Clive Feltham concedes that he wasn’t expecting last month’s planning application to build on Hall Green to be rejected, but nobody was more delighted than him at the outcome.
He said: “It wasn’t expected at all, but the owners association and Stephen Rea did an incredible job galvanising support and establishing the stadium’s status as an ACV – ‘an asset of community value’. There is still an uphill battle – the stadium owners will surely appeal. Why wouldn’t they? There is so much money at stake; they brought the site to build on it.
“They have six months to lodge an appeal which must then be heard within 19 weeks. So it is a case of having won the battle not the war.”
Under the terms of his lease, Feltham was not allowed to object to the planning application, though he was not helpless in the debate that followed.
He said: “I was permitted to correct inaccuracies, which I did. Specifically, it was suggested that we were happy to close the track as we already had Perry Barr. That was never the case as I informed the council.
“Unfortunately, according to (racing manager) Rob Coulthard, it was also being suggested on the forums that I wanted Hall Green to close. Not only is that inaccurate, it doesn’t make sense. Why would I want to close down a business that is making money?”
So where does it go from here?
Feltham said: “I don’t know. If they lose the appeal, I guess the site owners (Euro Properties Investments) may want to sell on. Obviously planning would still be an issue but they might find someone to buy it as an investment.
“Unfortunately, although the recent decision, has been a great morale booster for our regulars, the publicity around it has caused a lot of confusion locally with many people assuming that the track has already closed.”
Stuart Buckland leads the Hall Green trainers championship by 21 winners from Simon Deakin in second place. Dave Firmager leads the percentages with just over 20%.
Derek Davy’s Toy Story Jenny and Its Mine are Hall Green’s most prolific winners in 2016 with nine wins apiece, two clear of their closest rivals. Toystory Jenny (Quail Hollow-Chubbys Cancuin, Jun 14) has been to traps 19 times and has only been out of the tricast places on three occasions. Its Mine (Godsend-Aquamarine, Jun 13) has only been to traps on 14 occasions this year and for a £10 bet on each, you would be showing an incredible £315 profit.
HALL GREEN TRACK CHAMPIONS
480–MOYNEVILLA WEST bk d (Makeshift-Moynevilla Babe, Jul 13) Owner Mr A Griffiths Trainer Richard Baker. Five races, won his last three with two sub 28.60 runs.
645–CU SITH ALSH bk b (Blackstone Gene-Droopys Audrey, Jul 14) Owner Mr R W MacDonald Trainer Robert Smith Won her last five – A6, A5, A3, A3, A2 including a 40.28 run over course and distance.
