Western Springs Speedway vows to 'fight' for its future

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Speedway bosses are demanding to stay at Auckland's Western Springs, as the debate over the sport's future turns heated.

Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) revealed to Stuff on Tuesday that it would not be renewing Springs Promotions Ltd's (SPL's) lease at Western Springs Stadium beyond this month.

SPL director Bill Buckley said in an open letter to the council the first time the company had found that out was through the media.

He wrote he was under the impression that more talks were to be had about finding a permanent future home of the speedway.

READ MORE: Western Springs speedway shutdown confirmed after lease is not extended past March

'Auckland Council has become divided in its support and seems to have not put the energy and commitment into Speedway which it deserves,' he wrote.

A move to Colin Dale Park in south Auckland had been on the cards, but the necessary speedway facilities at the ground were yet to be built.

That left Speedway without a place to move once its lease expired.

'To date we have played by your rules, based on the fact that the three parties were in agreement as described by the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), which I support along with my competitors,' Buckley wrote.

'To then find you propose to go on a different direction without consultation is disgraceful.'

Buckley wrote that energy now had to be diverted from finding a new place for the sport and focused on stopping the RFA from ending a 90-year old sport.

The letter, addressed to Mayor Phil Goff, said public meetings and protests would be held if the situation wasn't diffused and resolved quickly.

'Phil, you need to front up to this and take control of the RFA who have little or no regard for any of the 90-year history this sport and venue provides… Auckland voted for a Mayor and councillors, but Auckland City seems to be controlled by RFA, not the other way around.

'Our intentions are to stay at Western Springs.'

In November, Auckland Council voted to delay a decision on Speedway's controversial move from Western Springs, slowing plans to turn the venue into an international cricket venue until further discussions could take place.

The Speedway has one meet left on its lease, which is scheduled for March 16.