Doonan gives up the fight (From Dorset Echo)

Doonan gives up the fight

8:40am Saturday 5th March 2011 in Speedway By Ky Capel

CONCEDED DEFEAT: Harold Doonan

HAROLD Doonan has conceded defeat in his battle with the landowners of the Wessex Raceway.

The local builders’ merchant had hoped to keep the Weymouth Wildcats alive and negotiate a new lease for the track with Wessex Delivery Partnership.

However, the latter insist they have no plans at present to “lease out the Wessex track for motorsport activities”.

Doonan’s biggest frustration though lies with the lack of communication from WDP and Morgan Sindall, who part own the former.

He said: “I have lost the battle. Once it (speedway) goes, it goes as no one is going to come up and say they have a piece of ground for us to use. So Weymouth has lost another amenity.

“I sent five letters to five directors of Morgan Sindall and not one of them has replied. I sent the letters on February 9 so for them to not even reply just shows what they are about.

“I know it’s a bit of a lost cause but hopefully the people of Wey-mouth will stand up and say how fed up they are, otherwise the town will become a concrete jungle.

“The site was designated for sport and recreation use back in 1950 so why should things change?

“At this rate, there will be nothing left for the kids of the town – legacies are being lost.”

Hopes of finding an alternative home also appear to be fading.

Donnan added: “We have got the sea on three sides so we are hemmed in. The council (West Dorset District Council) are not coming forward and saying ‘here is a piece of ground that will suit your purpose’. I don’t see why they can’t be stronger.”

A statement from Morgan Sindall, issued to Echosport, simply reads: “Wessex Delivery is a partnership and not a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Sindall Group plc.

“Any correspondence received by the group would be passed to the directors of Wessex Delivery for their consideration and, as we have previously stated, we have no plans at the moment to lease out the Wessex track for motorsport activities.”

Ernie Battey, chairman of Morgan Sindall Investments, has been unavailable for comment.