CONSTRUCTION work on the troubled Swindon greyhound stadium rebuild has recently restarted after worrying delays. 

Preliminary work on building a new Abbey Stadium in Blunsdon initially started in September 2021 but just over a year and a half later it doesn't look much closer to being complete. 

The component parts that will make up the new stand are on site but in the car park and have been there, untouched, for months.

The building of a new stadium for greyhound racing and speedway is part of the planning requirements for Gaming International and housing developer Taylor Wimpey to build a new housing development on the land. 

But last year Swindon Speedway fans grew frustrated at the lack of progress with construction work on the new venue seemingly stalling and staged a demonstration at the site.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson addressed these concerns and said that the stadium work must be completed before the housing work could proceed. 

Then in September 2022, The Swindon Robins speedway team, which had called the Blunsdon racetrack it's home since 1949, released a statement saying it would never return.

Shortly after this, Taylor Wimpey began initial preparations on the housing site, which they are allowed to do under the planning conditions, and installed banners advertising that homes were coming soon. 

Around this time it was also speculated that greyhound racing in Swindon would also cease in December, which the owners denied, and we know now was not the case. 

Now, a few months into 2023, locals have started to notice stadium work starting again and councillor Daniel Adams has shared an update on its progress on Facebook. 

He said: "As many may have noticed there has been activity on the stadium site in recent days. Work is now moving forward. what we are seeing is the acoustic sound barrier being installed and work restarting on the foundations.

Further to this work will now be starting on refurbishing the Stadium structure which has been left open to the elements in the car park in recent years."

He added that he was pleased to see things getting back on track. 

"I'm very happy to see work finally moving forward after the delay we have seen in recent years. the delivery of this site is important to me and my colleagues and hope to see this progress continue."