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£15M potential hit of Welsh ban all set to hit the campaign trail

• 2 min read
£15M potential hit of Welsh ban all set to hit the campaign trail
Valley in Ystrad Mynach is seen as an important business and community local asset

THE forthcoming Caerphilly by-election on 23rd October, caused by the untimely death of sitting Welsh Labour MS Hefin David in August, is set to be the latest battleground over the potential banning of greyhound racing in Wales.

Valley Stadium, in Ystrad Mynach, falls within the constituency boundaries and, alongside the on-going debate in the Senedd which recently saw heated opposition to the Welsh Labour government's plans, candidates are being warned that the end of greyhound racing at the venue could deal a massive £15M hit to the local economy.

Richard Brankley, head of greyhound operations for SIS which holds the media rights to greyhound racing at Valley, said: “The reckless and dogma-driven decision to try and rush through legislation to ban racing with no financial impact assessment being undertaken would be a savage blow to the local economy even before discussions on compensation and re-training begin. 

"The £15M figure is what we would expect to pay directly into the track in media rights payments over the next five years."

Potential Welsh ban under fire with judicial decision to come
DISQUIET is growing in the Welsh Senedd over not just the introduction of legislation to ban greyhound racing but the reasoning behind the decision and haste with which it is being implemented. Rural affairs minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS introduced the law to the Senedd on Tuesday 30th September but in
SIS RacingJonathan Kay

"The Barclay family have already spent hundreds of thousands of pounds investing in the site to ensure the track meets the world-leading regulatory standards of the GBGB and adheres to the highest standards of animal welfare. 

"This includes newly constructed air-conditioned racing kennels, a purpose-built veterinary facility plus a raft of track improvements. 

"The site now accounts for 85 directly employed staff and there is a wider supply chain for local goods and services.

"More so, the track remains an essential part of the local community, a sponsor of local rugby and football teams and a great night out with two Saturday night meetings this month which will again be hugely supported by the local community."

Welsh Conservative and Plaid Cymru MS's spoke against the planned ban after it was rushed to the Senedd by the sitting Welsh Labour minority government as part of a Budget deal with the sole Lib Dem Senedd MS Jane Dodds, an anti-greyhound racing campaigner, earlier this year.

List of Caerphilly by-election candidates 

  • Conservatives - Gareth Potter
  • Green Party - Gareth Hughes
  • Gwlad - Anthony Cook
  • Labour - Richard Tunnicliffe
  • Plaid Cymru - Lindsay Whittle
  • Reform UK - Llŷr Powell
  • UKIP - Roger Quilliam