Bluebells and Brands

[ss_collins]

Brands Grand prix loop - under threat from housing..... BUT! the woods are the home of a large number of bluebells - a protected species. could the track be saved by a bunch of flowers?

is it a case of flower power?

[Stephen Green]

Sam, have you been on those dodgy mushrooms again?

[Chris Y]

Originally posted by ss_collins
Brands Grand prix loop - under threat from housing

Still a wild runour - almost as wild as the bluebells themselves. Yet to see any founding for this, given the land is greenbelt.

[woodyracing]

I doubt any housing plans would destroy a historic race track such as Brands. It would be madness if it ever did.

[EvilPumpkin]

It would get madder. I'm sure within 6 months one of the residents of those nice new houses would be suing Brands because of the noise from the circuit during racing.

Yes sounds bizarre doesn't it. It's already happened here though.

[Piglet]

Is there anything new behind this or is it the same old stuff again?

I'm going to be vaguely contraversial...I don't doubt that at some point in the not too distant future some nice developer will get permission to build on some or all of circuit. In return he will agree to protect the nice pretty trees (and the bluebells!!). This will allow him to build some nice big houses (£££) close to the woodland along with a small estate (££) with a scattering of social housing houses in between to keep the planners happy.

I'd almost be prepared to put money on it!

[Chris Y]

Same old mindless speculation by the looks of it. No new facts.

[ss_collins]

yes twas me speculating, but we all hear this constant rumour, so I thought of a counter.

Woody being a historic race track holds no value. Look at brooklands, ibsley and Crystal palace

[G_Ilott]

I don't think bluebells are protected in law (I may be wrong), just as it's not strictly illegal to pick most wildflowers. It's just morally criminal to pick them or destroy their habitats. Any housing scheme (and I've not heard these rumours) would no doubt raise alarm in local natural history circles but only if someone makes the public aware of any acts of destruction, planned or actual. Most sites are destroyed because of ignorance and lack of information, not because no-one cared.

Perhaps an email to Brands' local wildlife trust www.wildlifetrusts.org would find out what their stance would be on real or imagined development.

[Les]

I believe you can pick the flowers but you must not dig up the bulbs.

[PaulSands]

Wasn't the reason that Brands didnt get to host the British GP,after Octagon bought the rights, because they couldn't do the necessary development in the protected ancient woodland...it even went before the Environment Minister I believe...so it should be unlikely that extensive housing development would be allowed.
Having said that we are talking about capricious, vote hungry, two faced, satan sucking politicians ultimately having the final say so in all honesty nothing is really ever safe is it?

[John Reeves]

Yes you are spot on. The original application was thrown out because the site contained an ancient woodland.

[PaulSands]

Problem being of course that no matter how ancient anything is once things are "accidentally" destroyed or demolished in this country and the paltry fines are adminstered they are soon forgotten. The profit potential far far outweigh any penalties incurred.

[Stephen Green]

Actually guys it wasn't 'thrown out' as you put it. Planning permission was granted by both Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council. It was only then the Environment Minister referred the matter to a public enquiry at which point Octagon negotiated the lease with Silverstone rather than be left with no venue at which to hold the British GP.

[Piglet]

Stephen you are correct, permission was granted before the Secretary of State called it in.

The site is large enough for a developer to build on it AND protect the woodland. That's the kind of deal that planners like.

[Barny]

Does anybody have any news on the Octagon/Brands Hatch Group, sell off?

[A Tait]

It was in out local paper, I only live 5 mins from Brands, it would be madness if they shut it down, can't see it happening though, we've lost all the hillclimb venues in kent, lets hope the b@stards don't take a race track too. Lyddens been on the hitlist for years too...because of mclaren.

[JimW]

EvilPumpkin said: It would get madder. I'm sure within 6 months one of the residents of those nice new houses would be suing Brands because of the noise from the circuit during racing.

If you find this difficult to believe, try this:

Birmingham has developed canal-side housing, International Convention Centre and National Indoor Arena. Lots of expensive (and nice if you like that sort of thing) housing overlooking canals and a splendid new pub with a speciality of music. Mainly Jazz and classical; almost intellectual.

New development of flats the other side of the canal; advertising says " near the renowned Fiddle and Bone - music and canal-side entertainment" or words to that effect.

People move in and the next thing is that the pub is being attacked and people are trying to have its licence revoked!

Same thing for our sport. Illegitimis non carborundum. If in doubt, fight them.

[ss_collins]

Well the local club would love to run an event at brands but octagon want far too much

[JimW]

Well the local club would love to run an event at brands but octagon want far too much

And your point is?

Octagon is a business. You may not like it but they want to make a profit. How do you propose to show them that the local club's meeting makes them money?

The BRDC for years subsidised some clubbie meetings and so many people failed to understand that they did so. Now look where those meetings are!