NSS Plans Go Public
Belle Vue Speedway boss David Gordon today welcomed moves by Manchester City Council to turn the public spotlight on the National Speedway Stadium as a 'massive step forward'.
The project, which Gordon and Operations Director Chris Morton launched in 2007, is undergoing a public awareness blitz by the Council in the lead-up to the planning submission which is expected later this month.
It represents another landmark in the ambitious plan to bring the new stadium to Manchester as an integral part of the Belle Vue Sports Village in Gorton.
Once one of the city’s most popular leisure and tourism sites, the creation of the Belle Vue Sport Village will revive East Manchester’s reputation as a major destination while adding to it's already impressive sport and leisure credentials.
And the 6000-capacity National Speedway Stadium, with its 1800 seat grandstand, will allow the Belle Vue Aces to compete at the highest level of racing while allowing the club to host not only national race meets but, as one of the best tracks in Europe, to also compete with major venues across the continent.
The new stadium will include a Speedway Academy which will provide training and coaching for riders across a range of subjects, including riding, technical and mechanical skills taught in both a practical and classroom setting, and a state-of-the-art acoustic barrier to reduce noise for the first time in the club's history.
Gordon and Morton have had to be patient while they have gone through a myriad of meetings to agree the finances and all the intricate detail involved in the project which is an important part of the East Manchester Regeneration scheme.
Now the Council have signalled they are ready to turn the throttle on the venture which will bring World Championship speedway to the city, leaving Gordon and Morton elated after all their prolonged hard work.
Gordon said, “It’s terrific for Manchester, and Gorton in particular, as well as the sport of speedway, that the Council have decided the time is right to take this initiative. It’s the massive step forward we have been working towards.
“We are delighted that our plans to keep Belle Vue where it belongs, in the Belle Vue area where the club has raced since being formed in 1928, are really moving ahead. The discussion process has been long and, at times, tough but we are coming through it.
“There is strong support for the Sports Village in Gorton already but we want residents to know that their best interests have been thoroughly discussed and catered for, for example the planning application includes an acoustic shield to control noise.
“We want this to be a local amenity which will provide local jobs as well as bringing tourist revenues to Manchester hotels, restaurants and pubs as well.
"Local councillors are right behind us because they are very keen to achieve the benefits a scheme like this will bring to Gorton.”
Gordon added, “There is more to this project than the National Speedway Stadium and we have already been cleared to use the name by the sport’s authorities, but it will be brilliant to bring the world’s greatest speedway names to the city for World Championship racing.
“It would be fair to say that the International Motor Federation, who run speedway, and the IMG group, who are the Grand Prix rights holders, are right behind us and will be delighted with this development.
“To have Belle Vue Speedway racing on a custom built track, like we did at the iconic Hyde Road stadium, has been our dream and that dream is taking a major step in the right direction.
"We are very pleased that the public information process is now underway, with more public awareness of the Sports Village being made available as the project moves towards to the planning application later this month. This is a significant milestone in the project’s progress."
Councillor Rosa Battle, of Manchester City Council, added, "We would urge anyone in the local community to come forward with their views on the proposals for the Belle Vue Sports Village. The development will sit at the heart of the Gorton area and will become a major asset that the local community will be encouraged to take full advantage of.”
The Council have arranged the following drop-in dates for members of the public to gain further information:
Tuesday,June 10 at Gorton Library 2-7pm; Saturday,June 14 at Gorton Market 12-5pm; Wednesday, June 18 at Belle Vue Leisure Centre 2-7pm; Thursday, June 19 at Mount Road Sure Start Centre 2-7pm.
Thursday 5th June 2014