APRIL ILKESTON INQUIRER

ILKESTON INQUIRER
27
KAWASOAKI!
Haslam swimming
baths dream is sunk
by council planners
Er . . he actually rides
a Honda ( we couldn’t
resist the headline)
SUPERBIKE king Leon Haslam has had
cold water poured on his dream of building
a new multi-million pound leisure
centre and swimming pool – after council
planners sank the project.
The Honda ace, who won the crown when he used
to ride for Kawasaki, wanted to construct the complex
on land next to a fun attraction his family owns called
Clip ‘n’ Climb. It is a series of walls for people to scale.
Derby city council vetoed the idea. It decreed that the
pool project off the A38 near Kingsway Retail Park was “not
By JOEL HATTON
compatible” with improvement plans for the area that have
already been drawn up.
Highways England also stuck its oar in. The council
ruled: “No justification for the selection of this site has
been provided to support the application.”
Its planners feared “a detrimental impact on the safe
movement of traffic on the surrounding highway network”.
Disgusted locals flocked online to blast the decision –
with many paying tribute to “local lad” Leon, who lives in
Smalley. One raged: “Derby is crying out for such facilities.
Doesn’t the council realise that private money can fulfil
the needs that they lack?” Another who lives near the
proposed site fumed: “We have to drive to Ilkeston to
the nearest decent swimming pool (with free parking)
because our council are so short sighted they cannot
maintain and improve what few facilities we have.”
Leon is the son of Langley Mill legend Ron Haslam,
63 – who won the world motorcycle championship
three times. Leon’s latest tilt at the top title saw him
make a disappointing start after he crashed in the
season opener of the FIM Superbike World Championship
series in Australia.
It left him in ninth place. He said as he headed
to Qatar for the next leg: “I’m a little disappointed
because I felt we had the pace to be on the podium.”
Superbike superstar . . . Leon Haslam
VIRUS WON’T BEAT US
By LARRY HARRIS
COVID-19 may have wrecked
Ilkeston Town FC’s season but
it can never beat the team, the
club’s owner vowed.
Mark Clifford reassured fans in the wake
of all games being scrapped that the Robins
were in “unique” health financially.
That is thanks to the investors he brought in
after taking over last October.
Clifford declared: “They have secured the
club’s future to the extent that Covid-19 is unable
to suppress any of our plans.” An ambitious
more cake
marathon
Top effort . . .
Bec and Kirsty
on Ben Nevis
Robins’ healthy finances
are lifesaver, says owner
revamp of the New Manor Ground may
be delayed but only slightly. Clifford said:
“However £250,000 of improvements
excluding the pitch are still scheduled to
take place this summer and will not be
impacted by any fixture congestion.
“This current situation only shows how
far we have come when an epidemic of
this magnitude cannot impact on our
plans for next season and beyond.
“The developments moving forward
will be a complete game changer.
The crisis is affecting other clubs
but rest assured we are financially
debt free and secure with all staff and
players to be paid as normal, with no
changes to key plans.”
The Robins, who play in the Bet-
Victor Northern South East Division,
were ninth in the table and making a
charge for the playoffs when all sport
ground to a halt.
They went into March on the back
of a 2-1 triumph at Newcastle Town –
a week after a shock upset saw them
beat league leaders Leek Town 2-0.
A 1-0 victory at Market Drayton
Town – thanks to a 44th-minute goal
from Kieran Wells – extended the
winning streak to three.
The final game was a 3-1 defeat
at Loughborough Dynamo. Ilkeston
had conceded in the 12th minute but
their battling display saw Fernando
Bell-Toxtle level things with a
screamer in the 72nd. Dynamo then
bagged two in the last ten minutes.
Robins coach Martin Carruthers
said: “Poor defensive mistakes cost
us dearly.”
KIDS’ FOOTIE AXED
ALL local footie was suspended because of the pandemic – from Derby and
Forest games right down to Heanor Juniors under-11s. The blow for the
Heanor youngsters, nicknamed the Titans, came after they clinched a shirt
sponsorship deal with Ilkeston Nissan dealer Bristol Street Motors. One of the
side’s players – Alfie – described the new gear as “awesome”. Teammate Dylan
said: “Having kits as good as these makes us play with more confidence.”
GAME OVER
ILKESTON Town FC’s season is officially
FINISHED. The FA announced that all football
in England below the three divisions that
make up the National League is at an end
and all results are being
expunged.
Hugs . . . Robins players
celebrate equaliser at
Loughborough - before
social distancing rules