Residents Meet Over New RFU Stand

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Sep 2003

Residents near the rugby ground are meeting next Tuesday (14 September) at Chase Bridge School to discuss the forthcoming planning applications for the South Stand, now likely to be considered by the council at its October meeting. MP Vincent Cable will chair the meeting and several local

residents groups, the RFU, councillors, council officials and Twickenham amenity societies are being invited.

Vincent Cable, MP, said that there were two sets of issues which concern residents: "the first is the impact on several hundred residents in the immediate vicinity of the ground who will have a large new structure towering over them. No one disputes, even the RFU, that they will suffer substantial disruption."

"Some of those I have talked to are hoping for some form of compensation. I have put to the RFU the proposal that the

hotel and leisure complex components of the stand be relocated to the north end but the RFU has rejected this on grounds of costs: There is clearly a big problem for the RFU's neighbours".

"Second, there is the wider impact. Here, there is a balance to be struck. The new stand will bring on extra 8,000 spectators on match days with associated congestion. On the other hand, there will be some useful social amenities in the new development like a new hall for concerts. My impression is that Twickenham opinion is very divided over the overall

benefits which the RFU brings to Twickenham."

"I would say that the RFU has handled its consultation with the community in a much more professional way than in earlier controversial decisions. But this still leaves several hundred local people - perhaps more - seriously disadvantaged".