Perry Barr Speedway ban planned - because sport is too noisy
SPEEDWAY could be banned at Perry Barr only three years after returning to Birmingham, because council officers say the sport is too noisy.
The future of the Birmingham Brummies, currently flying high close to the top of the Speedway Premier League, lies in the hands of the city planning committee.
Read the planning committee's verdict here
Councillors will decide on Thursday whether to grant permanent approval for racing to continue at the Perry Barr stadium.
But council environmental health officials and a senior planning officer are recommending refusal – which would mean the end of speedway in Birmingham.
They say noise from the bikes during the evening meetings is destroying the quality of life for people living nearby.
Birmingham City University is also objecting, claiming that racing is putting students off their studies.
Brummies owner Tony Mole believes the future of the club is at stake.
He said: “We have worked tirelessly to be good neighbours and to comply with all planning regulations within the last three years.
“We’ve brought success to the city and it would be tragic for all those supporters to see it all come to an end.
“We have an excellent stadium, superb track and great support. Everything is in place for a bright future subject to Thursday.
“It would be a crying shame for thousands of people if we were refused planning and the sport would come to an end in the city.
“I don’t really want to think about it. We have achieved so much in the three years we have been running Birmingham Speedway and brought enjoyment to a lot of people.
“We have also brought success to the city with the Premier League Pairs title, we have staged the Elite League Riders’ Championship with the best riders in the world and we have superb facilities at Perry Barr.
“We have also helped support Birmingham Children’s Hospital through our club sponsors, BRC Roofing, and we have encouraged youngsters to come along and enjoy speedway particularly during the summer holidays. We haven’t had any problems at the stadium because speedway is a family sport.
“Our relationship with our landlords at the stadium is excellent. They want to see the sport continuing and I want to see the Brummies prosper for many years to come.”
Mole has also confirmed there are plans in place to introduce a new silencer on bikes next season which would reduce the noise even more.
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