New £1.25m greyhound track at Towcester given the go-ahead
MCBW 0 21-010-11 -
A £1.25 million greyhound track could open at Towcester Racecourse by the end of the year.
Plans for the country’s premier track were approved by councillors at South Northamptonshire Council yesterday, who agreed that diversifying the town’s racecourse would boost the local economy and provide an additional recreation facility.
The new track will be built opposite the Empress Grandstand within the current racecourse circuit and is expected to open every Saturday night, compared to the racecourse which holds just 18 meetings a year.
Following the Development Control Committee’s decision, general manager of the racecourse Kevin Ackerman confirmed his hopes to have the new circuit up and running by the winter.
He said: “I am delighted that the councillors have supported us and see the benefit for the whole town in developing this track.
“This is just the first stage and we now have a few more considerations including gathering investment.
“But I hope to have the track open by the back end of the year.
“We want to diversify our current business, it’s an under-utilised asset. This gives us the opportunity to make the racecourse more financially viable in the long term.
“We have the aspiration of making this the best greyhound track in the UK.
“We want it to be the Ascot of the greyhound world and break the perception that it is a working man’s sport. It will be the new night out in Northamptonshire.”
The new track, which will take 18 weeks to build, is expected to create around 50 new jobs and attract around 1.000 visitors a week.
But the application was not without some objection, more than 1,300 people from across the world opposed to greyhound racing for ethical reasons signed a petition against the development.
But the Development Control Committee were told to dismiss the petition, as it is not within the planning remit to refuse an application on ethical or welfare grounds.
Mr Ackerman said: “Welfare of animals is integral to what we do and we’re going to do, we take it extremely seriously.
“We are working with the top experts in the industry to ensure that this is the most welfare friendly track in the country”
He added that the track will shun the usual narrow bends for wider tracks, to improve the dog’s safety.
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
T_Baker
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 08:05 PMI'm always telling people what lovely pets they make. Trudy Baker
falco
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 05:25 PMOn the one hand they've dismissed so many people's points of view in the petition, many letters and emails with information about the fate of thousands of greyhounds every year because- the Council says that greyhound welfare or the ethics of the greyhound racing industry are not within the planning remit. In other words, they're not bothered that the Animal Welfare Law will be broken again and again. And Mr Ackerman says that , "welfare of animals is integral to what we do and we are taking it very seriously". Mr Ackerman can take it as seriously as he likes but the fact is that before greyhounds are even graded, the culling of pups, the injuries at trials, has already caused greyhound welfare problems and death, on a large scale. Because of the fast straights leading into tight bends dog tracks are very dangerous places for the dogs to run on. Injuries, whether minor or life ending, are common. Many greyhounds are taken to the track vet to be given lethal injections when injuries are perfectly treatable. Greyhounds can be killed by trainers who want rid of them, by filling out the Retirement Form on the Greyhound Board of GB website. By clicking on Ownership, then clicking on Retirement & Care, and then clicking on Filling Out a GBGB Retirement Cert. Click on here(in red) and find section D and it says: a greyhound can be given lethal injection if : No Home Or Placement Can Be Found. That's how much greyhound welfare is of importance to the industry. The industry doesn't provide enough retirement kennel spaces; they don't want to pay for their horrible pleasures. It is a filthy, so called sport, and attracts some people I wouldn't want my children to be around. Drunks that cheer when greyhounds are injured ,and, all this death for these gentle dogs is purely to give a moments thrill for some owner or trainer, a moments entertainment for a minority and to fill the coffers of the gambling industry. with 2 other dog tracks so nearby, I can only wish that all 3 tracks go bankrupt. With trainers registering with the GBGB going down in numbers every year, it is purely a question of time...
T_Baker
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 03:20 PMGreat commets Lady Muck and Lizzie Louise. Despite the RGT homing many thousands of greyhounds we have to try and home more. I do my bit by supporting the best I can a local rescue. Trudy Baker
lady muck
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 11:05 AMBreed a dog. Race the dog. Kill the dog. What will future generations make of us ?
lizzylouise
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 08:07 PMDisgusting! Yet another example of Business exploiting our people, our towns and animals and the Government are allowing it to happen. Gambling may fund taxes but its virtually blood money. Towcester will rue the day.
greytexploitations.com
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 10:10 AMThis track will be a part of an industry that DEPENDS on inherent cruel practices for its financial viability. The culling of puppies because they fail to chase the mechanical lure or are too slow to make the grade. The destruction of dogs sustaining even minor treatable injuries on the dangerously configured tracks simply because it is more economical to replace an injured dog rather than treat a dog that cannot earn their keep. The destruction of healthy dogs simply because it is more cost effective to destroy rather than spend time and money to find a retirement home. The latter two are openly condoned by the industry on their Retirement Form but not surprisingly the Greyhound Board of Great Britain consistently refuse to publish this data – more specifically injuries statistics and the numbers of healthy dogs destroyed. Despite this - recent research indicates some 10,000 greyhounds – to include puppies that fail to make the grade - go ‘unaccounted’ for annually. Not only will a cruel industry now operate in your community but also a self regulated gambling industry that fails to enforce many aspects of British criminal law. In an independent report of the GBGB Anti-doping and Medication Rules 2010 – the review committee stated “We were told by several witnesses that cocaine was being administered (either as a paste smeared on the gum, or as a powder puffer, or in a time release gelatine capsule) in an apparent attempt to create a ‘rush’ just before the dog enters the trap. There have been ten positives for cocaine metabolites since 2005 but more post-racing tests will be required to determine whether there is really a problem” Since this report professional trainer Stuart Mason has been found guilty for administering cocaine to Droopsy's Arshavin and David Puddy has also been found guilty of administering crystal meth to Steer Me Home- a greyhound in his care. Prosecution in a criminal court can attract a prison sentence for up to 7 years for mere possession of these two a class A drugs. However – trainers dealt with internally by the self regulated Greyhound Board of Great Britain are simply fined and reprimanded and both these trainers continue to race greyhounds and enjoy the freedom of law abiding citizens. As lenient as these penalties are - the industry further fails to enforce its own Rules of Racing and many greyhounds endure a life of confinement in squalid conditions away from public view. A recent undercover investigation – covered by the Sunday Express – confirmed the standards accepted by the industry when licencing trainer’s kennels. These ‘Secret Slaves of the Dog Racing Industry’ are not the exception and last year ITV broadcast the shocking discovery of greyhounds found abandoned - one a champion racer - after their professional licenced trainer absconded and skipped bail for growing cannabis. Unlike horse racing – greyhound racing is not acknowledged by the Government or the Government's sports agency Sport England who have adopted the Council of European Sports Charter 1993 definition of sport. Greyhound racing is purely and simply a gambling industry that uses dogs as a ‘betting unit’ and a very poorly regulated industry at that. Please do not support dog racing – don’t sponsor it – don’t attend it and don’t bet on it. You will be helping to perpetuate the deaths of thousands of dogs annually if you do.
T_Baker
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 07:15 PMLets hope there are homing schemes in place for when the dogs retire. Trudy Baker
TheCount
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 06:03 PMI've been saying for years now Northampton was going tot he dogs.
Cely
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 04:10 PMWhat a disgraceful design. Peterborough have nothing to worry about. I can't see anyone changing venues.
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