Chickerell could be hosting Conference League Speedway next summer, if planners back an ambitious scheme.

Promoter Brian White wants to build a track just outside the West Dorset town on land off the B3157 near Buckland Ripers.

The former rider, who tried unsuccessfully to open a venue on quarry land at Portland last year, is now calling on fans of the defunct Weymouth Wildcats to support his campaign to bring the sport back to the area.

He told Echosport: "At last I've been able to find the perfect venue and the important thing is that I have the full support of the land owner and others who live close by.

"The plans have now been drawn up and will be submitted to West Dorset District Council this week and I hope that everyone in favour of the scheme will send letters and e-mails of support to the council.

"What we are talking about is laying a track which will be used for meetings throughout the summer. We've not yet decided which day to hold meetings, but all we are talking about is racing taking place for a couple of hours a week.

"The proposed venue is very secluded and so noise shouldn't be a problem and access for spectators is easily available via the B3157 road between Weymouth and Bridport. Personally I have put in more than two years hard work in finding a suitable venue and the land in question is not a protected site. For this reason, I think that at last we could be on to a winner.

"Everything is in place to bring speedway back to the Weymouth area and our application to the Conference League has been accepted. All we require now is permission to go ahead and it's down to speedway fans to show the council how badly they want a track in their town."

He added: "The support I've received from councillors and residents of Chickerell has been tremendous and if the plans are accepted, the town will be put on the map by having the team named after it."

Weymouth-based White, who unsuccessfully tried to talk Terras directors into allowing a track to be built on the football club's training pitch at the back of the Wessex Stadium recently, also appealed to tourism leaders to back his latest move.

"Speedway is a massive spectator sport," he explained. "While non-League football clubs like Weymouth and Dorchester are attracting crowds of 500 or 600 a week, the smaller speedway teams like Somerset and Trelawny regular get 3,000 or 4,000 through the turnstiles.

"What we are talking about is laying a track which will be used for meetings throughout the summer. We've not yet decided which day to hold meetings, but all we are talking about is racing taking place for a couple of hours a week"

"It's a trouble-free family sport which would be a great asset to tourism in the area and people would travel from miles around to come and watch Chickerell race.

"In the old days when Weymouth had a track, fans used to plan their holidays around the fixture list with many basing themselves in the resort and watching Exeter race on a Monday, Weymouth on a Tuesday, Poole on a Wednesday - and so on.

"I've no doubt in my mind that the same thing will happen again and that speedway would be a great boost for both tourism and the local economy."

Members of Chickerell Town Council are expected to back the application after pledging their support for the return of speedway to the area, last year.

Mayor Derek Smithson said: "When the idea of speedway coming back to the area was first muted this time last year, the council met and agreed in general that it would be a good idea.

"At that time it looked like the Wessex Stadium might be used and so I can't predict the thoughts of members for this new site at Buckland Ripers.

"We await the plans with interest and will obviously discuss them in detail. However, anything that puts Chickerell on the map has got to be looked at

seriously."

West Dorset District Council chief planning officer Simon Ludgate today confirmed that the proposed site was neither a designated area of outstanding scientific importance nor part of the county's heritage coast.

He added: "The land falls outside these zones and so that's obviously in Mr White's favour. When the plans are received, there are a number of

considerations we'll be making including traffic impact and noise nuisance.

"The application is likely to be advertised next week and there will then follow a 21-day consultation period where both supporters and objectors can make their feelings known.

"At the end of the day it's the people who have to decide although it's unlikely that a firm decision will be made until February at the earliest."

n Anyone wanting to register their support for a speedway track at Chickerell should write to West Dorset District Council, 58-60 High West Street, Dorchester Dorset, DT1 1UZ.

DETAILED plans of the Buckland Ripers scheme will be unveiled at a fans' forum in Chickerell next month.

Speedway followers are invited to find out more about the proposed track at the Willowbed Hall on Tuesday, January 17 at 7.30pm.

A host of special guests have been lined-up for the event including former Weymouth dirt stars Lew Coffin, Geoff Swindells and Mike Vernhan.

Promoter Brian White, pictured above, explained: "The full plans will be on show at the fans' forum and I'll also be giving a talk about our hopes for both the coming season and the future beyond that. We will also be holding a question and answer session and greats such as Lew Coffin, Dave Roberts, Rob Mather, Geoff Swindells, Mike Vernhan, and hopfully Steve Schofield, will be there."

He added: "The more people we can get there, the more chance we've got of convincing planners and councillors that speedway is wanted back in the area and worth supporting."

* More details are available on the Chickerell Speedway website at www.intheteam.co/chickerellspeedway.