MP slams council over speedway decision

12:22pm Tuesday 27th November 2007

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STOURBRIDGE and Cradley MP, Lynda Waltho has hit out at Dudley Council over its plans to relocate speedway team Cradley Heathens on green belt land.

Lynda, a speedway fan herself, said Dudley Council has left the decision on where to relocate the Heathens so late, the proposed green belt location on Oldnall Road is the only large enough space to hold a track - even though it is unsuitable.

She said: "Dudley Council have been promising sites around the borough to the Heathens for the last ten years and time and time again they have let them down, either by leaving the decision too late, losing sites or changing their minds.

"I would love to see speedway return to the borough, however, the proposed site is not the right place environmentally for this to happen.

"Its not fair on my constituents who would have their quality of life compromised by the traffic and noise pollution."

Lynda revealed she had met with Cradley Raising Aid Saving Heathens (CRASH) campaigners and said she is willing to help them find an alternative brownfield site.

She said: "As much as I want to see speedway return, they need to find the right site and this isn't it."

Last week the News reported how the site owners, Old Swinford Hospital School, have confirmed they have had no involvement with speedway developers after feoffee Jack Edmonds said "As far as we're concerned we have got no agreement with CRASH - and we haven't gone into talks with them whatsoever."

Dudley Council planners have yet to officially register the planning application, which was submitted at the beginning of October, after it was returned to the developers with concerns.

Meanwhile, residents living close to the site have joined forces to set up a website to keep those fighting to save the land up-to-date with information.

The site can be found at http://no2oldnallroad.co.uk, which also includes links to online petitions.