Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[richardcrabbe]

I totally agree with this. The simple numbers do not add up to any kind of profitable venture, and these people are not stupid. Well OK they are stupid, but they are not the types to do all this for no reward. This is however not a reason to deny them the lease.

It strike me that we need to get together to thrash out some valid reasons why the executive council should say no to the lease. These need to be briefed in to the councillors & they need to be well prepared.

[john shipton]

Sorry Richard, you are wrong about granting the LRRC a 12 month lease. For other groups or organisations will do the same if a precedence is given. This will lead to gaining a foothold on the West Common and applying for another lease which residents have already noticed could be for "land grab." Think about what lies behind it all using the example over what has happened to the Great Leighs Racecourse near Chelmsford, Essex. Also what the BHA and Levy Board are wishing to do due the financial state of the betting industry.
There will be a reduction in horse racing days for 2011 and is being applied to small and medium racecourses throughout the UK. Don't forget too in getting out of this recession is likely to take more than the duration of this Parliament.
The companies behind Great Leighs Racecourse have gone into liquidation after declaring themselves bankrupt. The web site for Great Leighs Racecourse, where this was shown, has now been removed from the internet.
Straight from the horses mouth, the horse racing fraternity have indicated that £12m will not be enough to rebuild the racecourse on the West Common. Great Leighs Racecourse cost £30m to build. Infrastructure was in place first before this racecourse was built ie roads, access points, etc. The Royal Bank of Scotland are having difficulty in recuperating debts of £24m left by these companies. It is no wonder the RBS is in a financial mess having to be bailed out by taxpayers money!
Members of the Commons Advisory Panel have now received the agenda for their next meeting on the 26th July. One item is about a recommendation required about the return of horse racing for the West Common. The recommendation will be passed onto the Executive for their meeting and decision in August. Minutes from the recent special meeting held at City Hall are being sent out later to CAP members.
It is becoming apparent that Karl McCartney is not talking about his pledge about horse racing for Lincoln now he is attending Westminster. Instead, he is giving out written statements. I wonder why Karen Rastall is being left to become the spokesperson? To carry the can and be used as a scapegoat later!

[Neville]

glad that there are folk out there who appreciate the beauty of the west common. this letter comes someone living in the north of scotland.


Don't race to spoil the beauty of common


Lincolnshire Echo - 28th July 2010


As a regular visitor to Lincoln, I could not believe it when I heard that the West Common might get permission for racecourse development.

It is so well used as a bit of historic green space, rich in wildlife and tradition.

How on earth can the people of Lincoln consider giving that up, for a racecourse idea which is probably just a Trojan horse for getting big bucks development on the common?

Even if the racecourse was a commercial success (July 20), bringing thousands of cars for race meets, this would cover the ancient grazing land with acres of buildings and acres of tarmac for parking and roads.

What about the skylark that have always sung here in abundance every spring, or the snipe and stonechat that join them in winter?

Or the owls, bats, insects and flowers?

Or the local people and visitors who enjoy this precious spot?

The common is as much part of what makes Lincoln special as the city's historic core.

My strongest memory of Lincoln is the view of the common, with the ponies grazing between dog walkers in the foreground and the windmill and cathedral on the horizon behind.

Please keep it that way, unspoilt.

JULIAN BRANSCOMBE Greens, Toab, Orkney.

[Jeff]

Just read the Lincolnshire Echo this evening. These two letters were published.


If racing fails, who will pay to put the common right? Lincolnshire Echo - 29th July 2010

JOHN Campion uses the expressions nimby and luddite in his letter (July 10).

Having read his letter, I see why he had to resort to such mudslinging.

He says horse racing on West Common will bring work and financial gain to Lincoln.

On what facts have you come to your conclusion the use of the common for racing would be a good thing?

What will the finished project be?

What new buildings will be required?

How much of the common will be fenced off and not available to the public?

How many precious trees will be felled?

How many jobs will it create?

How much money will it bring in to the local economy?

I assume you have all these facts at your disposal and have weighed these benefits against the problems the racecourse will bring with it – traffic, parking, road closures, loss of common space and, should the project fail, who will pay to put the common right?

Have you asked yourself just what is required to get a return on a £12 million-plus investment?

More than the numbers the grandstand will hold, I suspect.

The common does not just belong to those who have a vested interest in it, such as horse-owners, dog-walkers and sportsmen and women who use it and certainly not to just those who live in the west end.

It belongs to everyone and it seems to me it is right every rate-payer should be involved in the final decision, if they can overcome their apathy.

What value do you put on the two commons we have in the city.

Have you ever walked on West Common?

Racing on the common is allegedly 400 years old. The population of Lincoln in 1700 was 4,000. In 1800, it was 7,000.

Not many cars or buses around in those days.

If my memory serves me correctly, in 1960 the road was only closed in front of the grandstand on race days, with traffic diverted behind the grandstand.

That was the 20th century. Let's move on to the 21st century, provide jobs and income, but please not at the expense of one of Lincoln's crown jewels, at least not unless the benefits far, far outweigh the losses.

IAN DURRANT Boultham Park Road, Lincoln.

All of us who are campaigning to protect Lincoln's West Common from development understand the need to create jobs and support the local economy (July 23).

We all live and work in Lincoln and we have the best interests of our city at heart.

What cannot be defended, in our opinion, is the appropriation of an ancient, unique, beautiful and extremely well used common – rich in wildlife and important community facilities – for financial gain.

Supporters of racing in Lincoln have yet to make a sustainable case for building a new racecourse.

There are after all three other courses within 30 miles of the city (Southwell, Market Rasen and the Lincolnshire Showground).

But if they do manage to make the case there are plenty of far more suitable sites to choose from.

As Oscar Wilde said, a cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

VICKY ASHBERRY Lincoln.