The three-day High Court appeal by residents opposed to Fulham’s plans
for a new 30,000-seat stadium has began and a High Court judge was told that
planned stadium redevelopment was "too important" to be left to the
local council to decide.
Opponents to the scheme have asked a judge to force the Government to reconsider
a decision not to "call in" the club's scheme.
Hammersmith
and Fulham Council has already decided to give planning permission for the new
development, on the site of the existing 105-year-old stadium at Craven Cottage.
But the objectors are asking Mr Justice Collins to block the permission and
order the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
Stephen Byers to reconsider the initial decision not to "call in"
the scheme.
That original decision was made by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who
refused to intervene in his old role as Secretary of State for Environment,
Transport and the Regions.
Lawyers for the objectors, say the new stadium will have a "damaging and
massively intrusive effect" and accused Mr Prescott of acting "unreasonably
and unlawfully".
Fulham hope the judge, Mr Justice Collins, will reject those claims when he
delivers his verdict on Friday.
The club, which can appeal if the decision goes against it, intends to begin
demolition of Craven Cottage next summer and plans to have the new stadium ready
for 2003-04.