Hillingdon Council blocks 30-year racing centre lease renewal after talks stall

A volunteer-built racing centre in Pole Hill, Hillingdon, faces closure after Hillingdon Council refused to renew its lease and proposed terms that would end weekday operations. The West London Racing Centre, established in 1994, has run STEM workshops and holiday activities for children, including programmes commissioned and funded by the council.

The centre’s lease expired in 2021. Since then, Hillingdon Council has attempted to downgrade its occupation to a temporary licence, despite the centre paying rent for three decades. Andy Hyde, Chief Executive of RC Vision CIC, which operates the site, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that negotiations have "disappeared into a vacuum" due to staff turnover at the council.

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Council terms would end weekday programmes

In recent weeks, Hillingdon Council offered new terms that would limit the centre’s operations to Sundays, four Saturdays, and two Mondays a year. Hyde said this would make it impossible to run the STEM and holiday club sessions the council itself commissions on weekdays. The centre currently delivers a holiday activities and food programme for children, funded by the council.

The council has also refused to allow protective fencing, citing the site’s designation as public open space. Hyde said this leaves the centre vulnerable to ongoing vandalism, including smashed tracks and burned-out scooters. The centre has historically paid for repairs out of pocket, but Hyde said the council now demands the centre indemnify it for any damage or injury, despite blocking security measures.

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We’d be asked to indemnify the council for damage or injury at the site, while the council itself refuses to let us install the fencing or security that would prevent that damage happening in the first place.

Andy Hyde, Chief Executive, RC Vision CIC

Council says it wants to reach agreement

Hillingdon Council said it recognises the centre’s contribution to the borough and remains committed to reaching an agreement. A council spokesperson told MyLondon: "We have worked constructively throughout this process and explored every available option to support the club while discussions continue."

The council has issued a draft tenancy at will to the centre’s legal representatives and is awaiting a response. The spokesperson said the offer reflects the centre’s growth from a model racing club to an organisation delivering youth engagement, SEND support, and STEM education. The council did not respond to questions about the proposed restrictions on operating days or the refusal to allow fencing.

What happens next

The centre’s legal representatives are reviewing the draft tenancy at will. If accepted, the arrangement would formalise the centre’s occupation but would not guarantee long-term security. Hyde said the centre cannot invest in repairs or improvements without a long-term lease, leaving the track in need of resurfacing.

The centre has called for a political resolution, arguing that the council could renew the lease without a lengthy policy review. Hyde told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This is a question of political will. It’s very easy to sort out with political will." The council has not indicated whether it will reconsider the proposed terms.