I am writing in reply to Laura Slade’s letter which states that there is a tremendous amount of `local’ support for a 20 000 Seater Football stadium in Plough Lane.
She obviously does NOT live in the local area around Plough Lane, otherwise she would know that this is NOT the case!
She also could not have lived in this area when Wimbledon played here. And may I point out that the `present’ football team NEVER played in Plough Lane.
Football in Plough Lane on match days turned this area into a no-go area for residents back then.
Away fans sprawled through local narrow streets, coming from Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon and Haydons Road stations, urinating in side roads and alley ways ( sometimes even in front of residents!), pouring beer over residents cars and ripping off garden gates.
The traffic was a nightmare and ambulances could not get to the hospital for the gridlock traffic on match days.
Visitors double parked in residential streets and police couldn’t help because they had to be at the ground. Local shops rather closed for the day than having their shops vandalised and some who didn’t had their windows smashed in. Yes, Laura Slade – those were the good old days in Plough Lane when Wimbledon played less `friendly’ teams.
I suppose you were not around then and maybe you don’t even live anywhere near Plough Lane.
You obviously have not seen the plans for the new greyhound stadium which includes a new dance and fitness studio, so your need for sporting activities to prevent obesity are well catered for.
I can assure you that a snap poll round our streets will NOT show you the support you claim for football to return to Plough Lane. As AFC Wimbledon is only a small club for now they have already stated to plan to share with `another’ football club, which for us residents only can mean only one thing : `Double Trouble’.
So NO Laura Slade most of us residents DON’T WANT a 20 000 seater football stadium in our locality!
Ingrid Dickenson, Wimbledon
- Send your letters to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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