OXFORD Stadium, which has hosted greyhound racing for more than 70 years, is to close by the end of the year.

The stadium, off Sandy Lane in Blackbird Leys, will stage its last Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) meeting on Saturday, December 29.

The decision, which leaves staff facing unemployment just weeks before Christmas, has been branded an “absolute tragedy”.

Closure has been threatened since a city council report last year revealed the stadium site had been earmarked for housing. Galliard Homes and stadium owner the GRA announced plans to demolish the site and build 225 homes earlier this year.

Staff and trainers were told of the closure by GRA general manager Clive Feltham at 2.30pm yesterday.

Racing manager Gary Baiden, who has worked at the track since 1986, said: “We’re all shell-shocked. We were under the impression that even if the building plans were approved, we would have at least another 18 months here.

“We expected a few cutbacks and some staff to lose their jobs, but this was a total shock.

“With the stadium having vacant possession, it might be easier for the city council to approve the planning application once it has been submitted.

“It’s very sad, the end of an era. I feel sorry for the owners, trainers and staff. The trainers could be offered posts at the other GRA tracks, but what a headache for the trainers and nearly 400 greyhounds to contend with.

“Everybody affected here will have to find new jobs.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has campaigned for the stadium to be saved. He said: It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s an awful time for all those people to be losing their jobs at Christmas.

“It’s an awful loss of a valued and important local amenity. “What’s driving this is the prospect of huge financial gain.” Mr Smith said he and other residents would now step up their efforts to save the stadium.

He said: “The present owner isn’t going to sell the site for stadium use so long as there’s any prospect of getting planning permission for housing.

“If they don’t get planning permission, and I hope they don’t, perhaps we can find someone else to take it on.

“I’m told it’s a potentially profitable site and there are good facilities there,” added Mr Smith.

Oxford Stadium was built in 1939 and greyhound racing has taken place there ever since, alongside speedway until 2008.

In September, Mr Feltham said there was no threat of imminent closure but when Friday morning greyhound racing ended earlier this month, many fans expressed concern about the stadium’s future.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper also criticised the decision to close. He said: “The way it has been handled is wrong.

“We feel for the people who are losing their jobs, particularly at this time of year. What kind of Christmas and New Year are they going to have?

“But it’s also another big facility being lost.

“Rather than housing, we could have another sports facility there.”

Mr Feltham was unavailable for comment last night.