Bugs, bikes and a return to the track: The Hammers campaign gathers pace

With work continuing behind the scenes throughout recent months, the Thurrock ‘AsMaTT’ Hammers campaign to return speedway to its origins at The Arena Essex Raceway is now gathering renewed momentum, with a significant increase in media interest, new partnerships and collaborations, and plans for not one, but two, track appearances in September.

On the media and collaboration fronts, a common thread has emerged around the important national discussion surrounding the rapid growth and construction of data centres across the UK.

As many of you know, the Arena Essex Raceway was purchased in July 2023 by Global Infrastructure UK Limited,  a subsidiary of Google for £47.3 million. In mid-2025, the company submitted an application for outline planning permission for four data centre towers and associated buildings, with the Hammers formally submitting objections to the proposals in November last year.

Recently, our campaign has found common ground with a growing number of organisations and campaigners working to protect the environment, including Buglife, Natural England, Essex Wildlife Trust and Plantlife, amongst others.

These perhaps unexpected connections have been informally characterised as ‘Bugs & Bikes’, highlighting how groups with very different interests have come together around a shared determination to protect the Arena Essex Raceway site and its wider environmental and community value.

Last month, The Big Issue featured the alliance in an article exploring how we are each working in our own way to challenge the proposed development of the site. (click here to view the article)

Other media outlets have since shown an interest in the story and are keen to learn more, so watch this space for further coverage over the coming weeks.

As part of our ongoing campaign, we also recently attended a ‘Meet the Leader’ event with Cllr Richard Bingley at Thurrock Council. Having subsequently written to him, we hope to meet with him in person soon to explain our vision for the future of the site and the role we believe speedway can continue to play within it.

On Friday 28 August 2026, the Hammers submitted two further substantial objections to the proposed development to Thurrock Council’s Planning team, building on the documents we have already lodged.

The first sets out our objections on the grounds of land contamination, particularly concerns surrounding asbestos, while the second focuses specifically on the loss of the speedway facility.

To view each document click on the related links below:

Objections: Asbestos Land Contamination and Waste

Objections-Loss-of-the-Speedway-Facility

Thurrock Hammers Director Mark Sexton would also like to place on record the club’s sincere thanks to Brian Connolly for his outstanding and considerable contribution to this work.

And while the campaign continues off track, there is plenty happening on track too.

The Thurrock ‘AsMaTT” Hammers have been invited to Mildenhall on the 19th of September for a NORA Team Challenge against the Fen Tigers, before heading to Iwade the following day, Sunday the 20th of September to compete in a three team tournament against the Kent Eagles and Norwich Young Stars.

Two days and two track appearances delivering further opportunities to put the Thurrock Hammers back where they belong – on a speedway track.

More details to follow!