Walthamstow: Extension of public planning consultation.

UPDATE:
COMMENTS CAN NOW BE LEFT AND CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT RIGHT UP TO THE PLANNING MEETING DUE IN NOVEMBER.
Waltham Forest Council has the opportunity to show how they can favour their communities needs of ethical housing and green/leisure spaces, rather than to favour the desires of the pro-racers and sponsor further abuse for more greyhounds to endure.

Please take just a few moments to voice your polite concerns on the Waltham Forest Council on-line planning form, of how the re-opening of Walthamstow greyhound track WILL only expand the abuses for more greyhounds to endure.
'Welfare' is NOT something Mr.B.Morton and his supporters(including MP's)for the track's re-opening can give assurance to.
One example of what will be assured can be seen here.

Please note to submit your comment you may have to move the 'dot' down to 2nd option on the question 'How did you become aware of this planning application' on the on-line form.

For further info on this campaign please visit Say NO to the 'Stow' FaceBook page and Greytexploitations.

NO to greyhound racing in India.

With recent reports that the Punjab state government is expressing interests in boosting the greyhound racing interests with plans of a racetrack to be built in Ludhiana(Punjab).

This would be a forward step for the setting up of a greyhound industry in India, AT A COST.
It would be a backward step for greyhounds.
It would mean more ongoing abuse of greyhounds from cradle to grave.

Given that many countries already export greyhounds to India:
From countries where the industry is collapsing(and/or being propped up with tax-payers money).
From countries where the industry's daily abuse of greyhounds is exposed more and more with growing opposition and campaigns.
Surely the priorities and emphasis should be that India concentrates efforts on banning the already 'unorganized' greyhound racing and NOT to concentrate efforts in boosting it into an 'organized' industry.

Please sign these 2 petitions:
Petition
Petition

Please politely write to Prime Minister of India : Dr. Manmohan Singh
And Deputy Chief Minister (Punjab): Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal
secretarydcm@gmail..com
With your concerns at India's growing interest in greyhound racing - an industry of inherent abuse.
Please also write to the Indian Embassy in your country.

Petition

An HM Government e-petition has been set up, calling for a ban on UK greyhound racing.

E-petitions are an easy access point to influence a UK HM Government policy.
If this petition can reach 100,000 signatures then it will be eligible for debate in the House of Commons.

It takes seconds to add your name.Please sign and share widely.

Animal Welfare Groups Deny Claims Of Support For The 'Stow'

Supporters of the Walthamstow greyhound track's return have claimed the Dogs Trust and League Against Cruel Sports have been working with Bob Morton to 'raise the bar' on animal welfare standards for the industry. The 2 animal welfare groups have now come out to deny this claim, presented by MP Stella Creasy and Mr.Morton, in this article in Waltham Forest Guardian.

Given that these 2 groups are not involved or supportive and given that a 'cradle to the grave health and welfare of the dogs' could never be assured anywhere within the racing industry, it does show that the supporters for the 'Stow' raised, i.e MP's/the public/and pro-racers, have been misled on  the assurances of greyhound welfare.

Please see previous blog-post for how you can campaign in keeping the 'Stow' closed.

Walthamstow greyhound track.

In August 2008 the 'Stow' closed down due to falling crowd attendances and sharp declines in the tracks income.
Charles Chandler, whose family had owned the track since 1933, said on closing the 'Stow': "With all of the principal income streams in sharp decline, and general running costs rising relentlessly, the company's operations have become unsustainable"


The site was sold to L&Q(London & Quadrant Housing Association).
L&Q have recently submitted plans to Waltham Forest Council to develop the site for housing,(300 homes)including allotments, leisure centre, and nursery.

However there are supporters of a nostalgic re-opening of the 'Stow'.
Mr.Bob Morton wishes to finance the return of the 'Stow' with backing from MP's Stella Creasy(lab mp for Walthamstow) and Ian Duncan Smith.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson MP and Mayor of London Boris Johnson have also joined in with support and interest in having the 'Stow' re-opened in time for the London 2012 Olympics.

Stella Creasy, with her concerns about heritage,in particular the future of 2 Walthamstow heritage assets (1 of which being the 'Stow')recently asked, in parliament, John Penrose MP(Heritage Minister)for more powers to compulsory purchase heritage sights. John Penrose responded by saying '........it was very important that any proposals would have to support a viable and sustainable commercial business...'
Given that the racing industry is in decline and its income down, causing budget cuts over the last 3 years and a 23% slash in GBGB's budget for 2011, (even globally the industry is in decline and further monies are being asked for from governments where in some countries they prop up the industry)it is clear that the business of greyhound racing is not a viable and sustainable commercial business.

Stella Creasy is a member of the all-party parliamentary greyhound group
Which promotes the industry within parliament.

Mr. Morton, a share owner in Henlow Dog Track, despite having offers to L&Q rejected, has stated his planning proposals to Waltham Forest Council are to be submitted soon. Proposals of re-opening the 'Stow' for racing greyhounds, despite declaring in a Racing Post  article, December 2008:
'He saw Walthamstow as representing too much capital for insufficient return,and believes that would hamper any rescue bid'
Mr. Morton also wishes to ensure that animal welfare standards would "raise the bar" for the 'sport'('sport being the pro racing term for industry)
With continuing 'accidents' on the track leading to greyhounds being 'PTS', click here for the campaign video, footage from the 'Stow's' past:

Given the welfare standards for the overall general areas of the greyhound industry, Mr. Morton cannot deny claims that animals would be harmed if the stadium was reopened for dog racing, as claimed in a recent Waltham Forest Guardian article

What can you do?
You can email your concerns that in supporting the re-opening of the 'Stow' the above mentioned MP's are promoting the expansion of the abuse of greyhounds all in the name of nostalgia.Already, thousands of greyhounds around the world endure abuses daily.
In 2011 people need homes and green spaces, ethical spaces, not spaces for abuse and exploitation of animals.
Stella Creasy: stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.gov
Ian Duncan Smith: alambridesl@parliament.uk
Hugh Robertson: stationjamesa@parliament.uk
Boris Johnson: mayor@london.gov.uk.
You could also write to Waltham Forest Council planning officer Richard McEllistrum:
dcadmin@walthamforest.gov.uk
To express your concerns as to why Walthamstow greyhound track should never be re-opened.

Welcome to Greyhound Safe

In the middle of many on going campaigns GS decided to branch out to reach a wider audience of advocates for  the overall campaign(s) for a better life for greyhounds and an end to racing, globally.

The aims of GS is to reach out to you/these advocates and help raise awareness and  show campaigns that will need your voice to help the tens of thousands of greyhounds, globally,who suffer daily just for the pleasures of the fans of a declining racing industry.

Please follow Greyhound Safe for info and updates on how you can be involved.

Info on 2 important campaigns, which are on the 'now' agenda, will be posted here very soon.
Meanwhile here is the FB link for Greyhound Safe.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greyhound-Safe/150070981724765?sk=info