Local Liberal Democrats are urging the owners of the Walthamstow Stadium site to meet with campaigners who want to bring greyhound racing back to the venue.

Plans being drawn up by a group led by local ‘Save Our Stow’ campaigners set out how they believe the site could be used to accommodate the development of housing whilst retaining the dog track and leisure facilities on the site — and a resident petition is being collected backing the reopening of the site as a greyhound racing venue.

After expressing his interest in the plans last year, local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin has met again with campaigners to hear about their alternative proposals for the future of the site, and their concern at a perceived lack of response from site owners London and Quadrant Housing (L&Q).

Cllr Macklin (pictured above with save Our Stow campaigner Rick Holloway) said:

“I’ve been very impressed with the plans suggested by the Save Our Stow group.

“They are looking at a way in which the stadium could be retained and updated to provide a modern greyhound-racing venue whilst using part of the land around the site for development in order to provide some of the housing that it is now earmarked for.  As such they are in line with the trend for mixed leisure and housing developments used at many modern sports venues.

“Obviously an awful lot of goodwill and ambition would be needed to bring such a project into fruition.  But the Lib Dems demonstrated through our assistance in bringing local post offices back into use that when we work with residents who come up with ambitious and innovative proposals for our area, we can produce results.

“What concerns me is that campaigners have the impression that they are being ignored by L&Q and that any alternative proposals which could lead to the stadium being retained are being rejected out of hand.

“I will be meeting with L&Q to discuss their plans for the site and to urge them to meet with campaigners.”

Cllr Macklin also expressed his concern that the closure of the track was symbolic of a wider trend concerning the boroughs leisure facilities and heritage sites.

He added:

“The stadium is an iconic venue and gives Waltham Forest something that distinguishes us from other London boroughs.  We should be prepared to listen to those who have viable plans to modernise and reopen the site.”