Swindon Motorsports Ltd has formally announced the location of a proposed site for a new motorsports hub incorporating speedway.
The proposed site at Studley Grange is marked by the lowest blue tag, with the old Abbey Stadium markjed uppermost and the town centre between
The organisation is a joint venture between Swindon Speedway and Gaming International, and its proposed site is at Studley Grange, near Junction 16 of the M4, a 15-minute drive from Swindon.
The site is within the administrative boundaries of Wiltshire Council and follows a commitment by Swindon Motorsports to find a new location for speedway racing within 45 minutes of Swindon.
For many years the sport was based at Abbey Stadium - and Swindon Borough Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins voiced disappointment that it was not returning there.
He said: “We had always hoped that Gaming International would be able to secure a commercially viable speedway facility at its spiritual home of the Abbey Stadium. It was what the speedway fans wanted, and it was what we wanted as elected representatives.
“However, as a council we cannot force a commercial operator like Gaming International to continue running speedway on private land, if they deem it to be unsustainable.
“We note the announcement about a Motorsports centre just over the border in Wiltshire and will monitor developments closely, whilst being mindful of Gaming International’s track record.”
Swindon Motorsports says the Studley Grange Motorsports Hub will feature a number of provisions, including a speedway oval; multi use arena; a karting track; public buildings; associated garages and storage to support on-site repairs; car parking spaces, including EV charging points; and facilities for refreshments and entertainment. Consideration is also being given to an all-terrain course.
Further details on the proposed development will be announced in the coming weeks and months.
Terry Russell, Chairman of Swindon Motorsports and Swindon Speedway, said: “With the announcement of a new site for motorsports, we are finally making progress in the search for a new home for the Swindon Robins.
"Studley Grange Motorsports Hub will deliver an enhanced experience for motorsports fans, and we can’t wait to share further details of our plans for the future.
“I want to thank everyone who has kept the flame of speedway alive, from our dedicated fanbase, to everyone at Swindon Motorsports who have worked incredibly hard to identify and secure a suitable site for motorsports and I personally ask all speedway supporters to join with us and support the planning application to come.’’
Swindon Motorsports has commenced engagement with Wiltshire Council, and in the past few weeks submitted a pre-application for the proposed new Motorsports Hub, which was recently validated. Following a period of engagement with the community and political representatives over the coming months, a planning application will be submitted to Wiltshire Council for the construction of the new Hub. A local public consultation will take place prior to submission of the application in order to seek local feedback on the proposals.
Clarke Osborne of Gaming International, said: “Since our call for sites in November 2022, we have come a long way in finding a new home for motorsports in Swindon. Our announcement today heralds a significant milestone in that journey and demonstrates our commitment to the sustainable future of speedway.
"I hope that speedway and motorsports fans across Swindon will visit our website, provide constructive feedback and sign up as a supporter.
“We will provide further updates in the coming weeks and months, but I want to take this moment to thank everyone at Swindon Motorsports for their dedication in getting us to this point.”
To keep updated on the progress of the new Motorsports Hub, and to ask any questions, people can visit the Swindon Motorsports website at https://swindonmotorsports.co.uk/
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