Oxford greyhound stadium housing plan 'makes lot of sense'

7:00pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Freddie Whittaker, covering Politics and Kidlington. Call me on 01865 425498

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HOUSING plans for Oxford’s stadium are likely to get approval, according to city council leader Bob Price.

Galliard Homes and stadium owner the Greyhound Racing Association want to raze the attraction to the ground and build hundreds of homes on the site.

Campaigners and Blackbird Leys residents have voiced strong opposition, and Mr Price said he understood their concerns.

But he said the suitability of the site for housing was likely to mean the plans, which are currently being finalised by agent Savills, would be approved.

He said: “It should pass. In planning terms, it’s great for housing.

“It’s close to Tesco, close to schools, close to main transport links. It makes all sorts of sense in housing terms.

“We have to recognise local opposition, but we also have to get the best deal, and if it’s going to be 50 per cent affordable, that’s really positive.”

Mr Price said he appreciated campaigners’ and residents’ reasons for opposing the development.

He said: “There are two very good reasons for opposing it.

“There is an opinion that speedway and dog racing should be maintained, but the GRA clearly sees flogging it for housing as preferable.

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“The second is that if you put housing there, there will be more pressure on roads, parking and congestion.”

He said problems which more housing would cause on the Watlington Road and other areas would have to be addressed.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said members would not accept the argument that the plans were a good option for the site.

He said: “We can’t say we’re against the actual plans, because we haven’t seen them yet, but we have said we want it to remain as a leisure facility.”

Andrew Raven, from Savills, said the views of residents and visitors to consultation events last week were being assessed.

He said: “The events went very well. We had a number of residents turn up who gave a wide range of different comments, some in favour of the development and some against, and we’re assessing those comments now.”

He said a planning application would be submitted later in the year, and claimed it would tick all the boxes necessary for permission.

He said: “In principle, this is a policy-compliant site.”

Comments(23)

CowleyBoy says...
7:08pm Wed 1 Aug 12

Great. We really need less things to do in Oxford on a night.

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cuckoo says...
7:50pm Wed 1 Aug 12

“The second is that if you put housing there, there will be more pressure on roads, parking and congestion.”

He said problems which more housing would cause on the Watlington Road and other areas would have to be addressed.


I am just left wondering just HOW Mr Price intends to "address" these issues! Eg: the Eastern Bypass/Watlington and Garsington Roads/etc already get "gridlocked" for often more than just peak periods....not sure that a solution would "fit on a postcard"

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Lord Palmerstone says...
8:04pm Wed 1 Aug 12

"if it’s going to be 50 per cent affordable"
With a name like Bob Price and an oppo called Tanner you'd think he'd understand money. If it's that, Bob my old gefilte fisch you can't afford it.
Oh, you meant public housing? Well say public housing then, unless you want to sound like you're only tuppence in the shilling.

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mdh1664 says...
8:36pm Wed 1 Aug 12

comes across that local residents and people who actually live here are going to be ignored ! well done bob, hope you and the local labour party are pleased with yourselves..........
....................
.......

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DannyQuo says...
8:36pm Wed 1 Aug 12

Looking very dim indeed. Bob price is now backing it and the Dog owners are also keen to sell up now. Speedway have been peeing against the wind for some time now, a potential speedway promoter asked stadium dog owners for a two year deal to see if speedway would work, but they wanted 1 year in the TOP Elite League of british speedway. That was a silly demand on a sport attempting a come back after a few years out of it all. This just goes to show how much the Dogs didnt want to work with speedway to try and make it work like old times.
Secondly, All this country wants to do, is build houses where they can. Its wrong, and mabe they should think about how much population the country/Area can take for once to save doing away with countryside and places like this good old speedway stadium. Its alright having all these houses, but thse houses just put more strain on the system and its resources. The stadium should stay!

As an Oxford Speedway fan, GUTTED!

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flopsy3 says...
10:25pm Wed 1 Aug 12

Very happy if the stadium goes. At least the greyhounds will be spared from this cruel sport. A few more of their lives will be saved instead of these dog breaking backs etc......all in the name of a cheap night out, bet and chicken in a basket.

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MrSooty says...
8:12am Thu 2 Aug 12

Build them (housing estates) and they will come (single mothers).

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jonny1976 says...
8:26am Thu 2 Aug 12

flopsy3 wrote:
Very happy if the stadium goes. At least the greyhounds will be spared from this cruel sport. A few more of their lives will be saved instead of these dog breaking backs etc......all in the name of a cheap night out, bet and chicken in a basket.
because there is only one greyhound track in the country. they will race at another ground but have to drive further with dogs couped up in the boot. more uncomfortable for the dogs. dogs love chasing things its in their nature and all dogs are treated correctly

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elperrohavuelto says...
8:38am Thu 2 Aug 12

It really irks me when developers and authorities run exercises that are apparently to gage people’s opinion, when in reality it’s just a face saving exercise because they already have their minds made up.

Bob Price should be earning his position by making the organisations work towards improving the stadium by finally getting what the high majority of people seem to want and that is Speedway and the Dogs back together.

This is a sad time for the area, and they wonder why people don’t make the effort to vote anymore? No faith or confidence in the electorate to do the right thing.

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Wallingford2 says...
8:54am Thu 2 Aug 12

"all dogs are treated correctly"

Clearly they're not...

http://www.greyhound
action.org.uk/greyho
und.html

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elperrohavuelto says...
9:19am Thu 2 Aug 12

Wallingford2 wrote:
"all dogs are treated correctly"

Clearly they're not...

http://www.greyhound

action.org.uk/greyho

und.html
Closing the stadium will not prevent the horrible actions some disgusting breeders take with their dogs. This isn’t a debate about banning the sport, it will continue regardless of this decision.

