Thousands of Londoners would lose out on health and fitness support if Millwall football club are forced to leave the capital, campaigners said today.
In an 11th-hour pitch to council leaders to reconsider controversial development plans, the Millwall Community Trust said the club was a mainstay for old and young people in the area.
Lewisham council cabinet had been due to confirm a decision to hand sites around the Den to developers at a meeting tonight, but decided yesterday to postpone the talks, apparently on legal advice.
Sir Simon Hughes, the former MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark who is a trustee of MCT, said: “Through MCT the club works with all kinds of people from kids excluded from school right through to retired people who enjoy keeping fit with walks and other activities. It also works with people with mental health problems and, increasingly, with people who have obesity or diabetes.”
In a letter to council leaders, the MCT said Millwall and their outreach work were “steeped in the community” but would be lost locally if the League One club carried out their threat to move away to Kent.
Lewisham had voted to buy the land by compulsory purchase order and was set to confirm its decision. Millwall have proposed their own alternative ideas.
The Lions have played in Lewisham since 1910 and at the current ground since 1993.
