Walthamstow: Save Our Stow campaign has reached the Mayor's office
PICTURE:Steve NashFate of the Stow should be clearer on Wednesday
SAVE OUR STOW spokesman Ricky Holloway has said this Wednesday is ‘D-Day’ in its long-running battle to get greyhound racing restored at Walthamstow.
All the political manoeuvring and campaigning by SOS since the closure in August 2008 has finally elevated the matter to the Mayor of London’s office, and the mayor, Boris Johnson, is expected to announce his decision at the London Assembly meeting.
Assembly member Andrew Boff, a Conservative, has tabled two questions for Johnson to answer at the session:
1) What was discussed at your meeting with Save our Stow on 12 May regarding Walthamstow Stadium?
2) What is your vision for the future of Walthamstow Stadium?
It is understood a number of bidders have plans prepared and are ready to step in should the mayor use his powers to effectively force site owner and would-be developer London & Quadrant to sell the land.
Further pressure is also being brought to bear on L&Q in Parliament on Thursday, with Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy set to ask whether the housing association should have been allowed to retain the land for as long as it has without developing it.
SOS research into the issue has indicated that Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), as housing associations are commonly known, cannot hold property assets without a plan for development, and it is thought Creasy will highlight the case.
A live webcast is available of Assembly meetings at http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_london_assembly/week-ahead-london-assembly-11
