GREYHOUNDS: Oxford told to plan for future (From Oxford Mail)

GREYHOUNDS: Oxford told to plan for future

10:00am Saturday 15th September 2012 in Sport By John Gaisford

Greyhound Racing Association managing director Clive Feltham has said there is no threat of imminent closure at Oxford Stadium.

Feltham visited Sandy Lane with former Oxford general manager Mick Hardy, now at Belle Vue, where they met racing manager Gary Baiden and general manager Maureen Ridley to discuss uncertainty surrounding the stadium.

But the message was that Oxford should go all-out for Christmas bookings and plan for open races, including the Pall Mall in March.

Everyone connected with the stadium has been nervously awaiting the inevitable planning application to build homes on the Sandy Lane site.

Oxford Cheetahs speedway fans and greyhound supporters have combined to form an action group to fight any plans.

The two groups came together at a meeting hosted by the Speedway Supporters Club this week, where two councillors were in attendance.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith was invited, but did not go. He has, however, askedmembers of the group to his offices in Blackbird Leys.

One interesting development, however, was a report that Ladbrokes have had three approaches to buy the stadium turned down by the GRA.

And such is the confidence of the bookmakers, they are understood to have offered one punter 100-1 that houses will be built on the site.

They claim that the GRA were willing to sell only with planning permission, which obviously would have massively upped the price.

The£160,000 BAGS-sponsored Track Championship, sees Oxford drawn against Poole and Swindon.

The first leg is at Swindon on November 2, with Oxford hosting a fortnight later and Poole on Saturday, December 2.

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