REGARDING the greyhound stadium and the bid to save save Oxford’s sporting heritage.

I’ve attended a few planning committee meetings but nothing – ever – like the one on Wednesday.

As reported in the Oxford Mail, Galliard Homes’ plans to demolish Oxford greyhound and speedway stadium and shoehorn in 220 tiny homes was rejected, unanimously, much to the delight of everyone except the developers.

What wasn’t reported was that the application was turned down on eight separate counts. Eight! Remarkable. I’ve seen applications go to committee despite having a couple of things going against, three at most — but eight?

What was anyone thinking, bringing this to committee? It was a dead duck. Not only was it dead, it was stuffed, roasted and carved.

Why waste everyone’s time, why waste money, trying to see if it could swim? Is something fishy going on?

Galliard Homes wants to build and sell 220 properties at £150,000 each — a £33m turnover. It’s likely they will appeal. In the meantime, any development must take into account the needs and wishes of the local community. The stadium is, after all, a community heritage asset and once it’s bulldozed, it’s lost forever.

I’ve been invited to comment on Oxford City Council’s Community Engagement Plan Consultation.

Knowing the council’s dismal failure to listen to local residents’ wishes, I was surprised to discover they even had such a plan.

So let’s now work together to save Oxford’s sporting heritage site and find a workable solution to give Oxford an Olympic sporting legacy to be proud of.

KATHARINE HARBORNE (Cllr)
Old High Street
Headington
Oxford