Dear Delyth,

As a Member of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee considering the evidence which has been heard during Stage 1 scrutiny of the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, I wanted to thank you for your engagement with Valley Stadium and the wider greyhound industry throughout the first stage of the Bill process.

Valley Greyhound Stadium remains committed to engaging with all Members of the Senedd to show the positive impact of licensed greyhound racing in Wales. As part of this, you may be aware that, following several invitations over the past 18 months, we welcomed the Deputy First Minister to the Valley on 21st November, alongside Officials and two members of the Implementation Group, where we showed them the state-of-the-art facilities we have on offer at the track. During the visit, the Deputy First Minister saw the purpose-built kennelling facilities, the veterinary room, the racing office and the track surface among other track infrastructure which has been put in place as a result of GBGB licensing.

Track staff, including the racing manager and track veterinary surgeon, as well as trainers and the stadium owner also spoke to the Deputy First Minister and emphasised the Valley’s impact within the local community, as both an entertainment venue and business supporting over 85 jobs. The meeting also provided a crucial opportunity to introduce the Deputy First Minister to some of the track’s staff and local trainers, who shared firsthand how the Valley has supported them by providing valuable employment in an area where work can be scarce. Following this visit, we have noted the publication of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation, which ranks Caerphilly as the 5th most deprived area for employment in Wales. The employment opportunities which the Valley supports could not be more important in light of this report, and we hope the Minister saw the impact of these opportunities in his conversations with those employed in the greyhound industry in and around Caerphilly.

We were also able to confirm that, despite us having asked the Implementation Group to put in writing any questions they had on the economic and social impact of the proposed ban, Valley Greyhound Stadium was not contacted by the Implementation Group to provide written evidence about the economic and social impacts of the proposed ban until 7th November 2025. This was of course one day after the Deputy First Minister indicated to the Committee on 6th November 2025 that the Valley had been unresponsive to such requests for information. We are pleased to have now clarified this error in a letter to the Deputy First Minister, which we requested be shared with Committee members for your awareness, and have of course now fully responded to the request for written evidence from the Implementation Group.

We again extend an invitation to all Members to visit the Valley if they wish to see first-hand the economic and social impact of the Valley in Ystrad Mynach and the positive impact which GBGB licensing has had on greyhound racing in Wales.

Kind regards,