Fans show their support for Bees stadium plan

6:22pm Wednesday 12th December 2001

I do hope that your newspaper will be able to support the new stadium plans of Barnet Football Club and keep the team in the borough.

Football regulations not of the club's making mean that the current ground is not suitable. The development of south Underhill remains the only option to guarantee the survival of the club.

Unlike the present ground, local residents will benefit from a modern, tasteful design that blends into, rather than dominates, the landscape.

The borough of Barnet should be proud of the football club, pleased that it has a chairman with the ambition that will see us with not only a state-of-the-art stadium but a facility that can only enhance the reputation of the community it serves.

Mike, Shirley, Mathew and Jenny Smit

|Selby, Yorkshire (former Barnet residents)

I write in response to the letter from a representative of the local Green Party which queried why Barnet had not sought to redevelop Underhill within its existing footprint (Ruining our towns', Times Letters, November 29).

This idea is a complete non-starter. It was the first option considered by the club, but was found to be completely unworkable back in 1995.

This was also acknowledged by the Department of Environment in 1999 and is the reason why Barnet FC has, for the last seven years, been investigating suitable sites for a new stadium.

I find it incredible to hear the term 'corporate excess' used to describe a project which includes a community arts centre, new facilities for local youth groups and assures the survival of a much-loved local football team.

Barnet Football Club needs a new home to ensure its survival and the Barnet Lane redevelopment offers the opportunity for the club to do so while preserving its local ties and benefitting other groups in the community.

John Lewis

Strafford Road, Barnet

I wish to state my 100 per cent support for this venture.

The new facility will do much for local business and will keep Barnet on the map. The cricket club will relocate with little difficulty.

With regard to traffic issues, people must understand there is a period of two to three hours once every seven to ten days.

Try to consider the wider benefits. The properties around the current ground are fairly basic and the design of the new stadium is superb.

I think the chairman deserves a medal for the commitment he has shown to Barnet Football Club. It is time the local community gave him some support.

Howard Olivere

Gloucester Road, New Barnet

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