STADIA UK boss Clarke Osborne was interviewed earlier this week on BBC Radio Berkshire. He spoke about the latest hold-up regarding the building of a new stadium for Speedway and Greyhounds in Reading.
We are now able to bring you a complete transcript of that interview:
You can also download and listen to a MP3 audio clip by clicking here.
-- Clarke Osborne – Andrew Peach Interview 10th April 2012-04-13
Andrew Peach: "Now we are talking about Reading's Speedway plans this morning, because plans to bring it back have delayed, again! The long awaited development which will include a Speedway circuit, greyhound racing track and casino was given the go-ahead last year, but construction work still hasn't started. The latest set-back is due to plans for a rival casino just a mile away. Clarke Osborne, the CEO of Gaming International, the company behind the proposed development told me earlier, that he is determined that it will happen one way or another."
Clarke Osborne: "We've been through two applications now, and all of that adds up, so it's a lot of money, but that's a commitment that we made with our eyes open."
Andrew Peach: "So explain how it works, do you own that land now?"
Clarke Osborne: "No, it's the authorities land, always has been, and we entered into an agreement with the authority for a long lease, when I say a long lease, over 100 years, and then the deal is basically that we rent that land, over that time, but what we have to do is go in first of all and make that land good for development. So that in itself is an expensive operation. So although we don't own the land, our agreement is with the authority effectively give us very long term tenure."
Andrew Peach: "We spoke to Reading Borough Council, and let me tell you what they said to us Clarke, they said that they couldn't comment on live planning decisions. They say that the decision on the Grosvenor Casino has been deferred for the time being, but they told BBC Radio Berkshire that they've always been fully committed to the return of Speedway to Reading. Do you think that Speedway can come back to Reading with the situation as it currently is?"
Clarke Osborne: "Yes I do, and I think that their statement is absolutely true, they have been committed throughout this process."
Andrew Peach: "What would you like to see them do next?"
Clarke Osborne: "Well, I don't think it's, in many ways, in their hands. They have a planning application which has been deferred, so it's going to come through, they have to deal with that in the proper way. So there is going to be an argument, we're going to object to that application on the grounds that there will then be too many casinos; that the test hasn't been met properly, etc, and they will make a decision. The planners have to make a decision based upon that casino; they can't take into account the fact that it could affect the other development. So, we've got to go through this process. Now if, for example, they say; "Actually we're sorry, but we have to give this permission, we don't agree with your objection,' then we would have to rapidly rethink. I mean we'd probably have to have a plan B and a plan C."
Andrew Peach: "Which might mean pulling out?"
Clarke Osborne: "Well, which might mean a situation where we lose the casino, but we've got to do something else. I mean we're determined that we are going to build this facility there, not because we are emotionally attached to it, we are emotionally attached to Speedway and greyhound racing because it's our business. But it is such a fantastic site, and Reading is such a fantastic place in terms of being able to promote, so it's a very good opportunity for us."
Andrew Peach: "So that's the man behind the company which is still attempting to build this complex, which will include bringing Speedway back to Reading."
