CHINGFORD: Council to 'independently' assess Stow bid (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

I can't believe animal rights people are even mentioned in this? We are not talking about bull fighting here?

We are talking about identity, local jobs, community spirit and an iconic venue that needs to be restored urgently and improved. The venue should be used for dog racing but likewise should diversify in other areas to ensure its a sustainable venture. Conferences, weddings, themed nights and perhaps comedy & music!

Anything is better than another "pop uo ghetto" !

The council once had an 'independent' inquiry into corruption and theft in its own offices. Nothing was done about that, no money recovered and the same old dodgy faces stay in power. Why they think they are going to be seem as a credible player in this game is beyond me, when we can hardly trust anything this discredited administration says or does.

How much is this independent report going to cost the taxpayer? i for one have no wish to pay for this. the council is the planning authority therefore they can decide if the housing proposals are decent cant they. this is ridiculous posturing by councillors in a blatant attempt to score some brownie points with those who want dog racing back at the Stow.. It just isnt going to happen, so dont waste our money, thanks!

'..we are now looking for a suitable date so the council’s executive director of environment and regeneration can evaluate his plans and their feasibility.'

Given the seven-year fiasco at the Arcade site, and the general malaise and stagnation in the Borough, what is the nature of this august personage's expertise in evaluating plans and their feasability?

More generally, can anyone think of any problem to which 'Send for Pye' would be the solution?
There is a danger that any Council involvement at this stage will generate grievances over bias whatever the outcome of any planning application.
It seems clear that Ms Pye's reference to animal welfare indicates already which alibi the Council will be reaching for.

@ mad -dog

"I can't believe animal rights people are even mentioned in this? We are not talking about bull fighting here?"

No we are talking about an industry that has inherent cruel practices - over breeding and culling of puppies - racing dogs on a dangerously configured track with five other dogs - the disposal and destruction of 1,000's of dogs once they are of no further use as a betting 'unit'

We are talking about a self regulated industry that fails to account for 1,000's of dogs and make public racing injuries.

We are talking about an industry - under self regulation - that allows trainers who have been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to their dogs to continue to 'care' and race greyhounds. That includes administering cocaine! And under self regulation the trainer is NOT reported or subsequently prosecuted for possession of a class A drug!

We are talking about greyhounds - that are the only sentient creature in this country that fails to receive protection under the Animal Welfare Act and thankfully - an industry that is in sharp decline and has recently had their funding cut - from the bookmakers - buy 23% and more than 50% in the last 3 years.

It is a gambling industry - not a sport and is financially dependent on the revenue generated by BAGS (afternoon) racing where races are streamed to betting shops and online.


http://www.greytexpl
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http://www.greytexpl
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http://www.greytexpl
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Well to the post above which is unfounded rubbish from fanatics who do not understand greyhound racing and the same organisation that were arrested at wimbledon stadium.
The greyhounds love to race and my 10year old jumps in the car everyday to go racing which he loved but now lays about in the paddocks chasing wildlife ( which he never catches) . All greyhounds have to micro chipped and can be traced from birth to death in line with the dogs trust with whom the industry works closely with and which the above poster forgets to mention along with two new tracks shortly to open.
Maybe you should have a meeting and try to understand more before quoting

You are of course entirely wrong Leokeo - all the above is well documented and evidenced which is why I posted links to substantiate my claims.

Unlike yourself who can only cast distasteful aspersions and lies on someone you know nothing about but hardly surprising in view of your weak defence of such a cruel industry.

However you are quite correct in that racing greyhounds do have to be micro chipped as well as indentified with tattoos but still your industry finds it impossible to publish the numbers of dogs that are destroyed because they wont chase or are too slow – because their injuries are deemed ‘uneconomical’ to treat or because no retirement home can be found. The latter two cruel practices effectively promoted in your Rules of Racing.

New tracks? And how do you suppose the RGT will cope with the re-homing of those dogs when next years budget has been reduced by 23%???

But then again – your industry has never taken responsibility for its waste product – has it?

