Local News · Swindon
Campaign to save Swindon's Abbey Stadium as community asset rejected
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Swindon Borough Council has refused an application to list the historic Abbey Stadium as an Asset of Community Value, clearing a potential hurdle for proposed housing plans.
A formal bid to secure the future of Swindon's Abbey Stadium by designating it as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has been rejected by Swindon Borough Council. The decision follows an application by the group Swindon Needs Speedway, which had hoped the move would grant them time to organise a bid to protect the site from planned redevelopment.
The stadium, which has served as a central fixture of the town's social and leisure scene for 75 years, is currently the subject of a redevelopment proposal. Site owners Gaming International, led by Clarke Osborne, have lodged plans to transform the land off Lady Lane into a residential estate comprising 130 homes.
Had the ACV status been granted, the designation would have required a pause in the disposal process, providing community groups with a statutory window to assemble a bid to purchase the venue. The intention of the campaign group was to maintain the stadium as a multi-purpose leisure hub, specifically ensuring the survival of greyhound racing and lobbying for the return of speedway to the town.
However, council legal advisers recommended the rejection of the bid. The council concluded that Swindon Needs Speedway failed to demonstrate a formal link to the body governing greyhound racing. Furthermore, officials noted that the group could not provide sufficient evidence to support claims that greyhound racing was guaranteed to continue at the site for the next five years.
Responding to the outcome, representatives from Swindon Needs Speedway expressed frustration, noting that they had previously incorporated feedback from officials to include greyhound trainers and supporters in their application. A spokesperson for the group described the result as 'galling' and criticised the ACV process, suggesting that it remains heavily weighted in favour of developers rather than the preservation of local heritage assets.
With the ACV route now closed, the campaign group has confirmed it is changing its strategy. Swindon Needs Speedway will now shift its focus to monitoring and challenging upcoming planning applications for the Abbey Stadium site, as well as keeping a close watch on proposals regarding a potential new site at Studley Grange.
The council's decision marks another setback for campaigners attempting to influence the future of the Lady Lane site. The stadium remains a sensitive topic in Swindon, balancing the demand for new housing against the loss of long-standing community sporting infrastructure.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Speedway · View original