A campaigner who lives within spitting distance of Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is challenging supporters of the club to put their money where their mouth is and save it from being replaced by a Homebase store.

John Beasley, from Everthorpe Road, is battling against Cliveden Estates' plan to build a Homebase on the site.

Cliveden Estates is appealing against Southwark Council's refusal to grant the proposed store planning permission last year. A public inquiry opened in March but was adjourned until May 21, giving the developers time to study traffic reports. Supporters of the club claim the club is in a financial crisis and will not survive unless it is relocated.

Although Mr Beasley does not want the club's demise, he is opposed to the Homebase scheme on the club's current site because it would mean rebuilding the club on nearby Southwark Council-owned Green Dales Playing Fields, which has Metropolitan Open Land Status.

He said: "I wrote in early April on behalf of four local amenity societies to challenge Cliveden Estates and other club supporters to put their money where their mouth is and bail out the club themselves, but have received no reply."

A spokesman for Cliveden Estates said the club would benefit financially by moving from its current premises which were too large for its needs.

Last year thousands of people in the neighbourhood expressed opposition to the proposed move by signing a 3000-strong petition.

April 28, 2003 16:30