THE possibility of greyhound racing returning to Oxford is one that should be met with excitement.

It has been 18 months since the Oxford Stadium was alive to the sound of crowds urging on their favourites.

Plans were made to clear the site and build houses instead, sweeping away all traces of a once popular sporting venue.

The fact the new lease now being offered says the site will be used as a leisure facility means that, in the short term at least, the threat of demolition appears to have been removed.

It is hoped greyhound racing will now return to Oxford.

Not only will this please those who have missed the popular pastime since the stadium’s closure but it will also bring more money into the economy.

Many people in the community campaigned for the stadium to be saved as a sporting venue and will be encouraged that a number of businesses have already shown an interest in taking out a lease to use it.

Sadly the spectre of demolition still hangs over the site, as developers are set to appeal against the city council’s decision to reject their application for new homes on the site, so the stadium’s supporters will not be able to relax just yet.

Perhaps Oxford Stadium will become one of the top greyhound venues in the country again and be another gem in the city’s leisure scene.