THE council wants to delete Walthamstow Stadium from its list of the borough's heritage buildings, it has emerged.

The authority is currently consulting on removing the former greyhound track from its protected 'Local List' of structures which are of special architectural or historic interest.

Housing association London and Quadrant (L&Q), which owns the arena in Chingford Road, Chingford, is currently trying to get permission to build 300 homes, a nursery and gym at the site.

Furious campaigners believe the council's move is designed to make it easier for the developers to get their application approved.

The authority has always stressed its independence on planning matters and denies it is biased towards L&Q.

But the council's interim director for development and leisure, Steven Boyes, is understood to be investigating claims that L&Q tried to influence the date of a planning meeting regarding its proposed Walton House development in Chingford.

L&Q denies any wrongdoing.

A statement on the consultation document said it was no longer necessary for the stadium to be listed by the council because it had been upgraded to protected status by the government's department for culture, media and sport back in May 2007.

A similar reason is given for the proposed de-listing of the Church of St Peter in the Forest in Walthamstow.

However the Government's listed status for the stadium only applies to its frontage and kennels - whereas the council's listing encompasses the entire structure, parts of which L&Q wants to demolish.

Ricky Holloway, of the Save Our Stow (SOS) group, which wants to see the stadium reopened as a dog racing arena, said it was "very suspicious".

He added: "The list is of valuable buildings in the borough and the Stow should be on it, end of.

"As far as I'm aware it does not cost the council anything to have the dog track on the list, so what's the harm in keeping it on there?

"It raises serious questions about the council's motives."

While the council's list must be considered in planning decisions it does not add any extra legal weight.

However according to the authority: "The council will...strongly discourage the demolition of any buildings on the local list and will seek to encourage their retention, restoration and continued beneficial use wherever possible."

L&Q submitted a planning application for its development earlier this year but has now gone back to the drawing board following concern from English Heritage and the Greater London Authority (GLA) about its proposals.

A council spokesman said: "As the Stadium now enjoys statutory protection it is a pointless exercise to keep it on the local list, hence it is proposed that it be deleted as it serves no useful purpose.

"The move is not designed to make it easier for the developers to get their application approved as claimed".

Residents have until Friday November 25 to comment on the Local List consultation. Go to www.walthamforest.gov.uk and click on 'planning' for more information.

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