WEST Dorset District Council is not ruling out a change of use for the land surrounding the Bob Lucas Stadium, claiming that any future planning application would be “judged on its merits”.

No proposals have been received by WDDC but with landowners Wessex Delivery Partnership also breaking its silence over the future of the Wessex Raceway by insisting there are no plans at present to lease it out for “motorsport activities”, there are huge concerns the site is being earmarked for development.

The news has come as a double blow for Harold Doonan and his consortium’s bid to save the Wildcats while Weymouth FC fans will also be duly alarmed with many of them fearing the Terras could suffer a similar fate.

WDP, which is part owned by Morgan Sindall, who are currently building a new community fire station on Radipole Lane, took over the ownership of the land under the Terras’ regime of ex-chairman Malcolm Curtis in 2008.

Curtis is still very much a part of WDP but has so far refused to comment on the issue.

However, a company statement was released yesterday, which reads: “We can confirm that we have no plans at the moment to lease out the Wessex track for motorsport activities.”

Echosport also contacted WDDC earlier this week in regards to the site and have since received the following statement from special projects manager Andrew Martin.

It reads: “As a general rule, if a piece of land has been used in a certain way for 60 years or more, with or without planning permission, then that use would now be lawful.

“Any material change to that use would require a planning application, which would be judged on its merits.”

That statement will certainly heighten the debate on the motives of WDP and Morgan Sindall, who the Wildcats have sent a letter to in the hope of gaining some clarity.

However, their hopes of remaining at the Wessex Raceway appear all but lost, which is likely to trigger a search for new premises.

Meanwhile, current Terras’ chairman George Rolls has sent out a warning to the club’s fans. He said: “I’ve heard nothing in regards to plans for the land and cannot comment on what goes on elsewhere.

“However, unless more fans start coming out and supporting us, the club will continue to struggle, particularly if we don’t stay up.

“There has been a lot of in-fighting here over the past five or six years and that has to stop or the club will fold.

“Lets face it, it can’t even afford to fund itself in the Southern League Premier without a sugar daddy so people need to start getting behind it.”