ANY developer building on Oxford Stadium would be expected to make a contribution towards sporting facilities in the city, the leader of Oxford City Council has said.

The greyhound stadium in Sandy Lane will close on December 29, after hosting races for over 70 years.

News of the closure was condemned by supporters of the sport, and there have been calls to keep the site as a sporting facility rather than see it used for housing.

However Bob Price, the leader of the city council, said: “It is a site with a whole range of potential uses and we would have to wait and see what planning applications come in.

“If there is an application for a leisure facility that would be considered on its merits but if not there would have to be some contribution towards leisure in Oxford since that is what the site has been used for.

“Obviously there is a very significant community of people who would like greyhound racing to continue and this will be very disappointing for them, but clearly the owners feel they are not making enough money.”

Earlier this year Galliard Homes and stadium owner the Greyhound Racing Association announced plans to build 225 homes on the site, but in September GRA manager Clive Feltham, said there was no imminent threat of closure.

He was last night unavailable for comment.