Lydden Refused Planning Permission

[tbtstt]

Sure some of you will have seen this story being shared on Facebook, but I thought I would post it up here:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/ne...jected-183755/

Lydden have been refused planning permission for the development of the circuits, which is a major blow. Really not liking the sound of the comment from Pat Doran:

Originally Posted by Pat Doran

The circuit is not viably run on 52-day use, so we would have a look at selling the circuit to someone who would have the investment for McLaren’s plans, which would obviously bring greater economical benefits but may also bring a lot more disruption.

[BertMk2]

It's not good news is it? There's got to be a good chance now that the circuit will close (and become a housing estate?).

[chunder]

Doran will say anything really, as anyone else would to make it look like this is affecting his business.

He will suffer enormously this year losing WRX, but didn't help himself by then risking everything on GRC, and he would be likely a more knowledgeable position than the rest of us who surely could see the writing was on the wall for that series.

He tried to charge the same money for a naff event at a crap time of year. That was daft. But you could his reasons., try and recoup what you lose. Other racing has been closed off there also, and he put his pot into rallycross, which has been dropped coz his track is not good enough to stage the big events anymore.

Lydden will never be houses, residents just want it to be fields! As they will likely ***** about any sort of development. Be it race track, or anything else, that is what local residents too. Despite the fact there are very few actually that close by.

But what he was planning did not really fit what the circuit has now, there is no real future business model for Lydden with the restrictions imposed surely? McLaren must have realised this, perhaps why that did not work as they couldn't do anything with it either.

What is he planning? BTCC rounds? To get WRX back, that amount of development surely does not warrant one meeting a year? BSB? Track extension as you couldn't hold a lot of stuff there now as it's too short?

Who knows, but for me if it does go the blame lies equally with Doran and IMG, as Doran was pivotal in the starting of WRX and has now been crapped on by IMG.

But this situation is probably the same at Valkenswaard, Sosnova, Nyiraid, Maasmechelen and any round that previously held ERC and used that mney to survive for the year.

Oddly don't understand the McLaren reference, thought they hadn't had anything to do with Lydden for donkeys years?

[crossfades]

Slomzyn (or however it's spelled) got turned into a go kart track and the former ERC track in Drammen got teared down for some sort of industrial business. At some places rallycross just is not viable anymore.

Even if Lånke got a five-year contract they still get sponsorship money in order to keep the event going. Höljes has a hard time nowadays since IMG came and unfortunately there is a chance that Tierp might be taking over instead.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by chunder

He will suffer enormously this year losing WRX, but didn't help himself by then risking everything on GRC, and he would be likely a more knowledgeable position than the rest of us who surely could see the writing was on the wall for that series.

I have only picked up snippets of information, but from what I understand when the GRC visit to Lydden was arranged there was no reason to question the future of the series.

It seems like the GRC unraveled very rapidly at the end.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by chunder

Other racing has been closed off there also

They did hold a Lydden Hill Motor Club race meeting there earlier in the year - I guess that was a 'see if we can get something running' toe in the water. It wasn't well publicised though and only got a small entry. Shame really as there was a driver base there with the old SEMSEC support and the problems BARC SE have been having could have given them a real shot at getting it up and running.

Originally Posted by chunder

Lydden will never be houses, residents just want it to be fields! As they will likely ***** about any sort of development. Be it race track, or anything else, that is what local residents too. Despite the fact there are very few actually that close by.

I'm not so sure - there is huge pressure on councils to allow more housing in the area. Also the Lydden site would presumably be classed as 'brown field' and therefore easier to get planning for houses than some potential sites. The residents may be able to shout down changes to a race circuit but a site you could cram homes onto they may well lose the planning battle on that one. In some respects they may have been better off supporting the circuit!

Originally Posted by chunder

But what he was planning did not really fit what the circuit has now, there is no real future business model for Lydden with the restrictions imposed surely? McLaren must have realised this, perhaps why that did not work as they couldn't do anything with it either.

What is he planning? BTCC rounds? To get WRX back, that amount of development surely does not warrant one meeting a year? BSB? Track extension as you couldn't hold a lot of stuff there now as it's too short?
.....

Oddly don't understand the McLaren reference, thought they hadn't had anything to do with Lydden for donkeys years?

The plans were to have driving experiences (like the M3 master type stuff at MSV circuits), driver training (whatever that entails) and adding some business units to the site. All pretty sensible stuff - just trying to make the site earn money on 'non race' days. I don't think there is/was any attempt to get the big championships to go there. The McLaren reference seemed to be a case of 'you should have let me make my changes as the alternative could be much worse' - I'm inclined to agree.

[chunder]

We have the same issue with the Coventry stock car track, is worth a bunch for housing but residents obviously don't want it, but that is built up all around the venue. Lydden is not really surrounded by much, and the infrastructure needed to build a junction on the A2 etc would cost millions.

But it could be worse, they would probably love to build an immigration centre or something there too, imagine the residents then.

Regarding GRC, let's be frank, you could see the writing on the wall for that series years ago, let alone now, you knew IMG were going to try and squeeze them out eventually to get into America, so this was always likely, just so happens the bloke running it was a bit of crook it seems!

And about older venues, they might not be sustainable, but they relied on WRX and ERC just like Lydden and losing that will always be a huge drop. Lydden always got good crowds for ERC, even before the crappy tinseltown era. Look at videos from many years ago and you will see the hill full of cars. So that has never changed.

SO Lydden is trying to do what others did and be a multi-purpose venue.

[RichP]

The junction on the A2 was built during the McLaren days, they just never completed with the entrance to the circuit (the lights just after the junction for Husks).

[chunder]

I believe after some research that McLaren still actually own the place. Doran just owns the current lease.

Chesson flogged it because he presumed his kids would argue the toss over it, Bissett bought it after, and went into a deal with McLaren, who then bought it lock stock after Bissett left.

BMRC then leased it and were based there then Doran bought the lease in about 08?

McLaren never did anything except try and get permission to basically turn it into a huge development centre which let's face it when you look at the surrounding area, was never going to fly! Fair enough at a Donington or something, right next to an airport or a Silverstone, middle of nowhere and tons of land. But not Lydden surrounded by countryside and probably very influential rich farmers!!

I can recall turning off the A2 straight in , but you are right that was probably early to mid 00's. And that would likely not have been their doing, probably under pressure from the plod!

[Stephen H]

From memory, I think the section 278 works for the new junction, when the McLaren/Ron Dennis plan was to relocate there, was 1998/99. Suspect the Highway Agency now Highway England were behind blocking off the turn right into the road to the track.

My big fear, is we could lose Lydden to a Lorry Park...........

[chunder]

There is an element of blame to the Dorans too, they did choose to solely look at RX and a few other hings, there is little car racing there now, that was partly their decision.

[leonidas]

I think that is just sour grapes from Doran. It is also a silly comment that will wind up planning committee members even more.

Looks like time for another 'Save Lydden' campaign - haven't we been here before? So much for the Dorans rescuing British rallycross.

It should be a perfectly viable clubman and track day circuit, even with the operating day limitations. It is not like we are overwhelmed with venues in the south east.

Would MSV be interested? It really needs to be managed by people who know what they are doing. I know MSV aren't perfect, but still...