Henlow promoter Kevin Boothby admits to being astonished at the concern following news that a planning application has been received to create a small housing estate on the Lower Stondon track.
He said: “I told a number of my trainers back in March what was going on, so I can’t believe how this has got out of hand.
“The situation is this. My lease deal with the site owners Tony McDonnell and his brother is up for review in September. I spoke to Tony back in January and he said he would be applying for planning permission in June or July of this year. He has been completely upfront and honest throughout.
“I actually made him an offer to buy the freehold, which he turned down, before Covid erupted. He has since said to me that he wishes he had taken it. I retain first option on buying the freehold.
“Now we will know before September whether or not planning permission will be granted and I have already told him that I would object to it. Why wouldn’t I? So will all the trainers, and the highways department who don’t believe that the A600 can cope with the extra traffic.
“If the application fails, I buy the freehold for about half the cost of what it would be with planning permission. One final point, the Henlow meetings are owned by Henlow Racing Ltd, not the stadium. So Tony knows that I could take the meetings to Towcester and the site has very low value, with no immediate likelihood of making a penny for the forseeable future.
“I have said throughout, and I repeat it, I have no intention of closing Henlow. Completely the opposite.”
