WALTHAMSTOW: Is racing set to return to the Stow? (From This Is Local London)

WALTHAMSTOW: Is racing set to return to the Stow?

8:43am Tuesday 16th December 2008 in

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As a church takes over Walthamstow Stadium for the Christmas period, greyhound lovers have a new glimmer of hope that racing will resume.

An American consortium which already owns dog tracks is poised to open negotiations with the site’s current owners, according to accountants and business advisors Kuhrt Leach.

Partner Richard Leach told the Guardian that the consortium is interested in turning Walthamstow Stadium into a greyhound racing track and a shopping centre.

He said his clients, who are not willing to disclose their identities at this early stage, already have a track record of developing mulit-function commercial sites and are hoping to take advantage of the strong dollar to get the iconic stadium at a good price.

Mr Leach added: “This is quite a good investment for them, they are looking at the medium and long term and Walthamstow is a target area, especially considering the Olympics.”

The Save Our Stow campaign spokesman, Rick Holloway, welcomed the news.

He said: “This is a very promising development and, like all other true greyhound fans, I can now only hope that these talks lead to the return of greyhound racing at Walthamstow Stadium.”

Kuhrt Leach has identified five suitable suitors who have expressed an interest in reviving the stadium’s fortunes but is putting forward one at a time.

The first consortium, which launched a last-minute bid to buy the stadium before it closed, withdrew after deciding the land was not the right size for its needs.