Campaign says no to 'Stratford Hotspur' (From Haringey Independent)

Campaign launched to keep Spurs in Tottenham

12:45pm Monday 15th November 2010 in Save White Hart Lane By Elizabeth Pears

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy

SPURS fans are mounting a campaign calling on the club's chairman Daniel Levy to put an end to "Stratford Hotspur".

An online petition has been set up after it was revealed Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are the final two contenders in the race to make the Olympic Stadium, in east London, their new home.

Tim Framp, who launched the campaign, said: "I am one who would prefer to remain at White Hart Lane, in Tottenham, as it stands today, rather than move to Stratford chasing the revenue from a larger stadium. Such a move would, for me, destroy Tottenham and all it has stood for the day we leave our home.

"We need a larger stadium, but we need it in our home and I for one would rather wait to acheive that, as we have done until now, rather than leave for East London.

"I urge anyone who feels the same way to sign this petition, so that we might go to Daniel Levy and the Spurs board with one united voice should the decision ever be taken to leave."

So far the petition has 820 signatures and is being backed by Tottenham MP David Lammy who is livid that Spurs are considering leaving the borough.

Mr Lammy said: "Haringey and Tottenham need Spurs in Haringey. It is one of the poorest areas of London and the club is one of the few sources of investment in the area, sustaining thousands of jobs and community projects.

  "If Spurs leave, not only will they abandon one of the best stadium designs the country has seen, they'll be leaving an entire community in limbo.

  "The football community has to question whether a club abandoning its ties with its community, history and identity in the pursuit of more money is in the wider interests of the game and the fans that follow it.

  "It has to question what emotion there is in Stratford Hotspur playing West Ham in the 'East London Derby' or what will happen to smaller, local clubs like Leyton Orient that are steeped in history but will inevitably suffer as a result."

Mr Lammy also raised concern for Spurs vision for the Stratford stadium once London 2012 is over.

The club plans to remove the athletics track would be "complete waste of public money".

To sign the petition, visit http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/say-no-to-stratford-hotspur/434