MEDIA RESPONSE: 8,000 SIGN PETITION TO SAVE WREXHAM FC'S RACECOURSE

From the Daily Post:

A PETITION to save Wrexham FC’s historic Racecourse ground has netted more than 8,000  signatures.

But organisers only have until next Spring to reach their target of 10,500 supporters. 

The numbers rose above 8,300 as organisers of the Red Passion website met with  local MP Ian Lucas in Westminster this week.

Mr Lucas joined their campaign, geared towards making sure the stadium is specifically identified by  Wrexham County Council as an area to be used only for leisure, before the county’s LDP (Local  Development Plan) is drawn up early next year.

Council chiefs vowed to take their petition on board when drawing-up the LDP, as supporters want assurances  the ground will never be demolished in favour  of an alternative development.

Petition organisers argue that if the Racecourse was lost it would have a huge impact on the town.

One of the authors told the Daily Post: “Our target is 10,500 signatures, which is  the current reduced capacity of the Racecourse ground while the Kop end is closed due to the  student housing development.

“The petition currently totals 8,347 signatures, and that includes ex-players from  Wrexham FC and football fans from the UK and abroad.”

He added: “Sadly the football club have appeared keen to distance themselves from the petition  and have declined our invitations to support it or comment on it publicly.”

Mr Lucas reinforced their appeal, adding: “One of the  main things people associate with Wrexham is its football team and the Racecourse stadium – it really  is known around the world.

“That’s why I am delighted to back what is a grassroots fans’ campaign. I am also hoping to encourage other MPs to add  their backing to the campaign.”

Their concerns came as we reported yesterday how the £40m Wrexham Village development,  which now owns the club, is on course to be built by next July.

Meanwhile, Wrexham council revealed how the emerging Wrexham Local Development Plan (LDP) will  eventually replace the current Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and become the key framework for future development in the county.

They said the current adopted UDP does not contain a policy specifically referring to the Racecourse  by name, but does contain general policies to protect all important community facilities, including  sports grounds, which are applicable to the Racecourse.

A planning spokesman told the petition organisers they will bring their grievances to the attention of the Planning Policy Panel, overseeing the preparation of the LDP.

If the plan does not provide the Racecourse ground with the level of protection fans think is appropriate they will have the opportunity to submit a formal objection during the six  week statutory consultation period.

Lawrence Isted, Chief Planning Officer, added: “The council fully appreciates the strong feelings among many people in Wrexham regarding the future of the Racecourse  and we will give the matter careful consideration in the deliberations on the LDP.”

Nobody from Wrexham FC was available at the time of going to press, and on previous  occasions when asked for a stance on the petition they have said they wished to make no comment on the matter.

To sign the petition visit www.redpassion.co.uk

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MEDIA RESPONSE: MP BACKS BID TO PROTECT WREXHAM'S RACECOURSE GROUND

From the Leader:

WREXHAM MP Ian Lucas has added his backing to a campaign by Wrexham fans to protect The Racecourse.

Mr Lucas is to sign a petition calling for the ground to be safeguarded as part of Wrexham Council’s local development plan.

Organisers of the petition set a target of 10,500 signatures – one name for every seat in the stadium – and so far it has rattled up a total in excess of 8,300 names.

The petition – set up by Wrexham supporters on the RedPassion website – asks for The Racecourse to be “clearly identified in the LDP as an area which is protected and reserved for leisure activities, in particular in its role as the football stadium in North Wales for hosting international sporting events and major cultural programmes.”

Mr Lucas said: “The Racecourse is a historic venue and has been used as a stadium since 1877.

“When I explain that I am Wrexham’s MP, one of the main things people associate with the town is its football team and The Racecourse – it really is known around the world.

“That is why I am delighted to back what is a grassroots fans’ campaign, and to encourage other supporters of Wrexham FC to sign this petition.

“I am also hoping to encourage other Members of Parliament to add their backing to the campaign.

“While the team itself may have its ups and downs, ensuring it remains at The Racecourse is vital.”

The petition is available to sign at www.petitiononline.com/LDPWFC21/petition.html.

The chairman of Wrexham FC has had his say about the possibility of the club’s training facilities being used by an international football team as part of the 2012 Olympics.

Geoff Moss said proposals are being drawn up involving Wrexham Council where the football club and Glyndwr University could play a part in helping visiting Olympians prepare themselves for competition at the highest level.

If the plans come to fruition it could mean Colliers Park training ground in Gresford, the Racecourse, as well as facilities such as the student accommodation being built at Glyndwr University would be utilised by the athletes.

Mr Moss said: “This is a very exciting proposal and it would be a huge honour for the area if it gets the go-ahead.

“There is work which has to be completed before then and we need as much support as possible.”

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THIS IS THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT

The petition continues to go from strength to strength, as we now sit proudly at 8,199 names - only 2,301 short of our overall target of 10,500.

Credit for this must go to El Poncho, who has driven this campaign forward with the gritty determination of oxen on amphetamine. Bravo!

That is not to neglect, of course, the support we have had from fellow Town fans and from the wider football world. Astounding. Football may be tribal, and therefore often divisive, yet we see, time and time again, football fans standing shoulder to shoulder on issues which transcend our rivalries. We may have witnessed such solidarity before but it never fails to be humbling.

We must reach our target. Can I ask for anybody who hasn't signed the petition yet to do so now, and if you have - ask your mates, family, neighbours, workmates, random people in the street. Anybody with a name, basically.

The petition is here.

One group of people from whom we've felt support has been lacking has been our elected representatives - our councillors, our Assembly Members, our Members of Parliament. Why they have been reluctant to come out in defense of the real jewel in the crown of our humble little town, we do not know.

