Over 700 Hundred sign petition to save racing at Arlington Stadium

Hundreds of racing fans have signed a community petition to save banger and stock car racing at Arlington Stadium in Hailsham, East Sussex.

The Change.org petition, launched by local supporter Jesse Wilkes, calls on local councils and stakeholders to step in and restore the historic oval track. 

Why the Stadium Cancelled Racing

The sudden decision to halt motorsport after more than 60 years of operation was announced by promoters Spedeworth Motorsports following an immediate ban by the stadium's owners. 

• Safety Concerns: Joint-owner Eric Dugard cited severe infrastructure and safety problems that made future racing financially unviable.
• The Core Issue: A safety-critical, 600-metre wire mesh debris fence wrapping around the track needs complete replacement.
• Insurance Risks: The venue’s insurance provider refuses to cover motorsport events until a proper substitute fence is installed.
• Financial Strain: The owners have already spent over £250,000 on recent upgrades to parking and electrics. They stated that fixing the remaining safety issues would take months and cost too much to remain a realistic business model. 

The Campaign to Save It

Campaigners refuse to let the venue go without a fight, arguing that the track is a vital hub for local culture and mental well-being. The "Bring back Arlington stadium for banger racing" petition suggests several routes forward:

• Seeking partnerships with local businesses.
• Launching crowdfunding opportunities to cover infrastructure costs.
• Lobbying local authorities to repurpose less essential venues to free up resources. 

While promoters are looking into existing customer bookings, the stadium owners are currently evaluating alternative, non-motorsport events to hold at the site.