Door always open at Racing Club

The poem has publically highlighted important issues; including the zeitgeist of Warwick West especially amongst the youth, whose opinions should not be so readily dismissed as they will be of voting age come the next election.

With regard to Cllr Doody’s first point, Racing Club Warwick (RCW) has a legal lease for the whole of The Hampton Road Ground.

On the sale of land for the construction of Bread and Meat Close, a grant of £270,000 was awarded to RCW. On several occasions we have asked for a paper audit of monies granted to the club; however we are still not in receipt of said audit. Now that the governance of the club is financially sound, after clearing debts of over £100,000, the additional money left from this grant was supposed to be re-invested to the club. Sadly, despite the club going from strength to strength; reaching two finals to be played later this month at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry and the Bescot Stadium, Walsall, the money that was earmarked for re-investment has been taken off the club. The money has been ‘ring-fenced’ and the application criteria /terms to claim this money are beyond the club’s reach.

Concerning the Boxing Club, the electrical problem could have been rectified. An engineer would have fixed the cause of the problem at a fraction of the cost (circa. £500) rather than spending £10,000 (taken from ratepayers’ money) to move the boxing club to a new residence. Does this cost include the removal of the old building and the reinstatement of the site to its original condition?

The goalposts which you are referring to have history; they have been there for over half a century. Before this they were used by Budbrooke Barracks. Last year the club received a letter telling us to keep to the right of ways, or we will be accused of trespassing on the common! Please refer to the 1984 St Mary’s Lands Act and the council bylaws as it seems a real shame to take this access away from the current youth of Warwick because you believe it to be trespassing.

At one time there were three playing fields on the common being utilised. A video made by the Warwick District Council’s executive states the pitches were moved so WRC could maintain and use them for youth teams and have done so in excess of 10 years. With regards to insurance, do the public goalposts at the Packmores, Priory Park and Woodloes etc fall under the same regulations? The youth in these areas use the goal posts on school holidays and lighter nights.

Cllr Doody, how can the Racing Club be accused of trespassing in the ‘White Elephant’ public car park, especially when the club was granted free use of the car park for members and spectators on match days by the town council in 1973. We were also granted 30 spaces for club use as part of a compensatory package for not moving to a new site; where the stables are today.

Finally, Townsend Meadow was generously gifted to the people of Warwick by Mr Townsend before the land was amalgamated into St. Mary’s land.

I believe that his wishes for the use of this land have not been respected in recent years.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions Cllr Doody. My door is always open. - Andy Cowlard Vice Chairman RCW, Townsend Meadow, Hampton Road, Warwick.