Plans for a huge new riverbank football stadium for Premiership club Fulham have been delayed again after the adjournment of a vital High Court hearing.
Protesters asked for a judicial review in a last-ditch attempt to halt the new Fulham stadium but the case, which opened last week, has been put on ice, probably until January.
Fulham Football Club won planning permission to build the 30,000 all-seater stadium back in February, to the anger of many Putney people who fear traffic congestion, ruined sailing conditions and thousands of fans clogging Putney High Street.
People opposed to the plan, gathered together under the Fulham Alliance banner, wanted the Government to call in the application for a public inquiry.
The plans have an impact beyond Hammersmith and Fulham and should not have been decided by a local council, they argued.
When secretary of state John Prescott refused, the Alliance pushed for last weeks judicial review, claiming the Governments refusal to hold a public inquiry, its failure to give a reason for its decision and the fact that developers can automatically demand an inquiry but protesters cannot breach new human rights laws.
Alliance chairman Bill Adlard says the group has a strong case, although the impact of human rights law on planning law is unchartered waters.
But Fulham United, made up of people who support the plans, believe the adjournment is just a delaying tactic by the Alliance to try and force the club out of Fulham. Perfectly adequate public consultation gave protesters a chance to have their say, it argues.
Fulham FC says it is seeking advice about whether it must wait until after the renewed court hearing to start building work.
But Wandsworth Council says Fulham pre-empting the decision would be unthinkable and the Fulham Alliance says work is not due to start until May.
This week the club said it was confident plans will not be affected.
We think it speaks volumes that the applicants have done all they can to avoid this opportunity to have their arguments heard, said a spokesman.
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