In recent months we have seen a number of clubs clashing with their local councils. Tottenham are one side who have had trouble with their local council, Haringey. After coming up with an ambitious plan to redevelop White Hart Lane and the surrounding area, they have faced numerous objections and obstacles which have hampered the development. The council at first embraced the idea, but seemed to not provide the support and constructive help along the way to get the project off the ground. The project has the potential to develop and regenerate local commerce and habitation in a long neglected area, bringing in more business on match days and creating more jobs. Spurs are an important aspect of Haringey and a vital source of revenue for the council so should the council be willing to do more to help?
Due to the problems Spurs have been forced to look elsewhere, and could still leave the Haringey area altogether. They were in the running for the Olympic stadium, but lost out to West Ham. When they announced they were interested in moving to the Olympic stadium, Haringey council quickly objected to the plans, so it seems Spurs can’t win with the council neither supporting their bid to stay and regenerate, or the option of them moving away.
Liverpool are another who have run up against obstacles in their development of a new stadium. They have faced ongoing problems for the last 10 years. Their project faces continued delays, as the council obstructed plans for a redeveloped Anfield due to legislation which means that you cannot build in an area which blocks natural light getting into peoples homes, which is understandable as it a legal requirement. However, the council has been less than supportive through the process in helping Liverpool to get their plans off the ground. Considering the opportunity to regenerate the whole of north Liverpool, should the council have done more to help out with certain conditions, making it easier for the club to get the finances it requires? The council have now forced Liverpool into a deadline which means they can’t explore either the option of regeneration, or moving to Stanley Park fully. They have forced Liverpool into a corner, with the people set to lose out being fans and local residents. Of course the delays aren’t only the councils fault, the plans were originally put back because of the clubs previous owners as well. However, it seems as if the council is unwilling to do more to help Liverpool out.
how can you say tha liverpool council have been less than supportive regarding the stadium? LFC have had planning permission in place since 2002 for a new stadium on Stanley Park, its not the councils fault they havent got around to starting it! all the neccessary consents are in place the onus is on the club.
Agree with most of your points re Tottenham. The local MP has been a pain, and various additional costs have been piled on. There has however been some excitement on Spurs sites in the last week.Boris Johnson has supposedly given a commitment to help Spurs get regeneration money. Over the last 4 or 5 years Spurs have spent over £50m buying most of the land around White Hart Lane- in the last fortnight virtually all these properties have been bulldozed, leading to a certain amount of speculation about the clubs plans. However most people believe this may be an attempt to avoid paying rates on these properties- but who knows there maybe developments for a new White Hart Lane.
In light of the riots at Tottenham it is clear to everyone in the country that should Spurs leave the Harringay area that the whole of Tottenham, Edmonton and Ponders End will be blighted.
Spurs are a football club first and foremost so it is unfair to pin hopes of an areas regeneration on them.
However, common sense from the politicians and local transport authorities to provide the assistance to make plans viable would enable the club to stay in the area that it historically belongs to -which is the aim of everyone that has the clubs’ interest at heart while at the same time providing the engine for social change in an area that now resembles an urban battlezone.