Walthamstow stadium’s owners are refusing to fully engage with new, widely-supported plans to bring greyhound racing back to the Stow. If this continues, campaigners and local politicians plan to take action.
Developers London & Quadrant (L&Q) took ownership of the iconic site two years ago after its financial decline and closure. The stadium, affectionately nicknamed ‘the Stow’, had been a popular dog track for over 75-years. Since buying the site, L&Q have infuriated campaigners by failing to submit planning applications or accept offers to buy or lease the site. Furthermore they have lost a string of commercial partners, gone through three architect firms and have ultimately been unable to suggest a scheme with broad local support.
President of the Greyhound Owners Breeders and Trainers Association, businessman Bob Morton, is the latest to attempt to buy the stadium from L&Q. Earlier this month, the millionaire submitted a detailed proposal to re-establish the Stow in accordance with its heritage. The plans include building a state-of-the-art leisure arena alongside affordable housing. The arena intends to be a community hot-spot that will house bars, eateries and a nightclub around the focal feature of the dog track. Bob Morton and his supporters envisage that the multi-purpose site would provide local culture and the local economy with a much-needed boost.
Mr Morton’s proposals have so far received backing from a number of sources. Save Our Stow, a group of local residents and greyhound racing enthusiasts, has called the plans: “a golden opportunity to change this Borough for the better for generations to come”. It also has full support from local MPs Stella Creasy and Iain Duncan Smith who have held meetings on behalf of the public with L&Q. The MPs are to launch an ‘Accept the Bid’ drive in the coming days.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has commented that the plans are consistent with his vision for London’s future: “my vision for the regeneration of this site includes a range of leisure uses and new affordable housing, with heritage assets protected and enhanced, and built and designed to the highest architectural and environmental standards. Ideally, this would restore greyhound racing to this, its primary and historic home.”
Over 20,000 people signed a petition for dog racing to be incorporated in the Stow’s future. In a meeting with the developers, Stella Creasy and Iain Duncan Smith communicated this public feeling and put pressure on L&Q to seriously consider Bob Morton’s proposal. Despite sounding positive, L&Q have gone ahead with creating their own plans for a housing-led development with newly-commissioned architects Conran & Partners.
The owners have said they approached Mr Morton’s proposal seriously, but it lacked sufficient detail for them to review its viability. L&Q added that until they “receive full disclosure of financial backing and clarity over a number of logistical and administrative issues”, the plans will be considered no further.
MP Iain Duncan Smith said this week: “I am disappointed that L&Q has decided not to meet Bob Morton to discuss his offer in more depth, particularly in the light of my conversation with the Chief Executive of L&Q, who assured me that he would take seriously any offers made for the site. I urge L&Q to follow through on this promise and meet Bob Morton as soon as possible.”
Bob Morton has reportedly been in touch with L&Q and will provide the desired information imminently. Save the Stow has asked that L&Q contact Mr Morton by 31st August in order to schedule a meeting and discuss the proposals.
If their request is ignored, the campaign group are to organise a protest march led by MPs Stella Creasy and Iain Duncan Smith to L&Q’s main office.
Interesting that the mayor says that the plans are consistent with the vision of the area. Are you blind to animal cruelty? As for Manchester’s Belle Vue dog track, six greyhounds died there in one week. How can you not think that any greyhounds will not die at Stow?
Instead of Save Our Stow, what about saving your soul and the souls of racing greyhounds who should simply be pets not racing machines.
There are many forms of entertainment available. Watching greyhound race to their death is not one of them.
Karyn,
Walthamstow Stadium had an excellent record for the treatment of greyhounds and for campaigning for the better treatment of the dogs. Each year they raised hundreds of thousands for the rehoming of dogs and lead the way for other tracks to do the same.
If you know any dog people at all you will know that they are extremely passionate about the welfare of their animals – Walthamstow was very different and you would know this if you had spent any time there. If you saw the dogs before or after the race you’d see that they love to race, it’s in their nature, it’s what they do.
The stadium created jobs for hundreds of people, it is an East End tradition which brought families together, it provided a free and important community hub for the elderly during the day, it was the centre of many people’s lives. There are precious few opportunities in today’s society to get together, socialise and spend time with others in a cheap, safe and family friendly environment – the loss of this stadium is felt deeply amongst the community. Please do suggest free or cheap entertainment that you suggest is available. The dogs wasn’t just about the racing, you could go for a meal, for a drink or just to meet friends.
It was somewhere that Walthamstow was know for, not just in London but the rest of the world, local identity is important in creating communities and this was important.
Please please look into Walthamstow’s record more closely and consider the bigger picture.