I really don't know where you make this all up from !!!
Greyhounds do not get put down just because they can't race . The Dogs trust have endosed greyhound racing so why can't you. The paper has carried numerous articles concerning rehoming from the stow rehoming which is the best in the country and I would not support any sport that is cruel . Why don't you take a look around dogs homes there are far more other breeds than greyhounds. Sorry but your group of anti's were arrested by police and found guilty at wimbledon by a court . You will not have anything explained to you because none of you will listern. however I assure everyone the new stow will have a welfare record second to none which i welcome your small group to have the reports

Leokeo - I take it you are Mr Holloway.

If so can I draw your attention to the GBGB Retirement Form that you must have completed on many occasions? Particularly section D – which offers a selection of boxes - giving various reasons why a greyhound has been euthanised – including ‘No home or retirement placement could be found’ and ‘Injury not treated on economic grounds’

Please confirm this to be true.


A press release issued earlier this year by the Dogs Trust begins

“It is estimated that every year thousands of Greyhounds disappear.
This includes dogs whose racing days are over, as well as those that are bred for the sport but never make it to the track
”
http://www.dogstrust
.org.uk/az/g/greyhou
ndscampaign/

If that is an endorsement then I would hate to read any opposition to dog racing!

There are over 70 of the industry’s Retired Greyhound Trust branches in the UK and over 100 independent GREYHOUND rescues. The reason why there are so many other breeds of unwanted dogs destroyed in the pounds is because our country is full to the rafters with your industry’s waste product!

This is not an animal rights issue never was, never will be.

This is about corporate greed & bullying over historic local community values and harmony.

The public do not want a ghetto with failing pub stuck in the middle! (especially the immediate residents ) they want their local well run greyhound stadium generating jobs for local people, providing entertainment and any other viable business there!

What is Marie Pye talking about?

"As the land is privately owned we cannot directly influence proceedings." Does she seriously not know what the council's duties are?

The council not only CAN influence proceedings, by giving or refusing planning permission, but it HAS TO do so. That's one of a council's duties.

The one thing the council can't do is refuse to take any action, which is what Cllr Pye seems to be advocating.

This IS an animal welfare issue - there are animals involved and their welfare is paramount. That no-one commenting on here apart from greytexploitations sees it as such speaks volumes about the SOS campaign's attitude to greyhounds and bodes badly for the dogs racing at a new stadium.
Mr Holloway, you say that greyhounds do not get put down just because they can't race, and yet the racing office at Walthamstow stated that during the last year the stadium was open, 25 greyhounds were put down at the track because their injuries were so bad that they would not be able to race again. This does not include dogs that were injured and taken back to the kennels before they were killed, nor dogs injured and killed during trials. Of course, it's difficult to confirm such figures across the racing industry as the GBGB refuse to release any statistics. Why is that? Would they shock us all?Do you dismiss the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare's report on greyhound welfare as unfounded rubbish? This states that "6,000-12,000 puppies that are bred to supply the British racing industry....never make it to the racing track and go missing somewhere between the age of 16 weeks and 15 months. The majority of these dogs will be kept in their country of birth until they start training at which point their timidity, their lack of speed or their lack of interest in racing will lead them to be discarded as non racers......in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, we must assume that a significant number of these young greyhounds are destroyed." Don't tell me this isn't true because I know many people in greyhound rescue who are every week pulling such dogs out of the pounds, where they have been dumped by their owners for a few quid in order to be put down. You see, it's cheaper to dump a dog at a pound than it is to pay a vet to do the job. The APGAW report also says that "a minimum of 4,728 dogs are unaccounted for each year and we can only assume that the majority of these dogs are destroyed". So, greyhounds that are badly injured and not considered of any use for stud or don't have the will to chase or are simply too old to win races ARE killed every day in the name of your 'sport'. If you weren't aware of that, I suggest YOU learn something about the racing industry. But I strongly suspect you do know and just don't care because you stand to make a lot of money out of a new stadium, and money is more important to you than the lives of thousand of greyhounds, right? I also suggest you don't cast aspersions regarding the police and the courts until you know who you are talking to. I have not been involved in any criminal activity or been arrested for such. In fact, I work with the police in my community on local issues and have an excellent relationship with them.