When Swindon Robins were crowned speedway league champions, it was easy to forget that just five years ago we faced the very real threat of losing the Abbey Stadium altogether. At the time I was a Councillor for the Abbey Meads ward and the Lead Member for Leisure on Swindon Borough Council. Without hesitation, I led the campaign to save the stadium, with public meetings, protests, petitions, and local and national media coverage. The campaign saw a fantastic coming together of speedway fans, local residents and the whole town and, thankfully, the long-term future of the Abbey Stadium was secured when planning permission was granted for a new, modern stadium.
However, the initial euphoria soon passed as the development hit problems. The new Abbey Stadium was tied to the development of the adjacent land for new housing. So when the housing market crashed in 2008, plans for this development were paused. It has been a long five years, but with the market picking up again, the developers are now finally ready to get digging on the foundations of the new stadium with detailed proposals being brought forward next Spring.
Even the outline plans are exciting. The new Abbey Stadium will include improved spectator and corporate facilities and a brand new indoor market. These will help make the stadium and market financially viable in the long-term - crucial for the fans, the traders and also our local economy.
Ahead of the detailed planning application I will be pushing for a number of extra conditions. With a new stadium, home to a successful speedway team, it is essential that additional parking provision is available to avoid gridlock and ensure capacity crowds. It is vital that Swindon Council lease the former Groundwell Park & Ride site to the stadium to provide additional parking.
The new market will be a real boost for existing traders who I have repeatedly supported. But I would also like to see a long term arrangement between the market, local schools, Scouts and our two colleges to allow budding young entrepreneurs to have access to market stalls to help them get their first real-world experience of business. I know the market is keen to offer this and it would be an exciting addition to Swindon’s economic plans. We must never forget that many famous business people such as Lord Sugar and multi-national brands such as Superdry started life on a market stall.
Let’s make Swindon the place to learn the ropes and get that first taste of business. We can rightly be proud of our budding young entrepreneurs and our Speedway team; and soon we can be rightly proud of their new home.
