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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Dog track hosts last planned race | Dog track hosts last planned race |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Campaigners are hoping for a last-minute reprieve for Walthamstow stadium, which hosts its last planned greyhound race on Saturday. | Campaigners are hoping for a last-minute reprieve for Walthamstow stadium, which hosts its last planned greyhound race on Saturday. |
| Supporters took a 15,000-strong petition against the closure to Walthamstow Town Hall, east London. | Supporters took a 15,000-strong petition against the closure to Walthamstow Town Hall, east London. |
| After 75 years of racing its owners sold the venue to housing developers. | After 75 years of racing its owners sold the venue to housing developers. |
| New owner London and Quadrant Housing Trust said: "At the moment our intention is to continue with the development as planned." | New owner London and Quadrant Housing Trust said: "At the moment our intention is to continue with the development as planned." |
| The stadium was first opened in 1933 by William Chandler, who started out operating as an illegal street bookmaker. | The stadium was first opened in 1933 by William Chandler, who started out operating as an illegal street bookmaker. |
| In addition to its regular fans, it has hosted public figures such as Sir Winston Churchill and actors Lana Turner, Vinnie Jones and Brad Pitt. | In addition to its regular fans, it has hosted public figures such as Sir Winston Churchill and actors Lana Turner, Vinnie Jones and Brad Pitt. |
| But Mr Chandler's grandson Charles said operations had become "unsustainable". | But Mr Chandler's grandson Charles said operations had become "unsustainable". |
| We need new housing, we need affordable housing, but at the end of the day we need other things as well Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard | |
| Attendances were down and the advent of high street and internet gambling meant people no longer placed bets in such great numbers with the bookies, tic-tacs and totes on its trackside pitches. | Attendances were down and the advent of high street and internet gambling meant people no longer placed bets in such great numbers with the bookies, tic-tacs and totes on its trackside pitches. |
| The stadium is understood to have been sold for between £20m and £30m. | The stadium is understood to have been sold for between £20m and £30m. |
| A consortium has offered £1m on top of that figure to retain greyhound racing at the site, but the housing trust has already withdrawn the option of leasing the stadium. | A consortium has offered £1m on top of that figure to retain greyhound racing at the site, but the housing trust has already withdrawn the option of leasing the stadium. |
| Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard said: "We need new housing, we need affordable housing, but at the end of the day we need other things as well." | Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard said: "We need new housing, we need affordable housing, but at the end of the day we need other things as well." |
| He added: "The ideal outcome would be for the consortium to be able to buy the stadium back, keep on developing it and develop some different leisure uses there as well." | He added: "The ideal outcome would be for the consortium to be able to buy the stadium back, keep on developing it and develop some different leisure uses there as well." |
| The housing trust takes ownership of the land on 1 September. | The housing trust takes ownership of the land on 1 September. |