There are one or two notable exceptions, and we will give the others a little more time to respond before we let our fellow Fanistas know who has helped and who hasn't, but I will take this opportunity to remind our politicians of this - the football club is, in many people's eyes, the town. Supporters' loyalty to their club is unswerving and paramount; they will remember who has supported this campaign, and who hasn't, come polling day.

Just ask Dr John Marek.






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THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS

With thanks to Twitter's Flock Follower for the above information. You can view a copy of the above here.

This document appears to show the sale of the whole or part of the Racecourse to Wrexham Village Ltd, a property development company.

Answers on a postcard.







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BEFORE THE DARK HOUR OF REASON GROWS

Brothers and sisters, as you will be aware, the collective is fond of a wee bit of poetry, and we recently implored the masses to send us their creative babies.


Senor Poncho of Red Passion fame has spoken to his close personal friend Sir John Betjemen, who has kindly penned this wonderful ditty. Sir John and Baron Ponch, we salute you.

A Racecourse Love Song by Sir John Betjeman

My Racecourse, My Racecourse,
Furnish'd and burnish'd by the Wrexham roar,
What magnificent matches you housed before tea,
We in the terraces – peering to see!

Two-thirty, Four-forty, oh! weakness of joys,
The speed of a cross, the catch of ball boys,
With dazzling comradeship, gaily we won,
We weak from your loveliness, our beloved Racecourse sun

Your convivial turnstiles shimmer we walk,
And swing past the turf, buried in talk,
And gate of the Kop that welcomes us in
The six-o'six show and pints when we win.

The glint of your memories, sound of the crowd,
The view from each spot is ever so proud,
Everlasting belches over chips and pie, oh! eye
As we dance in the Cent, and light up the sky!

My Racecourse, My Racecourse
A glimpse from the hills your charming red hue,
Oh! Shankly standing and applauding you!
Oh! Arsenal’s one, and our triumphant two!

Around us the Robins and Dragons are set,
And Psycho soars through the roof of your net,
And here in my sight is the ‘Course of my choice,
With the tilt of your stanchions and the chime of your voice.

My Racecourse, My Racecourse we’re not letting you go ! 
You’ve been slung like confetti and pushed to and fro
How sad are we, they don't give a toss
And leave your kop end covered by moss

And the keen reminisces and words never spoken And the ever present ritual and songs our love token We sit in your shadow prolonging the fun My Racecourse, My Racecourse let the battle be won!

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CLEARLY REDUNDANT

"Clearly redundant".

A strange turn of phrase. What does it mean?

“Development which adversely affects the continued use and development of County-wide and sub-regional indoor or outdoor leisure facilities and sports stadia is not permitted. Enhancement of such facilities is supported provided there is no significant adverse effect on local residential amenity by virtue of noise, floodlighting, car parking, traffic generation or other disturbance."

“The Council’s policy emphasises that their use should be maximised and that change of use or redevelopment of such facilities will be resisted unless they are clearly redundant or their continued use and development would create environmental damage. On the other hand, the enhancement of such facilities is supported provided there are no significant adverse effects on local residential amenity by virtue of noise, floodlighting, car parking, traffic generation, or other disturbance.”

So if the club's owners, whoever that may be, were to move the club out of the stadium prior to applying for planning permission for, let us say, a giant B&Q, then the world famous Racecourse Ground would be redundant, no? Or, perhaps, if the club was to cease to exist altogether...

Yes, a very strange turn of phrase indeed.

If anybody out there is familiar with planning legalese, then please do let us know your thoughts.

You can email us at ProtectTheRacecourse@googlemail.com or you can post in the comments section below.

Before we're all left feeling completely redundant.






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RAGE RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT

Following a series of top-level secret meetings in the bunker, the collective have unanimously agreed to invite submissions from our vast readership, which we understand amounts to literally billions of people.

The meetings were intense and emotions were fraught. Without the aid of Red Bull, ephedrine, and a shopping trolley full of stolen Wotsits and Wagon Wheels, I don't think we'd have made it through. Tough times.

Anyway, we implore - nay, beg - our fellow aficionados to submit articles for publication. You can submit prose detailing your favourite Racecourse memories; humorous anecdotes of days gone by; poems; haiku; manifestos for change. Anything really. We're not fussy.

Besides, we could do with a little culture on this rather tawdry and down-market blog.

So, comrades, if any of you feel like penning a few words in homage to the Racecourse, please email us your creative babies at ProtectTheRacecourse@googlemail.com.

To get you in the mood, reproduced below is a short piece from some pompous old windbag on Red Passion. Strikes me as a blatant rip-off of the rhythms and style of Sir Tommy but I'm sure the tosser who wrote it will claim he was merely 'inspired' by the great man. I did say we're not fussy.

It was a winter night

On my way to the 'course

Weaving past people

And a copper on a horse

The horse had shat

On the road

A man in a comedy jesters hat

Approached the copper and moaned

The copper just looked down at him

And said "move along sunshine"

Whilst fondling his bat

-on

I stopped for a fag

And sent a quick text

"You coming the game?

Then we'll go out and get wrecked"

In through the turnstile

£18? You're having a laugh

For a cheap plastic seat

That'll give me a pile

Or three

I couldv'e stayed at home

And had a bath

I meet a mate

And get a beer

£2.70 for warm Carling, which I hate

They saw me coming

The game begins

We lose

We're shit

I feel like I've been mugged

But on the plus side

Wrex The Dragon

Did look quite fit

Off to the pub

For a pint

Or six

As a parrot

Bit shit isn't it? See, if we'll publish this we'll publish anything. Get writing!

Nos da brethren

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