Wimbledon hearing starts at Morden council offices on January 22
CAMPAIGNERS in the fight to retain greyhound racing at Wimbledon stadium were given a timely boost this week as Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis pledged to take 'a balanced view' regarding the future use of the Plough Lane site.
Alambritis and colleague James McGinley (from the Future Merton team) attended the AGM of the All Party Parliamentary Greyhound Group (APPGG) at Westminster last week, following on from the APPGG's meeting with would-be buyer Paschal Taggart back in May.
The former Irish Greyhound Board boss has plans for a development that retains greyhound racing with a world-class squash facility plus apartments both trackside and wrapped around a multi-story car park.
A consultation period during which AFC Wimbledon also put forward plans to bring back football to Plough Lane has concluded and the next stage is a public hearing session in front of the inspector Robert Yuile on January 22 and 23.
Diane McLean, the We Want Wimbledon campaign co-ordinator, said : 'That's only just over six weeks away; our focus must be on that hearing when we all need to have our sleeves rolled up and ready to do battle.
'It's imperative that the case of keeping a greyhound track is made, then ideally accepted and recommended. It's great to get the support of the APPGG - and Ian Lavery MP, in particular, has been an absolute diamond. He's playing a blinder.'
After last week's session, Alambritis stressed the impartiality of the council in the current process, saying: 'As a council we have to take a balanced view and support the inspectorate in the current process looking at the designation of the site.
'I've met with Paschal Taggart and was impressed by the passion of those people behind the development incorporating the continuation of greyhound racing at Wimbledon Stadium and also of the passion of the significant numbers who emailed or signed the petition, and the inspector will also see this.'
Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon and Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport, also attended last week's meeting and said: 'Over the years there have been many plans for this site and very few of them have reached this stage, which I think is significant.'
Alambritis went on as a guest of the APPGG for dinner and racing at Romford, which is in the constituency of the joint-chair of the APPGG, Andrew Rosindell MP, taking in the semi-finals of the Coral Essex Vase.
He added: 'I was delighted to be invited to meet with the APPGG and have the opportunity to stress the impartiality of my council and the current transparent due process by the inspector. I also enjoyed the hospitality as a guest of the group at Romford, which brought back memories of my student days in Birmingham at Perry Barr.'
Also speaking at the meeting was Ian Lavery MP, who is a noted greyhound owner too. He said: 'I'm desperate to see a new greyhound stadium at Wimbledon. I've seen the ambitious plans led by Paschal Taggart and they would be a fantastic achievement.
'The capital needs a greyhound stadium and while the current stadium is dark and dingy to say the least, it is still home to the richest and best race in the world which deserves a fitting home.
'On behalf of the whole sport I urge the inspector and the Mayor of London to give due consideration to these plans for the sake of Merton, London and the whole of the UK.'
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