Bid to Wakefield Council to turn restaurant into gym after race day attendance drop
Plans have been submitted to Wakefield Council to open a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym at a greyhound stadium.
The proposal includes opening the facility in the former restaurant and bar at Kinsley Greyhound Stadium.
Documents submitted to Wakefield Council said the stadium’s function room had not re-opened since the pandemic.
A planning statement said: “The dog racing business and associated hospitality have not recovered since that time.
“With ongoing increasing costs, including energy costs, wage bills and National Insurance, the business has had to fundamentally change.”
The application, submitted on behalf of stadium owner John Curran, said dog races were “no longer large public events”, with racing now being viewed online rather than members of the public attending.
The stadium, which opened in 1939, had 15 full time and 41 part time staff prior to the pandemic.
“Once restrictions were lifted many of the previous staff, particularly with those trained in catering, had moved on to other employment opportunities,” the statement said.
“As a resident of Kinsley, Mr Curran was subsequently approached to utilise the building as a sporting facility which would provide job opportunities and also a facility for the use of the local community.”
Foundry MMA was established at the stadium in September and teaches MMA, boxing, K1 and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to men, women and children, as well as training professional MMA contenders.
The facility is also used by a mental health community group five days a week.
A retrospective application was submitted after council officers informed the applicant that permission was required for a change of use of the building.
The statement said: “The use of the redundant function room provides the greyhound stadium with an alternative income and ensures it can cover its ongoing costs.
“It assists in ensuring greyhound racing, a historic sport, continues in Kinsley for future generations.
“It is considered imperative that Wakefield Council fully support this development which is of clear benefit to the local community and brings back into beneficial use an otherwise vacant building.
“The importance of this facility must not be underestimated.”
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