Leader says West Common will never be a racecourse under current council
HORSE racing will never return to Lincoln's West Common as long as the current Conservative administration rules, according to its leader.
A meeting of City Hall's executive was held last night to discuss specific proposals for racing put forward by the Lincoln Racecourse Regeneration Company (LRRC).
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The Grandstand in Carholme Road, Lincoln.
The company withdrew the proposal from the meeting last week, but it remained on yesterday's agenda as all proposals must be considered.
City Of Lincoln Council leader Darren Grice said: "The proposal from LRRC is withdrawn, but it leaves the issue as to whether this is the type of proposal the City Of Lincoln Council would encourage.
"The common is regarded as an important asset to all residents.
"While the proposal has been withdrawn, it is fair to say that had it not have been, it would have fallen short of such tests and not have been supported. While I can understand the desire to see horse racing return, the reality is that this area, the West Common, in particular, no longer lends itself to this activity.
"It is the policy of the administration that bringing back racing would not be supported by the executive."
In the run up to the meeting the company, run by Lincoln MP Karl McCartney and local accountant Karen Rastall, had come under fire from residents and the Commons Advisory Panel who said the executive should reject the scheme.
On withdrawing the plans, the company issued a statement accusing council officers of "kicking the proposal into the long grass".
Last night, Councillor Grice defended officers saying: "I am satisfied the report is a fair appraisal of the proposal, taking into account the information presented by the LRRC and the Commons Advisory Panel."
But he showed his support for Mr McCartney, saying: "It's the job of the MP to promote ideas of economic regeneration within the city – that is one of the reasons he was elected.
"It is very important he continues to do that. Some ideas are better than none at all, however, the council's role is to take each of those views, whichever area they have come from, and decide on an individual basis."
Emile van der Zee, who mounted the Hands Off Our Common campaign, said the decision was better than he imagined.
He said: "I am so pleased. The rejection makes it clear that it would be very hard for a company coming in with interest in a racecourse.
"We now have to come up with a plan to address the grandstand."
The LRRC maintains it will continue to pursue plans to bring back racing to the West Common.
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by Nick, Lincoln
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 4:18PM
“Burn it, claim insurance, put a tesco on it. Job Done”
by Mr Logic, Saxilby, Lincoln
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 10:08AM
“Karl, who in their mind wants 16 Christmas Markets each year in comparison for horse racing days? Ask the local residents who live in the Bailgate area of Lincoln!
But then for The Carholme to survive, the elite horse racing fraternity would want to use the racecourse for other events such as rock concerts as with what other racecourses do. But these are no where near city ot town centres where such concerts on the West Common would affect main communities with large decibals of noise, not to include human and motor traffic in and out of Lincoln.
Now that horse racing has now been buried by the Tory ruling group at City Council, perhaps your next project during this session of Parliament can be the use of the common for a Theme Park, which folk have mentioned during the course of the debate and discussion. Don't forget to set up another private company, or two, of which you can be a director of. Make sure of a feasibility study of infrastructure to be included in the proposals/document. Apply for Lincoln's Commons Act in a change of usage, and present your case before the people of Lincoln.
My grandchildren would love a Theme Park for Lincoln instead of travelling to Alton Towers which has become expensive and time consuming in getting there.
This project may take five years as with your project for horse racing for Lincoln which I understand started in 2004. You are under starters orders from my grandchildren. So get going in the right direction and not flounder in a circular direction which the racecourse would have been built as!”
by Mr Stables, camping on the west common, Lincoln
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 10:04AM
“Karl - you are being ridiculous!
People would come to lincoln from london/notts for horse racing and poops obviously.
Also some people like empty bars so they can actually get a drink without loads of people like you standing round saying 'meeh meeh meeh my names Karl and I would never come to lincoln from london meeh meeh'”
by Gnome Chomsky, Lincoln
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 10:35PM
“I hope that's not our MP stating his case.”
by karl, lincoln
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 7:06PM
“If the plans for a race course included measures to account for the increase in traffic i wonder how many people would be all for it
Also if the city copes with the christmas market every year why would the race course make such a huge difference.”