More than 100 people gather at the former Walthamstow dog stadium site calling for L & Q to sell the site (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting WFNEWS to 80360, or email us
Waltham Forest News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos
More than 100 people gather at the former Walthamstow dog stadium site calling for L & Q to sell the site
4:16pm Saturday 4th July 2009 in
A PROTEST rally was held today calling upon the owners of the Stow to sell the track so greyhound racing can return.
Organised by Save Our Stow (SOS) campaigners, about 100 people with placards and racing dogs gathered outside the stadium in Chingford Road, Chingford, from 12noon and encouraged passing drivers to sound their horns in support.
The iconic building, part of which is listed, has remained empty since housing association London and Quadrant took it over last August.
SOS campaigner Rick Holloway announced during a speech that the prospective owner who has made an offer to L&Q which has been turned down, is businessman Nick Budimir.
Mr Holloway said: “Winston Churchill came here. What would he think of it now?
"Taxi drivers, suppliers, caterers, trainers, kennel hands and local businesses lost a living when it closed.
“It is an utter diabolical disgrace how a registered charity can hold this borough to ransom.
"How long does it take politicians and councillors to realise in this borough that this is what is needed.”
Mr Holloway criticised L&Qs plans for a multi-storey housing development and called on it to meet with the prospective buyer, with Neil Gerrard MP acting as mediator, to see whether a deal could be reached.
He warned: “We are stronger than ever and more determined than ever. Now sell this land.”
Greyhound trainer and SOS campaigner Linda Jones said that for greyhound racing, the Stow was considered the best.
Neil Gerrard MP, who has bee pressing L&Q to meet with the prospective buyer said: “There is no sign of building work and I don't think there is any possibility to build there at the moment. If we don't get a deal, it will sit here for years and years.” Deputy council leader John Macklin also pledged his support to the campaign.
Greyhound trainer Michael Rack, 40, said he and his partner had been going to the track for 30 years before it closed.
The father-of-two said: “We enjoyed racing the greyhounds and it was a good family night out. It is a waste. It has been empty one year and will be empty for more.”
Tony Taylor, 27, and electrician who used to race his dog Droopys Slopar at the track said: “I think the council should intervene because it is a leisure facility and something to benefit the community.”
Carol Ellis, 48, of Borwick Avenue in Walthamstow, said she used to go to the track three or four times a week before it closed and now travels to the track in Romford.
She said: “I was really sad to see it shut and now they don't seem to be doing anything with it. I used to go there on my own and it was something to do.”
Comments(9)
grizzer
says...
9:30pm Mon 6 Jul 09
I do not want hear about how the trainers etc all love their dogs...yeah right! That's why hundreds of greys are found with their ears cut off and dumped in pits each year. That's why thugs are paid 10 pounds a dog to slaughter them. That's why disease is rapant due to the diseased meat they are fed.
This is all public knowledge now and fully documented.
FYI: The USA is closing tracks monthly. New Hampshire has stopped as of last week. Massachusetts voted to stop it last year and the 2 remaining tracks will be gone by the end of the year.
Move on, let it go.
SmileyHappy
says...
2:19pm Tue 7 Jul 09
The hudrends of Greyhounds that have their ears cut off and dumped in pits are probably from illegal racing tracks and as such not regulated by the governing body of greyhound racing. Furthermore, any well respected trainer would never allow this, or any kind of mis-treatment to happen to their dogs as it could cost them their license and their livlyhood.
All kennels and tracks are inspected on a regular basis and any deemed unfit would be issued with an improvment notice. Failure to improve their kennels could cause the trainers to lose their license (in extreme cases)
And another thing, Greyhound trainers must be extremely careful about what their feed their dogs. If they were feeding them diseased food, well the greyhound wouldn't perform very well now would it, and what kind of trainer would knowingly feed their dog food that may cause if ill-health and as a result, poor racing results. They want to train winners which is why the welfare of the greyhound is top priority. An unhappy greyhound isn't a winning greyhound.
The Governing body of greyhound racing have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the welfare of the greyhounds is their number 1 priority. By supporting trainers and also supporting the RGT in re-homing retired greyhounds.
grizzer
says...
4:42pm Tue 7 Jul 09
you only have to go to websites for 'legit'racing tracks and they will proudly tell you about the 4D diet their dogs are fed. It's a high protein diet, the 4D stands for DISEASED, DOWNED DECAYED, DEAD. This isn't disputed, even by the the licenced tracks!
The ears are cut off so the tattoos which are required for licencing are untraceable. Illegal tracks do not have them.
When anaimals only purpose is to make money, they receive the cheapest, most cost effective health care and of course, diet. Thousands of dogs are bred to obtain a few good racers. It's win or die, as simple as that!
Sorry, you can't hide behide what you want to be true anymore.
