Angry residents have presented Croydon Council with a petition of 650 signatures in opposition to plans to develop a sports arena on Rylands Fields Site, Upper Norwood.

The petition organised by the No to the Arena Group (NAG), met outside the town hall on Katharine Street, Croydon on April 28 (Monday) to pressure the Council not to build a leisure complex encroaching on Metropolitan Land.

Sue Kennett, leader of NAG, believes that as well as residents losing access to the Metropolitan Open Land, the development would also cause huge congestion problems.

Sue Kennett said: "The residents here are opposed to the council building on Metropolitan Open Land. We are also concerned that if the sports arena was to go ahead it would increase the already substantial congestion problems. We believe the arena would mean an extra 1,000 cars and 73 coaches a day.

"We would also challenge the consultation process undertaken by the council to date. In this respect our petition polled from local residents demonstrates that the council's assertion that the majority of local residents are in favour of this proposal is incorrect."

An alternative site at South Norwood Pool in Portland Road is also under consideration, but the council favours the Rylands Fields site.

A spokesperson for the council said: "We know that the Rylands Field area does have traffic problems but we will be introducing traffic calming measures.

"We will be listening to the concerns of residents and are happy to receive petitions and comment up until June 5."

April 30, 2003 12:00