Animal lovers have launched a petition to stop the expansion plans of Wales' last greyhound race track for fear an increase in the sport will lead to more dogs being injured, or even killed. In March this year more than 35,000 dog lovers made their voices heard in trying to get Welsh Government to ban greyhound racing in this country.
And now thousands have also signed an online petition opposing the Valleys Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach's bid to become a Greyhound Board of Great Britain-licensed, commercial track by January 2024. They argue that this would see the number of races it's able to hold on a weekly basis potentially quadruple.
Part of this bid includes a planning application, submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council in August, for the construction of a two story extension to serve as function rooms and a separate single storey extension which with acts as, amongst other things[, a lobby, toilet facilities and office space. Work on the project is believed to have already begun.
