Dulwich Hamlet face a “critical month” with their new stadium bid entering a consultation period – as the club again hit out at those opposing the development for “misinforming” and trying to “block” and “delay” the process.
The current period relates to removing restrictions on their current site.
Dulwich said there had been “confusion” over why this consultation period was needed. The club provided an explanation in their latest statement on the process.
“Our current Champion Hill stadium site is protected for us and for sports and those protections are defined in agreements from 1990 and 2003,” the club said. “The new site which overlaps with the current site will be similarly protected under a new agreement, this is [Southwark] Council’s way of always ensuring that there is a home for Dulwich Hamlet FC and for sporting provision at Champion Hill. However, to allow development and construction on the new stadium to take place the protections on the current site need to be removed during the build period and that is what this application stage seeks to make happen.
“To address your questions about why if this is a simple step in the process we need a public consultation I would like to express again our thanks to the officers at Southwark Council for their diligence. Throughout this process those that oppose the application that will secure the future of the club have sought to misinform, block, delay and challenge at every step ignoring the overwhelming community support, independent approvals and even the recent dismissal by a Judge of their latest claims. So, whilst it takes more time, it is important that a correct and comprehensive process is followed at every step to reduce the risk posed by those individuals.
“This is a critical month for the club. If we can get through these final few steps the work can begin on delivering not only the long-term home for Dulwich Hamlet Football Club but also the huge increase in sporting provision for the local community and help us deliver local clean up and regeneration efforts.
“We will provide another update as things progress with both the consultation period and our parallel process to work with the current and prospective owners of the site to manage the period of transition from the current stadium to the new stadium.
“Thank you for your questions, your support and your interest in our club and our community.”
Read the full statement here.