Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has led calls for the compulsory purchase of Millwall’s land around The Den to be abandoned after revelations in the Guardian about the handling of the scheme.
In the last few days it has emerged that the charity at the heart of the project, the Surrey Canal Sports Foundation, has made a false claim of a major funding agreement with Sport England. Questions have also been raised about the award of half a million pounds of public money to the charity by Lewisham council.
Lewisham has now opened an internal inquiry after its own scrutiny business panel expressed “alarm” over the council’s conduct and the relationship with the offshore-registered developer Renewal.
In related developments the leader of Southwark council, Peter John, a trustee of the sports charity at the heart of the development and a powerful long-term backer, has expressed doubts about the workings of the scheme.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a fellow director, has already resigned from the charity’s board. It has also emerged that the Charity Commission is assessing concerns about the foundation, whose directors include the mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock.
“This compulsory purchase process must be halted,” Farron said. “All those involved must answer the serious concerns and questions that more and more people have. The council must start working with Millwall not against it.”
“It is extraordinary how many concerns and claims are emerging as this compulsory purchase process goes forward. What must not be lost is what is at the centre of this – a football club at the heart of its community, a football Community Trust which serves thousands of people. Lewisham Labour councillors must now put their community first. These harmful plans should be stopped now.”
The most recent revelations come on the back of gathering doubts about the current New Bermondsey scheme, under which Millwall’s land around The Den would be sold on to offshore-registered developers Renewal, a move that could threaten Millwall’s future in its historical home.
The swell of opposition has cut across the political divide. Southwark council leader John wrote on Twitter. “There should not be a choice between Millwall FC and their great community work and new homes and [the] project from Renewal. On that basis I’ve supported Renewal and [the Surrey Canal] Sports Trust. But cannot support either if Millwall FC community trust work put at risk.”
Ross Archer, chairman of Lewisham Deptford Conservatives, said: “The more I hear about the Millwall CPO the more the scheme stinks. The stories coming out regarding this issue are horrendous, no more so than this latest one.
“The council needs to stop this scheme, and there are now more grounds for the Department for Communities and Local Government to step in and take this decision out of the council hands.”
Simon Hughes, former Liberal Democrat MP in Southwark and trustee of the Millwall community trust, has also watched the development closely. Hughes was also unequivocal: “Many of us around Millwall have been clear that the sports foundation and Renewal were over-promising and would at best under-deliver.
“The money from Sport England or other national funds, and the guarantees of money for sports activities as part of the plans have always looked shaky at best.
“The latest confirmation of this from the Guardian is another reason why the council should call a halt to the current plan and start talking to the club and the trust, rather than threatening them.”
The Millwall director Peter Garston was equally damning, while assuring fans that club owner John Berylson would see the fight through, even if it means taking the increasingly beleaguered proceedings to judicial review.
“This revelation certainly gives me hope that this scheme will not be seen through. How can it be with so many questions surrounding it?
“I’ve been to virtually every council meeting regarding this scheme and found the tone of the responses to questions I and other supporters and local residers have raised to be very dismissive. It’s time now for those responsible to give us the complete truth regarding this matter.”