Press Release: MP Calls on Government to Help Get Answers in Fight for Future of Walthamstow Dog Track

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy today stepped up the campaign to save Walthamstow Dog Track by calling on the Government to meet with her and Save our Stow to discuss the fate of the site whilst speaking in the House of Commons.

Speaking after raising the matter in parliament Stella said:

"L&Q have now said they won't even start to look at options for our dog track until 2012 - meaning the site could be left derelict for years. Meanwhile we know investors want to work with them to try to restore the site and include housing in their plans. Talks must start immediately to see if a deal can be done to benefit all concerned. I asked L&Q to name their price for the site in my maiden speech and now I'm asking Ministers to intervene because its time the people of Walthamstow got some answers about the future of our Dog Track.  "  

As part of this campaign, this week Stella also worked with other MPs to table an Early Day Motion calling for talks to take place and has tabled questions to the Department of Local Communities and Government to identify if London and Quadrant will secure public subsidy for their plans for Walthamstow Dog Track. The written answer given by the Ministers to question suggest that public funding for London and Quadrant for the site is not guaranteed given the delays the project has experienced.

Stella pledged to pursue this issue with the Ministers from the DCLG when she meets with them and continue to work with other MPs, Save our Stow, potential investors in the site and London and Quadrant to seek to secure the restoration of the Dog Track.

Ends.

1. Walthamstow Dog Track was initially sold to L&Q in the summer of 2008 and has since been empty. 

2. During Business Questions on Thursday 10 June 2010 in the House of Commons Stella Creasy put the following question to the Leader of the House:

"Will the right hon. Gentleman agree to a debate on the consequences of the moratorium on and eventual cuts in social housing, which were discussed earlier, on urban regeneration, and the practice that that encourages in registered social landlords to engage in property speculation by sitting on land that they are not developing, thus leaving it empty? Will the Leader of the House also ensure that his ministerial colleagues agree, as a matter of urgency, to a meeting with me and the Save our Stow campaign to ascertain what can be done to prevent the iconic Walthamstow dog track from being left derelict, given the persistent commercial interest in restoring it and the 500 local jobs that represents?"

3. The following Early Day Motion 187 The Walthamstow Stadium was also co-sponsored by Stella Creasy and published this week:

"That this House welcomes efforts to reopen historic Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium in East London; urges site owners London and Quadrant to not leave the site derelict and instead to enter meaningful discussions with the S.O.S. organisation and commercial operators who have vigorously campaigned to restore this, the UK's most prestigious track; salutes also the hard work so far undertaken by the myriad of representative groups in the sport to make this a reality; and calls on the Mayor of London to fully support their hard work and commitment."

4. The following question was also tabled by Stella Creasy and answered received on Thrusday 10 June 2010 by the Department of Communities and Local Government

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to registered social landlords on the time period within which they must begin development of assets after acquisition in order to qualify for public subsidy for such development.

Andrew Stunell: This Department does not issue guidance to registered social landlords on the time period within which they must begin to develop assets after acquisition to qualify for public subsidy. This Department provides funding to registered social landlords (RSLs)/registered providers (RPs) of affordable housing through the Homes and Communities (HCA) who administer the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP). The HCA sets out in their Prospectus and the Affordable Housing Capital Funding Guide (AHCFG) requirements for obtaining funding from the NAHP. When seeking grant through the NAHP RSLs/RPs must set milestones including start on site and practical completion dates as part of their bid. HCA monitors the RSLs/RPs performance against these milestones. Grant is paid to RSLs/RPs on start on site and practical completion (i.e. when those milestones have been achieved). Where projects are delayed, the RSL/RP must re-forecast the milestone and the HCA will decide whether to accept the revised forecast. If delays are significant, and might impact on delivery of the HCA's programme and achievement of targets, it will consider withdrawing funding for the scheme.