The search for a new stadium to acommodate Linlithgow Lightning is still on. However it appears that they have run out of time to run in the 2000 Conference League. Lightning were allowed to enter a team in the Confernce this year despite having no track. It was hoped that either a new track would be sorted out or Lightning could share ride their home matches at Armadale, Berwick or Glasgow.
After being knocked back for a couple of sites in West Lothian, Lightning owner Alan Robertson has homed in on Newbridge. This is around ten miles west of Edinburgh on the junction between the M8 and the M9. The area has recently been rocked by the closure of the Continental Tyre Plant.
Alan Robertson confirmed a week last month in the Edinburgh Pink that they were seriously looking at Newbridge:
"We are still in the early stages of negotiation but the planners seem happy. It's simply a question of getting a lease on a piece of land we have earmarked."
"Newbridge has recently received development fund money because of the number of jobs that have been lost in the area. They now have the money to devlope land that has been lying dormant for years."
"There are people who are trying to encourage new business to the area, which is understandable, and they feel a speedway track might affect that. But we are hopeful of receiving the green light. There are 49 acres available, surely we can be given six. The part we want is right in the corner. We don't want the middle of the prime site."
"We need to find a new home this year. Our problem in the past has been the planners. But they seem to be happy because they know because they know we cannot go to an area which is designated for sport and recreation. It would be too near housing. Now they are letting us go to the business zone instead."
"We need to get things right this time and make it a long term venue. Heathersfield was a swamp when we got it. It took us years to get it going and keep it going."
Robertson hinted that the site may be more than a training track and a Conference League venue in the long term.
"We need to find somewhere we can develop over a period of time. We also have to bear in mind that Armadale only has a short life. We need a venue, close to Edinburgh, that the Monarchs can use as well."
"Any new track we'll initially construct for training and Conference League purposes. But it will be good enough to expand if needed."
Robertson admitted that there were problems in meeting fixtures for 2000.
"To fulfil them we'll have to go cap in hand to other tracks and see if we can double up We don't have t start panicking yet. It would only take a month to get a new track up and running. We already have most of the gear, it's not as if we'll be starting from scratch. Becasue we are the only Conference track in the north, we don't want to close down. I have noticed that there are no no riders coming through because we have not been operating."
Since that interview, nothing more has been reported, so plan B appears to be on the cards. The proposal to double up has limitations. It is unlikely that many, if any matches could be accommodated at Armadale. The limit of one match per week imposed at Armadale by planning conditions makes it difficult to fit in all of Monarchs' fixtures. Double headers are unlikely with the 10.00pm curfew.
Similar problems exist at Berwick. They also have a one fixture per week limit. They did enter teams in both the Premier League and the Conference League in 1997. The Border Raiders ran either as double headers with the Bandits or as Conference League double headers on Saturdays without a Premier Leage match. This was possible due to the earlier start time possible on a Saturday and because the Confernce League was run on a 13-heat format. It will be much more difficult to run two 15-heat matches in one evening.
The only viable option would appear to be Ashfield. The Glasgow track has no limit on the hours of operation or on the number of meetings run each week. It has always been the intentions of the Glasgow promotion to run a Conference League team out of Ashfield, thus reviving the Ashfield Giants team that briefly flourished in the early 1950s.
Rumours from the Glasgow area would appear to indicate that the Linlithgow team is to run out of Ashfield in the 2000 season under the Ashfield Giants banner. While this has yet to be confirmed, it would appear to be the obvious solution.
Assuming that the efforts to get a new track for Lightning continue, this will enable to 2000 fixtures to be fulfilled and enabe them to return to the East of Scotland for 2001. This would also test the desire of the Glasgow public for a Conference League speedway to see if a team can continue to run there after this year.
Monday would appear to be the preferred choice of race night for Ashfield. A decision is needed very soon as Lightning have a fixture at Sheffield this coming Sunday.