May 23, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
No option to sell Walthamstow Dogs… really!?
After the shock of Walthamstow dogs being “sold” behind their back, local community anger and resolve to object to all new planning aplications for the site has grown along with the question, was there really no other option but to sell to property developers?
“We were left with no option but to sell the stadium to developers” Charles Chandler
BBC Radio 4’s PM programme reported on the success of other stadiums who have rejected the easy money of housing developers and instead made the effort with smart marketing to get punters flooding through the doors. Richard Perkins from Peterborough Dogs said “its about attracting recreational gamblers in, come have a night out, have a nice meal, a little flutter, and enjoy it“. PM also covered plans for new tracks in places like Swindon.
Interestingly a quick look on fish4jobs.co.uk reveals that Walthamstow Dogs are looking for Saturday night bar staff. “For very busy Saturday evenings“ says the Job Ad.
On BBC London News (23rd May) Darren Kennedy, General Manager of Wimbledon Dogs rejected claims that the growth of online gambling made greyhound racing unsustainable saying it “affects it to a degree, but you dont have the exitement or the atmosphere of being at the live track“Â A trainer added “Wimbledon is doing very well, with good crowds and at the weekend its absolutly packed with young people“.
Has anyone reading this enjoyed a night out at the dogs before? If so did you ever think “well I was going to go to the dogs tonight, but I decided to stay in and sit at the computer betting instead!?”. No? Didnt think so.
On internet forums and blogs debate raged as to why the potential loss of 400 jobs, a Grade II listed stadium and the boroughs main tourist attraction seemed to be being taken so lightly by local politicians and the council. “Any bets on when they’ll drain Walthamstow marshes and build egg-box flats there?” asked one comment on the Waltham Forest Guardians site.
In a damning article The Racing Post questions whether the fourth generation of the Chandler family really wanted the Stadium to survive:
“They are, quite simply, no different from any other family, and had different ideals and goals. Some were pro-Walthamstow, others less so.
Those cracks were probably not helped by the increasing value of the land Walthamstow occupies. Even before the awarding of the 2012 Olympics to London, or rather the east of London, the land value was high
The temptation to sell was great, just as it must be for any other business which occupies a large area of land in a residential area, be it pub, garage or football club. When property values are high, greyhound tracks are vulnerable.
Business has to be good to withstand it, but also requires the determination to grow it. Walthamstow could have become a gambling or leisure emporium. It had the potential to part-develop as Shelbourne has done with the far side apartments overlooking the track.
But the clamour to do that was minimal seemingly amongst shareholders. The silent minority ultimately won the day with the decision to sell.“
If they don’t want to make the effort were there any offers from other people willing to take the track on as a business (even for less money than the cash rich “chuck some flats over it” developers?) In the opinion of Steven posting on this site: “So many times the term ‘unsustainable operation’ is a catchword for ‘poor management’.”
Most importantly why when in 2005 Wimpy pulled out of buying the track due to the unlikelyhood of obtaining planning permission does it now in 2008 with Grade II listed status granted appear a fait-accomply that the sale will go ahead along with planning permission. Is that what listing is there for???
Who’d have had Giles Brandreth down as a dogs fan? On “The One Show” (see below) he physically grabbed a representative of the British Greyhound Racing Board by the collar and demanded to know if the welfare of the dogs themselves will be ensured.
Well done that man, now go grab the Chandlers by the collar and ask them why they chose the big money from house builders over 75 years of tradition, local employment and entertainment.
As mentioned in our previous post looking at the history of the dog track (here), David Lammy MP stated: “The main purpose of listing a building is to ensure that care will be taken over decisions affecting its future“
Now where’s that queue to object to planning permission?
Click here to see a fantastic aerial view of Walthamstow Stadium on Google maps… doesnt it look nice, shame in a few years it’ll just be more low quality housing.
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