SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ESSEX FORD BILLERICAY – 23.2.8

Horse play on Phoenix FM's Saturday Pitstop this morning, marking the news that racing gets under way in the county the other side of Chelmsford in April.  Then over to the other side of the Baytree Centre from our the Phoenix FM studios to visit Brentwood's new Post Office.

Great Leighs Racing

Pippa Cuckson, from Great Leighs Racing, joined us to announce the first meeting at the UK's first new racecourse in 80 years on April 4.  Another eight April meetings will see the new venue tried and tested, before its first two-day Spring Classic fixture in May.

Diggers first moved on site on the former Essex showground three years ago but a mixture of highway issues and bad weather have delayed the £40m project.  The route of the Great Leighs bypass threw up access problems for the new raceground – solved by moving facilities including one grandstand into the infield (inside the one-mile oval circuit).

From May 2008, around 80 annual all-weather, all-year floodlit meetings are planned on the resilient, fast-draining Polytrack surface.  Pippa highlighted that East Anglia would boast the oldest and newest of venues within the 40 miles separating Newmarket and Great Leighs.

Also on offer will be a sports betting hall, earmarked for use during other football, cricket or Formula 1 dates as well as Great Leighs' equestrian activities.  See www.greatleighs.com for more info.

Baytree Centre PO

On Thursday, February 21, Brentwood's Post Office moved from the High Street into WHSmith in the Baytree Centre.  This morning five  counters were open and a couple of managers were supervising the first weekend day of trading.

The PO is controversially upstairs, with lift and stairs access.  The lift is small (little more than a metre wide and metre and a half deep).  If out of action, a standby PO counter would be opened by the foot of the stairs for customers marooned on the ground floor.

From Essex Ford Billericay

The arrival of the new Ford Focus means keen offers on the replacement and outgoing model.  Phone James in vehicle sales, on 01277 652242, to request prices for Phoenix FM listeners.

Meanwhile only six days left to book a Value Service for any Ford over three years old and receive £40 of M&S vouchers.  Phone Carol in service on the above number mentioning Phoenix FM.

Article by Oliver Rowe, 23 Feb 2008
Posted in Saturday Morning with Oliver Rowe

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