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New circuit to be built in Wales [merged]


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#101 Juan Kerr

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Posted 08 February 2016 - 22:08

The area is more known for sheep not CoW's, I suspect the whole project will fall apart about half way through and leave a big pile of mess. You wouldn't believe the mentality in the area. That is my prediction.



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#102 BRG

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Posted 09 February 2016 - 16:43

The area is more known for sheep not CoW's

I see what you did there......   ;)

 

I suspect you are right.  Have they actually broken ground yet or is it all still on paper only?



#103 D.M.N.

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 16:53

Project now effectively dead: http://www.bbc.co.uk...-wales-35981794



#104 chunder27

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 17:25

Good, am rather pelased this never got anywhere, it was never a goer and never likely to work.

 

I only hope millions has not alreadsy been wasted, but it probably has.

 

No new circuits will ever likely get built in this country from this moment on, unless they are backed by royalty or we suddenly get a raceing nut in power or as a minister who can legislate for these things to come off.  Our country is just too small and too bothered by nimbys.

 

But let's face it, thsi was never a goer from the start!



#105 BRG

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 19:06

I suspect that Tata's closure of the Port Talbot steel works may have finished this off.  The WAG couldn't waste millions on a vanity project while steel workers were being laid off.



#106 Risil

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 19:07

That's a shame. Pembrey it is then.



#107 DS27

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 19:16

This was never going to happen in my opinion, as I and most others said all along - i'm just amazed it has dragged on for so long.

 

I would have been happy to eat my words, but a new race circuit in the UK in the 21st century - nah.



#108 Risil

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 19:17

There was that one in Corby that opened in 2001.



#109 chunder27

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 21:10

It might hvae opened but ti was a disaster from the start and is now pretty much a Beford style supercar experience venue with a few race meetings thrown in!

 

The banking was too shallow, the track was htw wrong shape and it was built over a spring or something wasnt it!

 

Great facility though.

 

Wales was never likely, sad part is Donington yet again lost out to Silverstone in MotoGP as a result. That palce is the pits for bikes as a spectator



#110 Amphicar

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 21:48

There was that one in Corby that opened in 2001.

Ironically, given BRG's comment about the potential Port Talbot closure scuppering Welsh Government support for the CoW, the Rockingham circuit was built on the site of the former British Steel Corby works.



#111 Kev00

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 22:18

Project now effectively dead: http://www.bbc.co.uk...-wales-35981794


How on earth can a racing circuit employ up to 6,000 people?

#112 R Soul

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Posted 06 April 2016 - 22:39

Maybe the Race Track Workers' Union is very powerful.



#113 Volcano70

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Posted 07 April 2016 - 01:32

They still stretched this project for 2 more unnecessary years.   



#114 Rob29

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Posted 07 April 2016 - 06:50

Never did understand the need for it when they have Pembrey & Anglesey? A street  circuit in cCardiff would be good-Welsh FE?



#115 Amphicar

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Posted 07 April 2016 - 09:29

How on earth can a racing circuit employ up to 6,000 people?

The circuit itself wouldn't have employed anywhere near that number. However, the project was sold to Welsh politicians on the argument that the circuit would be the catalyst for a much wider regeneration of Ebbw Vale - through an associated motor sport business park, increased visitor numbers and the multiplier effect on the local economy. Even so, 6,000 jobs always looked wildly over-optimistic - hence the reluctance of private sector investors to put money into the project.



#116 Amphicar

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Posted 01 November 2016 - 11:23

The latest twist in this sorry story - now the Wales Audit Office is investigating how public money was awarded and spent: http://www.bbc.co.uk...-wales-37830072

 

This is becoming increasingly reminiscent of the NIRAH (National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats) debacle. That was a hare-brained scheme to convert a derelict clay pit near Bedford into a £600 million aquarium and research centre that was supposed to create lots of jobs and promote tourism. The project failed when the promoters could not raise the necessary private sector funding - but not before nearly £4 million of public money had been thrown away. Sound familiar?



#117 johnwilliamdavies

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Posted 27 June 2017 - 12:53

To the surprise of nobody, it ain't gonna happen -   http://www.bbc.co.uk...-wales-40404661

 

 

 

Mr Skates added that the promise of 6,000 jobs had been "significantly overstated", and that the true figure on employment was around 100 direct jobs, with 500 indirect jobs and around 500 construction jobs while the track was being built.


#118 sportyskells

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Posted 27 June 2017 - 15:29

a little headache for motogp there then



#119 chunder27

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Posted 27 June 2017 - 15:35

Not really 

 

Ezpeleta was talking about it over the MotoGP weekend in Holland.

 

The Wales hosting will just be dropped, probably with a large penalty the Welsh taxpayer will pay, and Silverstone will be rewarded a new contract to host on their own, if they can afford it. Theya re running it at the moment but Wales are paying the host rights.

 

Was never going to happen, was a ridiculous idea.

 

But what amazes me are the seemingly well respected people who were involved in it. And were clearly being paid very well.

 

If I were Welsh I would be asking some very serious questions about this white elephant, as it has clearly cost a lot of money already, money that should have been spent elsewhere.

 

I am just thankful nothing was ever actually built and hopefully something more useful that contributes to the whole area can be built on that land.



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#120 pdac

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Posted 27 June 2017 - 22:01

Not really 

 

Ezpeleta was talking about it over the MotoGP weekend in Holland.

 

The Wales hosting will just be dropped, probably with a large penalty the Welsh taxpayer will pay, and Silverstone will be rewarded a new contract to host on their own, if they can afford it. Theya re running it at the moment but Wales are paying the host rights.

 

Was never going to happen, was a ridiculous idea.

 

But what amazes me are the seemingly well respected people who were involved in it. And were clearly being paid very well.

 

If I were Welsh I would be asking some very serious questions about this white elephant, as it has clearly cost a lot of money already, money that should have been spent elsewhere.

 

I am just thankful nothing was ever actually built and hopefully something more useful that contributes to the whole area can be built on that land.

 

I think the two bolded statements are related. This is the usual state of affairs with these kind of (non) projects.



#121 RacingGreen

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Posted 28 June 2017 - 01:07

These private/public schemes are always about making money for someone at the tax payers expense. Up the road for me (it's an Australian road so I'm talking +50km) there is a tourist town complete with wineries. One of these has been built almost entirely on government tourism grants. It's a standing joke known locally to as chateau taxpayer. The Circuit of Wales idea always stuck me at best as a mix of wishful thinking and the same sort of "get someone rich" scheme only on a much bigger scale.

I was in South Wales at Christmas with my Australian born wife (who had never been before, and I haven't been for thirty years.) We were very depressed to see the state of the area, it clearly needs an influx of business and funds but this plan was never going to work.



#122 BRG

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Posted 29 June 2017 - 21:37

Occasionally even politicans can be sensible.  But only occasionally.