Premiership: London mayor slams stadia stumbles

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has hit out at the British government’s handling of the Wembley and Picketts Lock fiascos after giving his backing to Arsenal’s plans to relocate to a new stadium.

Livingstone acclaimed a ‘‘world-class stadium’’ for Arsenal after giving the go-ahead for the Gunners to move to a new £250m (€404.6m) development at Ashburton Grove.

He gave the green light to the planning application for a new state-of-the-art, 60,000-capacity stadium.

The decision arrived a month after the north Londoners won planning permission from Islington Council to move half a mile from Highbury to a site which is currently an industrial estate.

The former Labour MP revealed he would have rejected Arsenal’s original planning proposals but had been impressed by the latest plans and by the fact the Premiership club have increased their contribution for local transport improvement from £5.75m (€9.3m) to £7.6m (€12.29m).

The mayor did, however, take a swipe at the Government over the confusion surrounding the site of the new national stadium.

He said: ‘‘The Wembley projected started before there was a mayor in office in London.

‘‘Arsenal have had an advantage there but there has been no clear lead on Wembley. It was a nightmare, involving changes of ministers.’’

Livingstone acknowledged the successful completion of Arsenal’s project was needed to restore confidence in London’s ability but admitted the Government could put a spoke in the wheels.

He added: ‘‘After the Wembley and Picketts Lock fiascos it will be a real boost for London to build a world-class stadium.

‘‘The Government could step in and say they want a public inquiry.

‘‘A lot of people want that but they are not aware of the scale of changes Arsenal have undertaken.

‘‘It is a very good scheme indeed. The original plans would not have been acceptable but these are a model of what we would like to see from others.

‘‘It will mean the area is a lot more attractive place to live in.’’

Livingston added: ‘‘I would have refused permission for Arsenal’s original proposal but my planners have worked closely with the club, Islington Council, Transport for London and the London Development Agency, and turned an unacceptable scheme into a world-class scheme that London can be proud of.

‘‘The new proposal will bring a package of £60million of benefits to the local area.’’

The new ground would cost Arsenal an estimated £250million although the club have acknowledged the development could rise to double that amount and would be ready for the 2004/05 season.

It has been designed by the company which created Stadium Australia, the centre-piece of the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

The proposal is for ‘‘a high-density, mixed-use development of three large brownfield sites’’ which, a statement claimed, was ‘‘in line with the mayor’s emerging planning policies’’.

Livingstone added: ‘‘I have listened very carefully to the advice of those who still object.

‘‘On balance, I believe that the new package of proposals will give London a world-class stadium, new homes and jobs and a better environment, and will help to regenerate a part of London desperately in need of major investment.’’

The decision was welcomed by Gunners fans, who claimed a new stadium had been long overdue.

Steven Powell, chairman of the Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association (AISA), said: ‘‘It’s great news, not only for Arsenal but also for Islington.

‘‘We’ll get a brand new ground which we desperately need. Islington residents will get thousands of new jobs and homes and a multi-million pound public transport improvements package. Supporters and residents will both win.’’

However Powell, citing London’s recent record in erecting stadia after the Wembley and Picketts Lock fiascos, admitted some scepticism over the timing of the completion of the Ashburton Grove stadium.

He added: ‘‘There are still some hurdles to jump before building work commences.

‘‘Ministers and civil servants could decide that the plans should be ‘called in’ for a public enquiry which could last up to two years.

‘‘A small group of local residents have also threatened legal action, including writs under the Human Rights Act if the plans proceed.

‘‘A small but noisy and well-organised group of local residents have consistently suggested that Islington Council was in Arsenal’s pocket.

‘‘They’ve also suggested that the council was bound to pass the plans because it stands to benefit by selling land to the club,’’ he added.

‘‘Both suggestions are nonsense. The two Arsenal season ticket-holders on the council were both barred from voting.

‘‘Now I suppose they’re going to say Ken Livingstone is in the Arsenal board’s pocket.

‘‘The new stadium will contribute to London as a world city. I’m sure Government ministers and civil servants will come to the same conclusion.

‘‘If the residents do go to law they will be frustrating the will of the people we elect to take these decisions.’’