Buddy L
5th February 2007, 10:25
Just recived and Email from John Cobb, about the story so far.
Its a realy shame, be watching the telly at 7pm on channel 1 for more of the same but with pictures and videos.
"ITS CRUNCHTIME"
"Hi everyone, our meeting with the Council Managers and their Lawyers didn't
go particularly well. They were adamant that we don't have a consent, that
we have been operating illegally for the last 23 years and they didn't
really want to argue the case with our Lawyers.
They also made the point that if we go to the Environment Court and prove
them wrong, that they will not renew our lease and furthermore that if we
continue talking to the media about the issue that they will not renew the
lease.
I think this is the point where they apply as much pressure as possible and
hope we fold. Councilor Des Heard told us that the Mayor believes we will
not be able to afford Bell Gully and will end up going back to the hearings
process. The Mayor has also emailed one of our members and said that he
believes that I am acting alone in withdrawing the consent application on
the advice of Bell Gully.
We had a long meeting with the Mayor last Wednesday and I said I would be
happy to call a public meeting of all the riders and let them vote
individually on our course of action, but the Mayor said that Bell Gully
would just turn up and convince everyone to go to court.
Maurice Whitham was one of the club representatives at the meeting and he
pointed out that the Council shouldn't be threatening us with the lease if
all we are wanting to do is go to court to get the legal issues clarified.
Norm Cobb presented a strong argument for our existing consent and we all
agreed that what everyone wants, is to get the issues resolved.
Norm and Maurice have invited the Mayor down to the track so he can see
where the neighbors are. We also agreed that senior lawyers from Phillip Fox
(representing the Council) and Bell Gully (representing the riders) should
try to work out a legal solution.
In the meantime, we have filed our appeal with the Environment Court and
asked for a stay so we can reopen the track until it goes to court.
TV1 filmed interviews with Councilor Des Heard, Blake Gillard, Maurice
Whitham, Tony Cooksley, Chase Smith, Norm and myself over the long
Anniversary Weekend for Closeup to be shown on this Monday night at 7.00.
Michael Holland from TV1 believes that media exposure often helps resolve
these situations.
I want to thank everyone for getting stuck in and supporting us, we have
come a long way in the last 25 years - the first club in NZ to provide a big
prepped up, track watered and powerharrowed track every weekend, the only
fully prepped track to train on in Auckland on Wednesdays, the home of the
biggest Schools MX in NZ and the countries longest running series of 30
minute (Wildman) motos. I am proud have what we have done and I can honestly
say that the people I have met and the friends I have made at Ardmore over
the years have made it all worthwhile.
best regards
John Cobb"
Its a realy shame, be watching the telly at 7pm on channel 1 for more of the same but with pictures and videos.
"ITS CRUNCHTIME"
"Hi everyone, our meeting with the Council Managers and their Lawyers didn't
go particularly well. They were adamant that we don't have a consent, that
we have been operating illegally for the last 23 years and they didn't
really want to argue the case with our Lawyers.
They also made the point that if we go to the Environment Court and prove
them wrong, that they will not renew our lease and furthermore that if we
continue talking to the media about the issue that they will not renew the
lease.
I think this is the point where they apply as much pressure as possible and
hope we fold. Councilor Des Heard told us that the Mayor believes we will
not be able to afford Bell Gully and will end up going back to the hearings
process. The Mayor has also emailed one of our members and said that he
believes that I am acting alone in withdrawing the consent application on
the advice of Bell Gully.
We had a long meeting with the Mayor last Wednesday and I said I would be
happy to call a public meeting of all the riders and let them vote
individually on our course of action, but the Mayor said that Bell Gully
would just turn up and convince everyone to go to court.
Maurice Whitham was one of the club representatives at the meeting and he
pointed out that the Council shouldn't be threatening us with the lease if
all we are wanting to do is go to court to get the legal issues clarified.
Norm Cobb presented a strong argument for our existing consent and we all
agreed that what everyone wants, is to get the issues resolved.
Norm and Maurice have invited the Mayor down to the track so he can see
where the neighbors are. We also agreed that senior lawyers from Phillip Fox
(representing the Council) and Bell Gully (representing the riders) should
try to work out a legal solution.
In the meantime, we have filed our appeal with the Environment Court and
asked for a stay so we can reopen the track until it goes to court.
TV1 filmed interviews with Councilor Des Heard, Blake Gillard, Maurice
Whitham, Tony Cooksley, Chase Smith, Norm and myself over the long
Anniversary Weekend for Closeup to be shown on this Monday night at 7.00.
Michael Holland from TV1 believes that media exposure often helps resolve
these situations.
I want to thank everyone for getting stuck in and supporting us, we have
come a long way in the last 25 years - the first club in NZ to provide a big
prepped up, track watered and powerharrowed track every weekend, the only
fully prepped track to train on in Auckland on Wednesdays, the home of the
biggest Schools MX in NZ and the countries longest running series of 30
minute (Wildman) motos. I am proud have what we have done and I can honestly
say that the people I have met and the friends I have made at Ardmore over
the years have made it all worthwhile.
best regards
John Cobb"