WALTHAMSTOW: Campaigners slam Stow inaction (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAMSTOW: Campaigners slam Stow inaction

4:08pm Thursday 22nd January 2009

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CAMPAIGNERS are furious that their beloved Walthamstow Stadium remains empty, five months after its closure.

Owners of the Chingford Road dog track, London and Quadrant, said a planning application was likely to be submitted by the end of last year, but draft plans are still being discussed with senior council officers.

Save our Stow campaigner Barrie Clegg said consultant urban developers, who were drafted in by the council to produce a report on the site – part of which is Grade II listed – have listened to the groups’ views on the future of the plot, but their final report is still being finalised.

He added: “We appreciate being kept informed about the brief, however, delays are not helpful to anyone.

“We firmly believe that the vast majority of Waltham Forest residents want the dog track back as soon as possible so that we can reclaim our identity and provide urgently needed jobs and an inexpensive night out for the community.

“We suspect that the site will remain derelict for years as London and Quadrant are clearly in no rush to develop on the site in the current economic climate.”

Save our Stow are equally incensed that their offer to lease the site from L&Q for £250,000 a year was refused, and yet the site has remained empty, except for a few days of private hire over Christmas by an evangelical church.

Mr Clegg said: “Had it been accepted, we could have been up and running within weeks. We also offered to work with L&Q on a mixed use development which could have included the dog track, a cinema, ten pin bowling and housing so everyone could have benefited – again that was turned down flat.”

Campaigner Rick Holloway added: “Every move they make, we will be there. We will join forces with residents’ associations and give Waltham Forest Council a showdown because they are not listening to anyone. How long will it remain empty?”

Richard Leach, director of accountants and business advisors Kuhrt Leach, said an American consortium was still putting together “an attractive offer” to buy the stadium from the current owners, but it was “too premature” to reveal what its proposal is.

A spokeman for L&Q said: "L&Q and the local authority are aware and respectful of the sensitivities surrounding the site and with this in mind we are working hard to ensure that the views of all interested parties are considered in formulating our proposals.

"The planning department has bought in independent advisors to review proposed plans for the site and we are currently awaiting their report.

"L&Q had stated an intention to submit its planning application before Christmas but this has not been possible.

"L&Q and LB Waltham Forest’s desire to be inclusive in the formulation of the proposals has meant that progress is slower than we had anticipated.

"Rather than rush our proposals for the site in response to the demands made by the SOS group, we would rather take the time to develop a proposal that provides a high quality, residential led development which the community of Waltham Forest deserves and this does unfortunately take time."

"We have not received a credible offer, with evidence of financial backing, to lease the stadium for the resumption of greyhound racing.

"We will not temporarily lease the Stadium for Greyhound racing as there are a number legal and public safety issues associated with this.

"We are not actively seeking offers to buy the stadium outright and no substantiated and evidenced offers have been received.

"We will not get involved in the plans for a mixed residential/greyhound track development.

"The plan is technically flawed and does not create an environment where people would, based on our expertise, want to live."

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