Letwin to fight on land use (From Dorset Echo)

Letwin to fight on land use

8:37am Friday 20th May 2011 in Speedway By Ky Capel

OLIVER Letwin insists he will fight any attempts to change the use of the land surrounding the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Local builders’ merchant Harold Doonan is still fighting tooth and nail to save the Weymouth Wildcats from extinction.

And he believes the Wessex Raceway site, owned by Wessex Delivery Partnership LLP, should be permanently designated for sporting use – thus preventing any potential housing development.

West Dorset MP Letwin shares Doonan’s views. He told Echosport: “My view is that the land should continue to be used for sporting and recreational purposes.

“As far as I’m aware there is no intention at all on the part of West Dorset District Council to change that. If there are any such changes then I will campaign against them.

“Under the new Localism Bill, the land will hopefully be locked for that use (sporting and recreational).”

Ian Gardner, councillor for Chickerell Ward, added: “The position in planning terms is that the land has been allocated for sport and leisure use, so there’s no reason to use it for any other purpose. That’s the situation at this time.

“The council has planned for areas of both housing and employment opportunities that would come to the fore before any other site.

“It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances (for the speedway) but you can’t force a landowner to do something with the land against their will.”

South Dorset MP Richard Drax is keen to talk with Doonan, declaring he will do all he can to help the Wildcats’ cause.