Dulwich Hamlet find themselves facing an uncertain future after Southwark Council Planning Committee voted against a proposed new development that would see the existing Champion Hill Stadium replaced with a Homebase superstore. The club itself which has just eight years left on its lease at the current site would have relocated to a Greenfield site, currently disused and dilapidated, behind the present ground which was intended to incorporate a Conference standard ground along with sporting associated facilities, including all-weather pitch, cricket nets and netball courts. With a 999 year lease on the site this would have guaranteed the future of the famous South London club long into the future.
However after a four hour meeting at Peckham Town Hall on Monday (4th March) night, that featured an impassioned speech from Chairman/Manager Martin Eede outlining the benefits of the scheme that drew a standing ovation from the bulk of bulk of the public gallery, the committee deciding that the loss of Metropolitan Open Land far outweighed the employment and sporting benefits of the project. Commenting Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Club Secretary Paul Griffin stated, ‘A golden opportunity has been lost here. With the media and politicians decrying the state of our children’s health who vegetate in front of their PlayStations, Southwark have voted to preserve a wasteland that will benefit only a handful of dog-walkers and the joyriders who chose to abandon their cars here. Any child that risks playing in such a harsh environment does so at the risk of constant dog mess or worse a discarded condom or syringe. The excellent facilities that this facility would have brought to East Dulwich and to Southwark as a whole would benefit a whole generation of children, whilst bringing further employment to the area. This is not just self interest for we are convinced that this scheme is of benefit to all and by providing better recreational facilities we will ensure that the next generation can fulfil their potential, something that is vital in an inner city area where many schools, including the nearby flagship Charter School, struggle by with substandard or even no sporting facilities. The Supporters will continue to fight on ensure that Dulwich Hamlet does not die.
However after a four hour meeting at Peckham Town Hall on Monday (4th March) night, that featured an impassioned speech from Chairman/Manager Martin Eede outlining the benefits of the scheme that drew a standing ovation from the bulk of bulk of the public gallery, the committee deciding that the loss of Metropolitan Open Land far outweighed the employment and sporting benefits of the project. Commenting Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Club Secretary Paul Griffin stated, ‘A golden opportunity has been lost here. With the media and politicians decrying the state of our children’s health who vegetate in front of their PlayStations, Southwark have voted to preserve a wasteland that will benefit only a handful of dog-walkers and the joyriders who chose to abandon their cars here. Any child that risks playing in such a harsh environment does so at the risk of constant dog mess or worse a discarded condom or syringe. The excellent facilities that this facility would have brought to East Dulwich and to Southwark as a whole would benefit a whole generation of children, whilst bringing further employment to the area. This is not just self interest for we are convinced that this scheme is of benefit to all and by providing better recreational facilities we will ensure that the next generation can fulfil their potential, something that is vital in an inner city area where many schools, including the nearby flagship Charter School, struggle by with substandard or even no sporting facilities. The Supporters will continue to fight on ensure that Dulwich Hamlet does not die.
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