HAROLD Doonan is bidding to get a covenant put on the land surrounding the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Doonan, who is still fighting to save the Weymouth Wildcats from extinction, believes the area should be permanently designated for sporting use only and is appealing for support from the relevant authorities to help make it happen.

The land is owned by Wessex Delivery Partnership LLP in partnership with Morgan Sindall Group PLC, who are currently building a new community fire station in Radipole Lane, and many local sports fans are concerned the duo have earmarked the site for a potential housing development.

WDP has already knocked back Doonan’s efforts to negotiate a new rental agreement for the Wessex Raceway while supporters of Wey-mouth FC continue to remain cautious over the option agreement the partnership possesses on their ground.

And with WDDC having also confirmed that any proposal for a change of use on the land would be “judged on its merits”, it is perhaps no surprise why local residents are living in fear of losing two of the town’s biggest sporting assets.

Doonan said: “We are very much still battling away and on the case.

“We have already gained the support of local MPs Oliver Letwin and Richard Drax, who both want the speedway to stay where it is, and Ian Gardner, who is the councillor for that ward area.

“In fact, Oliver Letwin is looking to see if a covenant cannot be placed on the land so it remains purely for sports and leisure use only.

“I have also received a lot of correspondence from supporters of Weymouth FC who are very keen for both clubs to combine their efforts together, so there is a lot of enthusiasm around and all we need now is for the local authorities to back us a bit more as well.

“In my experience, once these things are lost it is very difficult for them to come back and we need as many people as possible to get in touch and get behind what we are trying to achieve.”

To back Doonan’s campaign or air your concerns in regards to the use of the land surrounding the Bob Lucas Stadium send an email to <&bh"mailto:ian_c_gardner@talk21.com">ian_c_gardner@talk21.com<&eh> or <&bh"mailto:jane.gordonbanks@parliament.co.uk">jane.gordonbanks@parlia ment.co.uk<&eh>