Pictured above: Martin Jones
Tens of thousands of spectators are now set to descend on
Beaumont Leys Sports Complex every year following completion of
Leicester Lions' £1.2 million speedway track.
If all goes to plan phases two and three - featuring a new
cycle-track and all-weather football stadium - will follow in due
course. It is estimated up to 50 new jobs will be created when the
complex is fully completed.
Leicester Lions' manager David Hemsley, also a chartered
surveyor with S&P Architects, has been working closely on the
project with Martin Jones, principal legal adviser and Harvey
Ingram's head of Construction & Engineering.
David Hemsley says: "From my point of view, this project
presents a very exciting opportunity for Leicester. It has huge
commercial and regeneration benefits for the community and will be
an enormous boost for the city as a whole. I have been very
grateful for all the support I've had on it from Harvey Ingram and
am really looking forward to watching speedway take off among a new
generation of fans."
Project partners were granted planning permission to develop the
Beaumont Leys' site in August 2009. As a result, the Leicester
Lions was able to get talks underway with the British Speedway
Premier League, with the intention of competitive action underway
ahead of the 2011 season.
Martin Jones has been overseeing the new venture's legal work
with the help of colleagues Matt Duckworth and Lisa Botterill.
He adds: "The speedway track and neighbouring sports village
will be a superb asset for both the city and local community.
Speedway supporters have been campaigning hard to bring racing back
to the city for nearly 30 years. The new complex will help pave the
way for the regeneration of a huge area relatively close to the
city centre. The venue will draw tens of thousands of visitors
every year and help in the on-going promotion of Leicester as a
city and county of sporting excellence.
"Because of the number of partners involved, there's been some
complex construction and technical arrangements to nail down. But
all partners know the result makes the effort worthwhile."
For more information about Harvey Ingram, please visit their
website here: www.harveyingram.com