There's a reason why greyhound placement agencies are called RESCUE organizations.
My RESCUED grey came from a track in Florida. He had worms and other parasites, his nails were torn and required 6 weeks of care before being fit to be adopted.
No, I am not misinformed, I'm have had to educate myself about the true nature of this awful business.
grizzer
says...
4:45pm Tue 7 Jul 09
SmileyHappy
says...
9:23am Wed 8 Jul 09
As for your rescued Greyhound, maybe the welfare of the animals isn't the top priority at US tracks but we do things a little differently here in Britain. If an owner/trainer had been found to be mistreating their Greyhounds, they would lose their licence. Full stop.
Also why would owners cut the dogs ears off?? if there are no markings to prove the dog is who they say it is, they wont be allowed to race. The only times the dogs ears are cut off, are when they're stolen to race in illegal races. Any dog with missing ear markings would not be allowed to race in legitimate tracks.
Greyhound racing in the UK is HEAVILY regulated to make sure things like this don't happen.
grizzer
says...
5:50pm Thu 9 Jul 09
If you are really interested in learning about it why don't you call a few tracks in the UK? They'll tell you that all the meat is from a'reputable' slaughterhouse. Ask them if the food is considered 'fit for human consumption'. Ask them if they add ASH/charcoal to it.
Just be aware when you go to a track that the feed is often mixed by hand by track workers, who can then transmit any number of communicable diseases to their surroundings...to that drink you've just purchased from the concession stand for example, ecoli anyone?? You are obviously unaware of the Larry Earle case in Ireland.
The HEAVILY ? regulated UK racing commisions did nothing to stop that. Don't get me started on those organizations.I'm sure there are wonderful conscientious peole involved...however, they are ususally the ones who become whistle-blowers after seeing the other side.
You are also missing the point about the ears...perhaps I should have said decapitated! It's done post-mortum to prevent dogs being traced back to the owners.
It's been estimated that 40,000 dogs are bred each year in the UK to supply the industry. If they all went to happy homes after retirement you would see them all over the place. Tell me,how many do you see on a daily basis? They would be more prevalent than any other breed in the UK.
They are disposed of by execution, and starvation, not euthanized (that causes unacceptable veterinary costs). It's also a dirty little secret that they are often sold to labs for cosmetic and medical testing.
Please don't be so naiive and educate yourself.
greyhoundaction.org.
uk/imain has info and pictures. or
greyhound.org
SmileyHappy
says...
3:25pm Mon 13 Jul 09
I also could not find any infomration on this Larry Earle you've spoken of, apart from a website obviously designed to shock and upset using graphic pictures, but nothing with much substance. Furthermore, the majority of their NEWS FLASH link when I search Larry Earle, aren't even from England so it goes to show that the Greyhound Racing industry in the UK is among the best and most regulated in the world.
grizzer
says...
2:13am Tue 14 Jul 09
Contrary to what they show you on the TV commercials, don't even think about sirloin. Your dog gets:
The "4D" meat that didn't make the cut for the human market, which means it came from livestock that was diseased, disabled, dying, or already dead when it arrved at the slaughterhouse.
The "by-products" -- a catch-all term used by the pet food industry to mean anything stripped off the carcass other than meat, i.e. beaks, feet, head, lungs, blood, and other unmentionables.
--------------------
-
OK, this is just one quote from a veterinary site I found and picked at random! There are literally 100's of confirmations about this diet, it's standard, yes even in MY UK!
Again, I'm British,and we are as good and bad as anywhere else in the western world.
Larry Earle was the monster who was paid 10 euros/pounds for each dog he slaughtered with a brick to the head or a metal bolt.
I take it you get the ear issue now? It's odd that you mention the graphic pictures,but yet deny that this is a byproduct of dog racing.
Anyway, HS it's been nice talking to you, but I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
More Waltham Forest News stories
- LEYTONSTONE: Man charged after drugs raid
- CHINGFORD / LOUGHTON: Motorist cleared of killing gran
- WALTHAMSTOW: Police chase in Coppermill Lane
- LEYTON: Café murder trial to begin
- WALTHAMSTOW: Decision day looms for controversial supermarket bid
- WHIPPS CROSS: Patients' treatment details stolen
- WALTHAM FOREST: Three Kier staff suspended
- CHINGFORD: Still no date for 'peacemaker' inquest
- WALTHAMSTOW: Primary school praised in Ofsted report
- WALTHAMSTOW: Missing man found
Trainers with their dogs at the Stow rally
WALTHAMSTOW: Protest held for Stow to be sold
SOS campaigner Rick Holloway addresses the crowd
WALTHAMSTOW: Protest held for Stow to be sold
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Fresh Gravee says...
12:10pm Mon 6 Jul 09
He started young.