Millionaire businessman reveals shock new greyhound plans for Wimbledon Stadium

[Fenris]

http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/11549078.Millionaire_businessman
_reveals_shock_new_greyhound_plans_for_Wimbledon_Stadium/

(Pictures and plans can bee seen at the link)


Millionaire businessman reveals shock new greyhound plans for Wimbledon
Stadium

The battle to redevelop Wimbledon stadium took a dramatic twist this
morning when an Irish businessman unveiled plans for a far smaller
greyhound stadium, fewer apartments and a pre-school.

Paschal Taggart, the man behind the existing £200m greyhound stadium
plan, rang the Wimbledon Guardian from Dublin to say he had
significantly scaled back his proposals in response to a report
commissioned by the Wimbledon Park Residents? Association (WPRA) and
Hume Consulting.

He believed the move would deal a death-blow to AFC Wimbledon's dream to
use the site for a football stadium allowing the team to finally return
to the borough.

AFC's plans for the stadium in Plough Lane, Wimbledon, were expected to
be submitted to Merton Council ?very soon? according to chief executive
Erik Samuelson.

Mr Samuelson remained silent today on the revised plans for a greyhound
stadium.

The report last month said the greyhound stadium bid was "considered a
more sustainable and robust proposal at this stage of development."

This was based on what the experts called weaknesses in AFC Wimbledon
proposals to address transport, road network, flooding and drainage
issues.

Mr Taggart, who is based in Dublin, said the cost of the greyhound
stadium project was halved to £100m by the re-think and would ease
traffic in the area around Plough Lane.

He said the new plan would have space to house a Sure Start pre-school,
doctor?s surgery and space for Christopher?s Squash Club and sports
injury clinic with a drop-off lay-by outside.

The number of apartments have been slashed from 550 to 230, with fewer
car parking places as a result, and a small retail space.

The greyhound racing stadium itself would include a four storey stadium
including the ground floor, and be reduced from 4,500 seats to 3,000.

Mr Taggart, who will present plans to residents next week, said: "We
have reduced plans substantially.

"We are waiting for the other side to submit their plans.

"The reason for that is they (Galliard Homes) own the site.

"I don?t expect AFC Wimbledon to have any chance of success - they need
a genie in a bottle to get through the serious problems."

Merton Council will eventually decide which plan to approve.

Mr Taggart said he might not submit an application at all, because he
believes the AFC Wimbledon bid had no chance of success and would be
rejected straight away.

He said the land could then go up for sale by Galliard Homes, and he
would buy it.

He added: "This is all tactical.

"Our plan will be a lovely blend of apartments and a beautiful stadium.

"It will be a world class stadium.

"Everyone thinks this one is far better."

The new plans will be on show at a meeting organised by WPRA at
Wimbledon Park Hall in Arthur Road, Wimbledon, on Tuesday, October 28,
from 7.30pm to 9pm.


--
Fenris

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