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Swindon Robins Aiming For July Move To New Stadium
Swindon's Abbey Stadium operators Stadia UK have revealed July is the realistic target for the new stadium to be ready for action.
Robins owner Terry Russell this week updated worried fans to assure them the Elite League club will be at the tapes in 2016 and racing the first half of their home meetings in the existing facility.
The club are also taking great strides with team building and two exciting signings are in the pipeline over the next few days.
Stadia UK confirmed initial hopes were of construction starting before Christmas on the new site, adjacent to the current Abbey track, but unexpected delays have been brought about by the design of noise attenuation structures and utility services.
The detailed plans are now expected to be submitted before Christmas with construction work commencing as soon as the plans have been approved.
Clarke Osborne, Chairman of holding company TokLon said: "We are disappointed that issues beyond our control have resulted in this delay to our expected timetable as we had intended to have the new facility complete in time for the Robins opening meeting in April next year.
“However even the best laid plans can be delayed, particularly when there are multiple factors to be considered, particularly the need to build the new facility in close proximity to the existing whilst the existing is fully operational."
George Edwards, Property Director at Stadia UK said: "We will be submitting the reserved matters application this month and we hope to be ready for the first customers sometime in July 2016.
“We have received great support from Swindon Council and our team have worked very hard to ensure that the changeover from the existing to the new facility is smooth and easy for our customers.
“There will be disruption during the process but our aim is to keep this to a minimum.”
Bill Glass, Operations Director at Stadia UK added: “We are employing the latest building techniques which dramatically reduce the construction time and have ensured that our greyhound and speedway racetracks are built to the highest standards of design, drainage and surfacing.
“Uniquely, the new stadium racecourse has been designed for ease and quality of media coverage, from the specification of lighting to multi camera facilities.”
When open, the new Swindon track will be the latest Stadia UK Greyhound and Speedway racing facility to be built in the country, following their last new facility which opened in Poole in 1997.
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