Fulham have been accused of being in 'no hurry' to return to Craven Cottage
by the local residents opposed to the club's plans for their £70million stadium redevelopment.
The nine protesters, dubbed the 'Fulham Alliance', overshadowed Sunday's
Premiership clash with Birmingham by revealing the Cottagers have not even
requested an early hearing of the one legal case remaining over redevelopment
work on the banks of the River Thames.
Alliance chairman Bill Adlard's claims will fuel some supporters' fears that
their club are using the legal battle as an excuse to look for a new home away
from Craven Cottage.
In moves which sparked stayaway protests by fans, Fulham had two bids rejected
for a site in Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush.
The House of Lords this week refused the residents leave to appeal against a
High Court ruling that they had no grounds to challenge planning permission for
the new, 28,000-capacity Craven Cottage.
But another legal obstacle - the Alliance's High Court case asking for the
ground's planning permission to be quashed - is looming.
Adlard said: 'We're sad we've been refused in the House
of Lords - but we're fighting a much more important case at the High Court, to
get the court to quash the Borough of Hammersmith's grant of planning
permission.
'It's very interesting, as Fulham have not indicated they will participate in
the case and no-one has asked for an early hearing.
'We would have expected Fulham to request an early hearing if they wanted to
build the stadium in a hurry.
'There are lots and lots of cases to be heard, so this one will go in
the ordinary queue and just be dealt with in time by the court.
'And it will not join the queue until Hammersmith have put their papers in to
defend our application.
'We think the stadium proposal is unviable. We're waiting to see if the club
apply for an increased capacity or move elsewhere - which would make more sense for the club.'
Fulham now believe only a 34,000-capacity stadium would be financially viable,
so are considering a renewed planning application.
A club spokesman said: 'We are still investigating the possibility of
increasing the capacity and usage of Craven Cottage, so it can be commercially
viable.
'But we're also exploring other sites within the London Borough of
Hammersmith and Fulham in case that proves to be impossible.'
- NEWS
