley Grange project.

#swindonneedsspeedway

20/09/2024

Committee members Andy Freeguard and Neil Ockwell took timeout to speak with Clive Hayward from torquaytalk.com to discuss our ongoing campaign. For those not in the know, Clarke Osbourne had dealings with Torquay United FC which ultimately saw the club almost go out of business and become another casualty on Clarke's long list of failed, broken promises.

Click on the link to read the full article.

#swindonneedsspeedway

18/09/2024

The committee would like to thank each and every one of you that have taken time to sign our petition so far. Your efforts in getting the petition past 1,500 in just 7 days has been truly amazing. Thank You!

Now let's push on for the remaining 4 weeks and get those numbers right up to show Swindon Borough Council that Swindon Speedway is a priority for the community and it's leisure needs.

#swindonneedsspeedway

12/09/2024

Read our story on the Official Swindon Speedway website!

Swindon Robins Speedway Official Website: WELCOME (swindon-speedway.com)

10/09/2024

Many thanks to Heidi Alexander and Will Stone for agreeing to meet with us!

09/09/2024

We may have seemed a little quiet, however we've been busy in the background!

05/09/2024

Whilst it may appear a little quieter publicly, rest assured there is plenty ongoing in the background
We're awaiting responses to emails and follow-up from several areas
Website planning underway
Petition planning is in progress
Talks about more publicity for the group cause 

01/09/2024

Why indeed?

30/08/2024

29/08/2024

23/08/2024

22/08/2024

22/08/2024