Try walking round Warwick town centre on a Bank Holiday - challenge from council leader

He says: “Warwick would die on its feet without the racecourse. I’ve walked round on a Bank Holiday Monday and it was dead, with nearly all the shops closed. That doesn’t look good for visitors.

“The town is desperately in need of stimulation - like all of Warwickshire’s market towns. But Warwick is the county town and does need some protection.

““Yes, we have the castle, but most of the people who go there arrive by coach or car and don’t come out into the town.

“I was amazed by the criticism in the Courier from town councillor John Holland which came in the same week that Folkestone Racecourse held its final meeting and a week after the Hereford course closed.

“Does he think we can stand idly by and watch Warwick Racecourse fail?”

In May Cllr Doody (Con, Radford Semele) had been in favour of the proposals for a 100-bedroomed hotel beside the course in Hampton Street. But despite being recommended by council officers, the idea did not find favour with many local people or town councillors and was eventually rejected by six votes to four.

Some opponents suggested the hotel needed to be built further down Hampton Street. But Cllr Doody felt that a hotel on the outskirts of the town would have done no good at all.

Labour town councillor Holland, who lost his district seat in 2007, still maintains his former colleagues in the district have been far too generous to the course’s management, considering they are part of the hugely wealthy Jockey Club.

He doesn’t see why it should be given not only a £6,000 towards future business options or what amounts to a subsidised rent following the building of new stables.

But Cllr Doody said: “The bargain that was done to build new stables and a jockey hostel gave the district council many benefits including a new community centre and a very good deal at Bread and Meat Close where we were able to build much-needed affordable housing. On the loss of descretionary rate relief I think the town councils could help more.

“I agree our £6,000 contribution towards an ‘options appraisal’ for the course is taxpayers’ money but the benefits of spending this now could be huge for Warwick.”