A contentious planning application to extend Wales’ only greyhound stadium has finally been approved after several attempts.
Valley Greyhounds racing stadium in Ystrad Mynach now has the all-clear to extend its existing clubhouse and grandstand building to provide office, hospitality and veterinary facilities.
An application to convert Tredomen Football Athletic Club’s former clubhouse, which is next to the stadium, into kennels has also been approved.
The applications were decided by Caerphilly County Borough Council planning officers, using delegated powers.
What are delegated powers?
If a planning application is straightforward and uncontroversial, for example an extension on a house, then it is decided by a Planning Officer who has delegated powers.
Delegated powers allow the Planning Officer to decide whether to approve or reject a planning application, without the need for the council’s planning committee to make that decision.
Planning Officers have delegated powers because of their impartial position, qualifications, and experience. A planning officer has the power to refer a decision to the planning committee if it has community-wide impact.
Larger scale planning application, like the building of a new housing estate for example, would be decided by the council’s planning committee. Other applications, such as those which are complex or have received many objections during the consultation, would also be decided the council’s planning committee.
Initially, the applications had been rejected by the council, due to highways and flooding concerns.
However, these concerns had been addressed by the time the application was resubmitted.
The stadium has been at the centre of a Wales-wide debate about the future of greyhound racing in recent years.
A lengthy campaign from animal welfare charities has led to numerous Senedd Members voicing their support for a ban – with the Welsh Government launching a consultation earlier this year into a phased ban.
Malcolm Tams, who runs Valley Greyhounds, declined to comment when approached by Caerphilly Observer.
However, Mr Tams previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Everybody has got their own minds, if you don’t like greyhound racing, don’t come here. It’s the same with any sport.
“People think we don’t care, we do care. It’s not about money for us, it’s about the community we have created.”
“Let down in the name of entertainment”
A host of animal welfare charities, including Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue and the RSPCA, have joined forces as part of the ‘Cut the Chase’ coalition.
The coalition has reacted furiously to the approval of the two Valley Greyhounds applications, which they claim will result in more dogs being put in danger.
A spokesperson for the Cut the Chase Coalition, said: “We’re devastated at this decision to grant planning permission when all the evidence shows greyhound racing is dangerous for the dogs involved.
“Greyhound racing is an interconnected industry and the decision to allow this development to go ahead will have far-reaching negative consequences for greyhounds across the British Isles.
“Greyhounds can experience welfare issues at every stage of their lives, and with more dogs involved in the industry this will inevitably impact more dogs.
“This is likely to include many more greyhounds facing injuries or even death through racing. Once again, greyhounds have been let down in the name of entertainment.”
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, also hit out and said: “This is going to lead to more dogs suffering, more dogs being injured and more dogs needing rescue spaces. And all for the sake of sport and betting. This is not the country I want Wales to be.”
What have local politicians previously said on the matter?
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for planning, Cllr Philippa Leonard, had previously said she was against the stadium’s plans to extend.
Many Senedd Members have supported the ban on greyhound racing publicly, including Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell and Peredur Owen Griffiths, as well as Labour’s Rhianon Passmore.
Caerphilly’s Labour MS Hefin David, whose constituency covers Ystrad Mynach, had previously said that while he was against the extension, he was keen for dialogue between all parties.
Council comment
A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council confirmed two applications submitted by Valley Greyhounds had been approved, with a third yet to be determined.
They said: “The applications related to the change of the athletic football club to greyhound boarding kennels, together with extensions to the existing clubhouse and grandstand building to provide office, hospitality, amenity and veterinary facilities.
“The new applications addressed outstanding concerns relating to highway and flooding controls.
“A third application for the erection of kennels is yet to be determined, pending the consideration of flooding issues.”
The spokesperson added: “We are aware that a number of objections have been raised against the expansion of the facility that relates to the welfare of the greyhounds and the general moral and ethical debates of the sport.
“These concerns are not material planning considerations and could not be taken into account when assessing the merits of the applications.”
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