Corley residents opposed to greyhound training track plans

[dutchman]

People living just a few metres away from a proposed greyhound track say the plan will send their neighbourhood to the dogs.



An application has been lodged asking for permission to build a straight 200 metre track in a field in Bennetts Road, Corley.

The track, which has already been dug, is a few metres away from the road but is screened by a large hedge.

The proposal comes a few weeks after the Greyhound Board of Great Britain confirmed that an application had been put in to restart dog racing at Brandon Stadium.

The agent acting on behalf of the applicant for the Corley track told the Telegraph that there was no link between the two applications, but one of the people behind the latest proposal is a dog trainer.

People living nearby say they are unhappy with the plan.

Sue Nock, who lives opposite the proposed greyhound training track, said: “When we first went round our house we looked out of the bedroom window and saw the incredible view. At that point the house was sold. But this will change that view.

“We’ve already got the M6 close by and we live with that. But now we’ll have people coming and going on an ad hoc basis, parking on the verge and churning it up.

“This is a fast road. People often exceed the speed limit and if you’re trying to drive off that field you are going to have some problems.”

David Hoare, who also lives nearby, said a group of residents had several concerns about the application, including access to the site and development of land up to Corley Rocks.

“It’s out of place in the area,” David, aged 59, said. “There are bigger issues at stake here than the usual complaints. The access isn’t up to scratch, parking on the verge can be dangerous and people who like to walk their dogs on the nearby public footpath could be faced with a group of greyhounds running at full tilt.”

Planning agent Carlos de Miranda said “Chinese whispers” about the proposal had led to unnecessary concerns.

“We are not talking about hundreds of dogs here,” he said.

“I heard a comment that suggested that 100 dogs could be at the track at once which is obviously not the case. There will four or five dogs there at the same time.”

Mr de Miranda also confirmed that the land could easily be returned to its former use, as the applicants only want to use a bark chipping surface.

The application has been submitted to North Warwickshire Borough Council and a consultation has been launched. Contact the council by February 1 to have a say.

[dutchman]

There was a proposal a few years ago to build a greyhound track and kennels at the Butts Stadium. The planning dept sent each of us living nearby a letter asking if we had any objection to listening to 800 dogs barking every night!