I personally believe stronger better regulations are required to make sure only ethical people race well cared for healthy dogs, and there is more chance of that happening if the sport is thriving.

However regardless of your personal beliefs about the sport itself, the issue is whether you want to see a venue that is iconic for the area and for which provides much needed jobs and entertainment be removed for housing, putting more strain on the local area.

I for one, do not.

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Abartonresident says...
9:22am Thu 2 Aug 12

You should all know by now that Oxford City Council doesn't give a **** about residents where it wants to cram in some more houses.

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Abartonresident says...
9:23am Thu 2 Aug 12

and the word under the asterisks wasn't the one that began with F

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alu355 says...
11:45am Thu 2 Aug 12

CowleyBoy wrote:
Great. We really need less things to do in Oxford on a night.
There's not a lot other than the cinema and bowling alley although that's true of most of the UK nowadays

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elperrohavuelto says...
11:57am Thu 2 Aug 12

alu355 wrote:
CowleyBoy wrote:
Great. We really need less things to do in Oxford on a night.
There's not a lot other than the cinema and bowling alley although that's true of most of the UK nowadays
Just because something is commonplace doesn’t make it right, and certainly shouldn’t be used as a reason to continue demolishing places the local community wish to keep.

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father dowling says...
7:19pm Thu 2 Aug 12

We all know the council should be downsizing single people in 2/3 bedroom council properties. Its an absolute disgrace to have this situation carrying on, why are people allowed to live for life in these much sought after council properties ? As someone else said on here a few months back IF YOU KNOW OF ONE PERSON LIVING ALONE IN A 2/3 BEDROOM COUNCIL PROPERTY INFORM THE COUNCIL ! These people should have the decency themselves to inform the council that their families have grown up and moved away and now its time for another family to have the LUXURY of decent accomadation. Back to the stadium, I know a few people who work there and they are in disbelief at the lack of support from the management, NOT EVEN A MENTION of the current threat of closure let alone any reassurance from management. Its not as if theres just the one manager - one department has TWO, the restaurant !!!! NO way would I book anything in advance there in these circumstances, we have always had our Christmas parties there and spend hundeds of pounds every year, sadly this year we are not willing to take the risk of losing our money. The General Manager could surely make some sort of statement to to reassure the public ? "I know nothing" statements to The Oxford Mail is NOT GOOD ENOUGH, if Mrs Ridley really knows nothing then what hope has the stadium got ? Seriously ! I will, as will my work colleagues contintue to support and enjoy the stadium as long as its there, IT REALLY IS A GREAT NIGHT OUT ! But money in advance - NOT A CHANCE !

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Mario Kempes says...
7:53am Fri 3 Aug 12

23rd July 2012 Oxford Mail the city is bursting at the seams schools, roads, health services etc are at their capacity.
1st August 2012 Oxford Mail building houses on the stadium site makes sense. Both articles carry a picture of Cllr Bob"THE BUILDER"Price as he will no doubt soon be known,so whats changed in 2 weeks?
Its total chaos around the Tescos roundabout and not just in the rush hours Watlington and garsington rds almost always have nose to tail jams,and traffic through BBL has increased as people use it as a rat run.Building on the stadium site is the worst possible thing that can be done the facility is purposely underused by the owners so they can get their own way,Its time for the Council to stand firm and say No the stadium stays as a leisure facility and houses will not be allowed to be built.Anyone with any sense can see you need to get the infrastructure re schools,roads,health services and jobs in place before the horse bolts not afterwards,which will cost millions and no doubt us council tax payers will be the ones who foot the bill

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Oxford Male says...
11:39pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Yes and having an activity that you get nowhere else in Oxfordshire available makes a lot of sense too.

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## Nonny Mouse ## says...
10:11am Mon 6 Aug 12

elperrohavuelto wrote:
alu355 wrote:
CowleyBoy wrote:
Great. We really need less things to do in Oxford on a night.
There's not a lot other than the cinema and bowling alley although that's true of most of the UK nowadays
Just because something is commonplace doesn’t make it right, and certainly shouldn’t be used as a reason to continue demolishing places the local community wish to keep.
Well, then perhaps the 'community' should have actually gone there more often so that it was a financially viable business. Supply & demand and all that.....

I will be sad to see it go, but the writing was on the wall as soon as Speedway packed up.

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falco says...
4:59pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Kingston Rd Crusader: You must be living on a different planet.
One where greyhounds don't get PTS trackside or Rule 18 doesn't get them or, they're kept in squalid kennels and fed rubbish, or they are sold to race on flapping tracks and end up being kept on allotments, or sold on from flapping tracks to equally squalid people who breed from them , sell them online with no homecheck or, give them away FREE. Wise up mate.

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falco says...
5:04pm Mon 6 Aug 12

REST IN PEACE NOW -PREMARKETMALDINI. You are free now.

Born Oct 2008 -died at Oxford Dog Track 17th June 2012.

He ran 56 races and died just for the entertainment of man and to make money for the gambling industry.
Was it worth it - HELL NO.

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## Nonny Mouse ## says...
3:32pm Tue 7 Aug 12

is it not owned by Ladbrokes? (or one of the other big betting chains)

As you say, if they want a quick buck, they are better off selling off the land than selling to someone who would make a go of it.

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GRB says...
1:48pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Great, get rid of another venue in Oxford to make way for more housing for the Poles, Lithuanians etc

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