Campaigners in vow to challenge plans for 220 homes at dog stadium

 

PLANS to flatten Oxford’s greyhound stadium to make way for a 220-home estate last night saw campaigners declare: The real fight starts now.

The application to knock down the now empty stadium in Blackbird Leys and build houses and flats has been submitted by Galliard Homes and planning agent Savills.

In its proposals, the developer claims council officers supported its plans in principle “subject to addressing the loss of the existing community facility”.

It added the city council had also failed to show a need for a replacement for the stadium.

It comes after city council leader Bob Price stood up at a full council meeting in December to announce the land should remain a leisure and recreation site.

Last night Mr Price denied backtracking on his position.

Mr Price said: “I haven’t been party to any of the discussions between the developers and officers, but as far as members are concerned, there is no viable alternative (for the stadium).

“There is no other site, so that’s just not true. We’ve had discussions with two people who have made bids to buy the site over the past two years to run it as a greyhound track who were perfectly happy with its viability.”

Campaigners against the demolition of the stadium say news of the formal planning application should be a catalyst for stepping up their battle.

Save Oxford Stadium campaign group chairman Ian Sawyer said: “We have always known that this was going to be when the fight really started.

“Now it’s all about getting people to oppose them, and also reminding our councillors about what they said when they supported us in the first place.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “The present owners putting in these plans signals a vital stage in the campaign to save Oxford Stadium.

“It brings it home to everyone that if this scheme went ahead Oxford Stadium – and all the facilities it provides for so many activities, and so many people – would be lost forever.

“It is important that this application is turned down by a big majority, and with the strongest possible reasons, because there is little doubt the applicants will go to appeal if the council turns down the scheme.

“So the stronger case we have to present to the secretary of state and his planning inspectorate, the more chance we have of saving the stadium.”

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “It has to be kept as a leisure facility for ordinary working class people.”

Campaigners say the council has valid reasons to throw out the plans.

The site is not listed in the council’s “sites and housing plan” blueprint for future development, and the developers have pledged that only 35 per cent of the housing will be affordable, falling short of the city’s target of 50 per cent. City council deputy leader Ed Turner said: “If developers have paid over-the-odds for a site and then expect local residents to make up their profit margins by losing affordable housing, they should not be surprised if it gets turned down.”

In a separate bid to save the stadium, the site has been nominated for heritage asset status. The stadium closed on December 29 after operators the Greyhound Racing Association claimed it was unviable as a business.

But several people have expressed an interest in buying the site to run it as a leisure facility since its closure, including Irish entrepreneur Paschal Taggart, who is not in active negotiations, and another person, who has not been named.

Savills did not respond to a request for a comment before deadline.