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Urgent - take action by 6 Sept to protect The Valley

2

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  • usetobunkin
    usetobunkin Posts: 2,701
    All done, copied in , Clive Efford MP, 
    Also my ward councillor Matt Hartley. 
    ( Coldharbour)
  • Solidgone
    Solidgone Posts: 10,541
    Done.
  • Airman Brown
    Airman Brown Posts: 15,987
    edited August 29
    Covered End said:
    Sent mine, got the same reply.
    The local plan process is highly structured by legislation. I do know about this because I am the portfolio holder for strategic planning in Thanet. Each stage of the process is carefully defined in law. Ultimately, the council votes on the draft after the formal consultation and there is then an external examination stage at which the examiners decide whether the plan is compliant - that is, with current national planning guidance (which is a moving target), housing numbers set by a national formula and in London by the mayor, and is deliverable (doesn't allocate land for things which aren't likely to come forward).

    For example, Greenwich could not allocate The Valley for housing without the landowner putting it forward for that in the plan process (which would have to be publicly disclosed) and then would have to consider whether housing was deliverable there within the life of the plan. If an application for housing was made after the plan was adopted, it would be a departure from policy, which is usually enough for the council to turn it down. 

    Commenting is worthwhile as the council has to take comments into account. The examination will look at that. However, there are lots of other things it also has to take into account.

    In the meantime, it will only send out standard acknowledgements to all consultation responses, because anything else would risk prejudicing the statutory process. Ward councillors, but not the council, have more flexibility, but the drafting of the local plan is a very technical process and ultimately it will be recommended to council by cabinet for approval as a draft. I wouldn't expect much bespoke response in the meantime.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited August 29
    This content has been removed.
  • sammy391
    sammy391 Posts: 4,246
    Need something to do whilst on the way to The Valley?
    send your email! 
  • Fumbluff
    Fumbluff Posts: 10,686
    I was going to but then they banned my pencil case so they can fist themselves 
  • WHAddick
    WHAddick Posts: 1,403
    Email sent - AI was pretty good to be fair

  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 17,797
    Please keep sending the emails. Note it’s good if each adult within the household sends one separately. 

    CAST have had a supportive email from local MP Matt Pennycook who says he will be taking the matter up with the Council too. 
  • superdulvertonred
    superdulvertonred Posts: 1,316
    Sent mine no AI used 
  • mascot88
    mascot88 Posts: 10,308
    I've sent one anyway even though I live In Australia - Sprinkle a bit of international on the whole thing. 



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  • Blucher
    Blucher Posts: 4,429
    Done.

    I basically did a cut and paste of the excellent points made by CAST, with a couple of additional points:

    - although I now live outside the Borough, I used to live in Valiant House and have emphasised how the club’s return in 1992 served to reinvigorate the area and surrounding local businesses.

    - residents in the Borough benefit from     the excellent work undertaken by the Community Trust, which has been recognised by multiple  national awards.

    - the Women’s Team, recently promoted to the WSL, play all their home games at The Valley.

    The fact that we no longer own the ground is a concern and underscores the importance of the Local Development Plan.
  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 17,797
    Six days to get your comments in. While it’s better if you can compose your own, here’s a template that can be personalised and submitted if you are very short on time.

    Email it to Local-Plan-Consultation@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

    Dear Sir / Madam,
    The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton - Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan Representation
    I am writing to you in connection with the above to set out my full support for the representation submitted by the Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust.
    I am a Charlton supporter / season ticket holder [*delete as appropriate"] and have been going to watch matches at The Valley for XX years. The Valley is significant to the Club's history and is of substantial importance to the surrounding area and Royal Greenwich in general given the vast social, economic, sporting and cultural benefits it brings.
    I am deeply concerned to read that it is the Council's proposal to weaken existing planning policy protection for The Valley and strongly object to the Local Plan on that basis.
    I fully support the proposal advanced by the Supporters' Trust and note it is also supported by the Club. I urge the Council to update its Local Plan in accordance with Trust's recommendation.
    Kind regards,
    XXXXXX
    Address

  • jbcafc
    jbcafc Posts: 420
    Email sent.
  • Pelling1993
    Pelling1993 Posts: 8,172
    Also did mine this morning. Will get the old man to do one too.
  • KingKinsella
    KingKinsella Posts: 1,521
    CafcWest said:
    It might be useful if @castrust could compose a template email that could be copied and used to email the council.  I think more people would then be inclined to use the template and make minor adjustments to personal thoughts/details (e.g. length of time they've been a supporter, where they travel from, personal thoughts, etc.).

    Just an idea.
    They thought of that -Look at their post  on their  site- they have one to copy
  • KingKinsella
    KingKinsella Posts: 1,521
    As I don't live in Greenwich I pointed out how much I spend in pubs and restaurants after the game
  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 17,797
    KingKinsella said:
    CafcWest said:
    It might be useful if @castrust could compose a template email that could be copied and used to email the council.  I think more people would then be inclined to use the template and make minor adjustments to personal thoughts/details (e.g. length of time they've been a supporter, where they travel from, personal thoughts, etc.).

