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Wimbledon Stadium: Some Important News


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Articles in the Racing Post over the last few days have suggested that papers relating to the proposed redevelopment of the stadium are being studied by City Hall at the moment and that Boris Johnson himself in his capacity of Mayor of London could be involved in the next couple of weeks,one would hope if so,he gives more support than he did in the sadly unsuccessful campaign to save Walthamstow Stadium from the developers.

Being realistic,it would be great if the stadium in a new format could survive,but the chances of a return of speedway are another matter entirely.Whether Mr.Taggart and his partners if they win the day would be even prepared to discuss such must be very long odds.New residential housing and any motor sport next door are unlikely bedfellows and the mind boggles at the sort of money any potential speedway promoter would need to put on the table for the Dons to be born again,if a miracle did indeed happen.

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Will this looking likely to rumble on, and with the greyhounds apparently stopping after the Derby meeting, it's a shame an enterprising promoter with deep pockets couldn't step in to look to run some open meetings in the meantime..

 

Appreciate it would rely on 1) Approval from Galiard 2) Laying of a new track, but it would be lovely...

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Will this looking likely to rumble on, and with the greyhounds apparently stopping after the Derby meeting, it's a shame an enterprising promoter with deep pockets couldn't step in to look to run some open meetings in the meantime..

 

Appreciate it would rely on 1) Approval from Galiard 2) Laying of a new track, but it would be lovely...

I went to what could well have been the final ever car meeting at the stadium on Sunday evening. TBH the place was a total dump which has no doubt been left to fester by the owners and it now has loads of obstructions to the viewing. Only the former back straight and wings open now. OK I would go irrespective if racing, no matter how temporary, was staged, but it would only be a gesture and not a pleasure.

 

Being blunt it needs knocking down and rebuilding. However given the size of the site it could easily accommodate two stadia side by side, with underground parking but when shoebox sized flats will go for well into 7 figures on the same site it is a no brainer as far as the money men are concerned. Hate to say but Bo Jo playing politics here with mayoral elections coming up and the residential accommodation nearest the site being within Sadiq Khan's current constituency area.

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So the Mayor of London has acted at last and called the plans in for further perusal due to the impact they could have for the surrounding areas..Whether this means that the AFC Wimbledon/Galliard Homes project is dead in the water or just delayed remains to be seen,but now Mr.Taggart and his team are reportedly preparing to rejoin the fray with their futuristic plans for the stadium site.Good luck to them in their efforts .

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Stay of execution for Plough Lane with a new 2 year contract signed (with 6 months notice required). Cynics will say they are keen to avoid a repeat of the Oxford situation, but dogs continuing has to be good news.

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Will this looking likely to rumble on, and with the greyhounds apparently stopping after the Derby meeting, it's a shame an enterprising promoter with deep pockets couldn't step in to look to run some open meetings in the meantime..

 

Appreciate it would rely on 1) Approval from Galiard 2) Laying of a new track, but it would be lovely...

 

Be serious. One permission would never be granted as it would signal that a greyhound stadium could have a number of tenants but also who would invest heavily on a speedway track that would only be used for six months if that.

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Stay of execution for Plough Lane with a new 2 year contract signed (with 6 months notice required). Cynics will say they are keen to avoid a repeat of the Oxford situation, but dogs continuing has to be good news.

Think you will find it's the other way round.

 

6 month extension with possiible 2 year rolling contract if football plans thrown out.

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I spoke to a chap on Tuesday who breeds Greyhounds for racing and currently has 16 racing dogs kenneled.

He told me Plough Lane is definitely coming down, though I can't verify that information.

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I spoke to a chap on Tuesday who breeds Greyhounds for racing and currently has 16 racing dogs kenneled.

He told me Plough Lane is definitely coming down, though I can't verify that information.

Let's face it the owners have let the place go to rack and ruin.

Maybe the Racing Post or similar papers should do a bit of investigation into why the GRA who are supposed to promote dog racing are so good at shutting tracks down.

We know the answer

Get it out into the public domain.

Edited by Triple.H.
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Article in last night's Evening Standard suggested that London Mayor Sadiq Khan may make a final decision on the future of the stadium in the next few weeks.Seems that he could give the nod to the AFC Wimbledon/Housing option by giving L.B.Merton permission to rubber stamp their already given approval ,although the rival scheme put forward by Pascal Taggart and his consortium offers much more affordable housing and greater consideration to local needs.I believe that some month's ago the risk of flooding on the stadium site was suspiciously downgraded ,makes you think doesn't it ! Also don't let us forget that as M.P.for Tooting Mr.Khan showed no interest in helping the speedway promotion to fight their eviction from the stadium.Short of a miracle the Greyhound and Stock Car people will join us speedway supporters in having only memories of Wimbledon Stadium.

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