Hundreds pack into public meeting to discuss AFC Wimbledon stadium plans

Up to 260 people went along to the Merton Council-organised debate where opinions were exchanged on the bid for the club’s home-coming.

The club and its experts were on hand to answer questions from the public and councillors at the meeting chaired by the council’s head of sustainable communities, James McGinlay.

An artists' impression. Images: Sheppard Robson architects 

Representing the applicants were AFC Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson, flooding and transport specialists from Peter Brett Associates, a planning consultant from Savilles, Sheppard Robson architects, and stadium architects from David Morley Architects.

An artists' impression. Images: Sheppard Robson architects 

Many of those who attended were happy with the way it went, but not all.

One described it as a sham and with people struggling to hear what was being said and questions not being answered truthfully.

However, Mr Samuelson said it was a really successful event and he stayed afterwards to speak to people after the forum had ended.

He said: "There was a good series of exchanges with questions and answers.

"I am pleased it shows how robust a process we are organising."

He added he thought a majority of people left thinking their genuine concerns had been addressed by the representatives there.

"By the end, a majority of people were either in favour or realised we were taking this seriously.

"We think it went really well," he said.

A resident from Kohat Road who attended, but insisted on remaining anonymous, said: "This forum was a sham where questions were not answered truthfully and important data was fudged.

"There were people in the audience who would have understood `technical’ answers but the decision was made to treat us all as ignorant.

"Given that Merton has already demonstrated their biased position with regards to the sequential test, this application must be properly investigated by an independent party in the form of a judicial review and should be forwarded to the Mayor of London."

Merton Conservatives leader Councillor Oonagh Moulton said: "It was a well attended, lively meeting.

"As ward councillors we have been pushing for this meeting.

"We are pleased we had that opportunity so local residents could question AFC Wimbledon."

The council said it took the decision to host a public forum given the huge public interest in this proposed major development in the borough.

The plans include a 20,000 seater football stadium, 602 flats, shops, parking and a squash and fitness club, which could be built in phases.

The council’s planning committee will decide whether to approve the proposal at a meeting in the spring.

It has been inundated with up to 6,000 responses to the plans so far.

The meeting took place in Ricards Lodge School in Lake Road, Wimbledon.

The council said it has uploaded the applicant’s presentation to their website at www.merton.gov.uk/wimbledon_greyhound_stadium for those who could not attend.

Did you attend the meeting? What do you think? Leave a comment below.