6 replies to this topic

[MrAerodynamicist]

According to the Sunday Times, Brooklands has been sold to DaimlerChrysler, who are to turn it in to a Mercedes "brand centre". (on 2nd page of Business section)

* They plan to turn the 150 acres in to a place where you will be able to see MErc exhibits, visit the Brooklands musuem and drive mercs on a new track.

* They brought the site from the "Universities Superannuation Scheme" and Shearer Property Group, estimated for £5m.

* Deal dependant on DC getting planning permission to redevelop.

* Geoff Brady of DC: "We are working with Elmbridge Borough Council, the Brooklands musuem and English Heritage to ensure that our proposals will help preserve the rich history of Brooklands"

Anyone able to identify the photo?

You can try to read the article at http://www.timesonli...-467014,00.html , registration required but I dson't think you have to pay (provided you visit before Sunday when the article will become part of the not-free archive. Unfortunately, you also have to pay if you aren't British, and as my ISP goes via america, I can't get it!)

[Doug Nye]

Having been somewhat involved with this affair at arm's length my understanding is that the purchase involves the former aerodrome section of the total site, the far side of the River Wey from the Brooklands Museum's preserved Clubhouse, Jackson and Campbell Sheds, paddock stalls, aircraft hangar and Members' Hill area.

As DaimlerChrysler assume ownership (given relevant assurances by the local authorities) I wonder where the rev limiters are set in the graves of the British motor industry glitterati - for whose benefit Brooklands was donated by its original creator H.F. Locke-King.... And there are certain sensibilities of relatives of those killed in the bombing of the Vickers factory adjacent to this site... Time heals, times change, but many factors endure unaltered.

DCN

[BRG]

I am fairly confident that my local council, Elmbridge, who must vie for the title of the least competent local authority in the country, will succeed in messing this deal up. Unless of course, DC proposed to flatten the entire site, banking, museum and all - then Elmbridge would probably nod it through in 5 minutes and to hell with historic status! *

But if EBC don't manage to sink it, I suspect that once plans are known to include a test-track may prove a sticking point. Although the site has been used for flying, karting, rallying, off-road motorbikes, Sunday markets etc, that is always on a "temporary" basis, pending the final redevelopment of the site. When (and not if) the local residents get wind of a "test-track", they will seize the wrong end of the stick firmly and will decide that this will mean hundreds of unsilenced cars circulating at high-speeds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter that it would in reality be a few Merc saloons swishing almost silently along - the darkest picture will be painted by objectors. When it comes to NIMBYism, the good burghers of Elmbridge need no lessons from anyone!


* as you may notice, I am not greatly impressed with my local government - partly due to them twice trying to take me to court for non-payment of council tax that I had already paid, but also due to many other examples of ineptitude, with which I shall not bore you...

[Gary C]

I'm not liking the sound of this.............................

[Oscar Jack]

I don't suppose the fact that Brooklands is just round the corner from Woking where another Daimler Chrysler subsidiary (well, 40% of it anyway) is based would have anything to do with this, would it?
;)
Actually, if DC are buying it with a view to preserving the old banking and museum and uprating the facilities, I think it would be a very good idea.... Otherwise I can well see the rest of the site being sold off for another out-of-town superstores shopping complex/business park development and then everything from the Brooklands heritage would be lost for ever.

So actually I do think it could be a very positive move.

[BRG]

Originally posted by Oscar Jack
So actually I do think it could be a very positive move.

If it brings closure to a long saga of uncertainty about the fate of Brooklands, then I would agree.

The banking and museum now have Historic Monument status, so are fairly secure already. There is considerable retail develpment within the circuit area already (Tesco, M&S, Curry's, Argos) plus a business park (Mitsui-Yamaha and many others) and an office building area (Sony, Gallahers). What is left is basically the old runaway and some surrounding rough land. There is a karting track, now extended and fairly substantial, at one end, but the rest is just used for casual things (a Sunday market, motorcycle training, truck parking and new car storage and so on. I imagine that this would be the area that DC have acquired. But as it is all on the flood plain of the River Wey and was under several feet of water a couple of winters ago, I hope DC have got some corporate wellies....

[BRG]

Right, I have now seen a bit more in the local rags, including a map. D-C have acquired all the site that has not yet been developed. Basically, this is the middle of the old circuit, all the runway and surrounding rough land, plus some of the banking at the north/north-west and the south-east ends. All the exisitng developments are outside the area that D-C have bought, including the Brooklands Museum, although the area outside, where the Museum's VC10 and Merchantman aircraft are parked, is part of D-C's site. The kart track (Grand Prix Academy) at the southern end is also included in D-C's site. Their management is predictably hostile, as is the local Byfleet parish council, who are opposed to anything that will potentially increase traffic in the area.

D-C will build a sales and service centre, plus a heritage centre (but not sure WHOSE heritage - Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, or UK = Brooklands?) and a community park. There was no mention of a test track, although there is loads of room to accomodate all the above, and leave the kart track in place as well. It will presumably squeeze out the Sunday market, which ought to have please Byfleet PC as it causes more traffic congestion than anything else on the site. Sadly, it will also probably mean the end for some of the other activities that take place on the old runway area - the vintage bus shows (Cobham Bus Museum is just around the corner), local motor shows, sprints and historic car meetings, and occasional use as an airfield.

Assuming Elmbridge BC (see my earlier rant) do not foul it all up, this will finally settle the Brooklands saga. It would have been nice if the old track(s) could have been restored as a much larger Museum, but it is a large site in a part of Britain where property is worth an absolute fortune (eg. a 5 bed room detached house on a half-acre site will go for £1 to 2m around that area) so there was never any real hope for that!