    Just an idea.
    They thought of that -Look at their post  on their  site- they have one to copy
    Or even quicker, copy it from my post just a couple above on here. 

    Do keep on emailing and encouraging your friends and family to do so too. 
  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 32,429
    Dear Sir / Madam,

    The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton - Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan Representation
    I am writing to you in connection with the above to set out my full support for the representation submitted by the Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust.
    I am a Charlton supporter  and have been going to watch matches at The Valley for 63 years. The Valley is significant to the Club's history and is of substantial importance to the surrounding area and Royal Greenwich in general given the vast social, economic, sporting and cultural benefits it brings.

    I have attended matches at The Valley, as mentioned for 63 years. My great grandfather, grandfather, grandmother and father, dependent on age, attended since 1919 up to and beyond 1963 when I first attended. My daughters and grandsons also attend. The Valley is therefore significant to my family and its history too. I know for a fact that there are many families with links and personal history spanning the 107 years of The Valley's existence which is an added reason, beyond the Club itself, for The Valley to be protected. Many families have members whose ashes are laid to rest in the Memorial Garden for example.

    I am deeply concerned to read that it is the Council's proposal to weaken existing planning policy protection for The Valley and strongly object to the Local Plan on that basis.

    I fully support the proposal advanced by the Supporters' Trust and note it is also supported by the Club. I urge the Council to update its Local Plan in accordance with Trust's recommendation.

    Kind regards

    PS I was forced to leave the London Borough of Greenwich in order to afford to purchase a home for my family. Nevertheless I, and family members return for matches and support local businesses when we do.

    For this reason, as well as those expounded above, I consider my objection to be valid.

    Above is the email I have sent which takes the CAST template and adds one or two personalised bits. The subject of my email was: The Valley, Home of Charlton Athletic Football Club Since 1919.

    I posted this as it may facilitate others both covering the CAST points and adding personal considerations.

    Hope it is helpful to some if not please ignore.
  • Arthur_Trudgill
    Arthur_Trudgill Posts: 634
    Sent.
  • jams
    jams Posts: 1,264
    Pennycook is also the minister for planning and I think is generally well across his brief so any supportive words from him would I imagine be helpful 

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  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 17,797
    edited September 3
    Pennycook has emailed CAST to say he is taking the matter up with the council. Helps that he is an Addick - and no doubt is keen to show his football credentials to his new boss!

    Thanks again to all who have emailed. Please do get on with it if you haven’t yet!
  • Killarahales
    Killarahales Posts: 1,205
    Just done. Only two days to go, so please get writing asap if you haven't already!
  • TootingRedArmy
    TootingRedArmy Posts: 628
    edited September 4
    Just sent my email in, I really do hope the whole Valley saga can be resolved with Roland and that Greenwich Council make sure it is protected for the future. 
    I have a dread that Roland and his family are holding onto the ownership of the Valley in the hope he can sell the land to developers. 
    I kept going to Selhurst & Upton Park for all those years always in the  hope we would return to The Valley. I have no wish to see Charlton play their home games at any other ground but The Valley. 
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,716
    I couldn't resist reminding them of the  Valley Party, since it seems to me that some of them might have thought that enough water has passed under the bridge. I pointed out that  nearly 15,000 Greenwich votes was almost 3x the number going to watch Charlton at the time, and now we are at 20,000+ and take nearly 40,000 to Wembley, so they can do the maths...

    As for the idea that somehow a lot of us are no longer Greenwich residents, I wrote "The Cutty Sark brings visitors to Greenwich. Once. The Valley brings Greenwich people home. "
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 33,441
    Sent, used AI, removed some of its slightly over emotional inclusions, added some personal touches. Presume the minute someone at Greenwich Council reads my masterpiece they’ll give us everything we want, 
  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 17,797
    Thanks everyone and to Admin for the sticky. If you’ve not emailed in yet, there’s still time - you have till Sunday at 11.59pm.

    Heres all the info again in a handy link:

    https://www.castrust.org/2026/09/six-days-left-to-protect-the-valley/


  • DOUCHER
    DOUCHER Posts: 9,199
    done, got the following reply: 

    Thank you for contacting the Royal Greenwich Local Plan Consultation inbox. We will be in touch to confirm receipt of any representations made to the consultation or answer any questions you have raised.

  • LoOkOuT
    LoOkOuT Posts: 11,231
    Done. Thanks for raising this.
  • The Prince-e-Paul
    The Prince-e-Paul Posts: 6,966
    Done. Got reply. 
  • cantersaddick
    cantersaddick Posts: 18,906
    Have sent an email.

    Cannot emphasise enough that if you are a RBG resident to highlight that at the start and put your full name and address at the end. They will cross reference and so if you are a resident who can vote I'm local election it will make a huge difference.

    That reminds me that Clive Efford has been ignoring me. Best go send him another email.

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