Kentish Football 
Wands could go out of existence if planning consent is not granted, warns secretary Kerry Phillips
The Ryman Premier League club want to build a new stadium at Sandy Lane in St Paul’s Cray and could face the possibility of being homeless if their plans aren’t passed as their lease at Bromley’s Hayes Lane ground runs out in two years’ time.
Mr Phillips has issued a rallying cry for support from residents, supporters and the Kentish Football family to back their bid in returning home.
He said: “We are endeavouring to raise interest amongst the residents and all football minded persons, asking them to contact the planning department and register their approval in the comments box of the Council page.
“We only have until the end of August to get as many people as possible sending in positive comments.
“If you have friends, relatives, colleagues etc living within the Borough of Bromley please ask them to help Cray Wanderers by sending their comments of approval to the planning department as well.
“The Council will take more interest of local comment, although everyone counts, wherever it comes from, as Councillors are careful not to upset their own constituents when voting is imminent!”
Mr Phillips has issued the following rallying cry to keep The Wands - The Second Oldest Football Club in the World – having been founded in 1860 alive.
He said: “We have submitted a Planning Application to Bromley Council to build a football stadium in Sandy Lane, St Paul’s Cray, Orpington, Kent.
“The stadium development will also include sports, leisure, retail and residential features that we believe will help to bring much needed regeneration to the Cray’s – an area that is overdue for consideration by the Bromley Council.
“It will bring the community together as never before. It will help reduce crime by getting young people involved in activities they would otherwise not dream of doing. The community of this whole area will receive a major lift in morale and potential.
“At a time of economic depression both locally and globally, the development will generate financial investment into the Crays. It will create jobs for local people and it will benefit the local community, as well as the Bromley Borough.
“Please help us to achieve the granting of consent to this project by the Bromley Council planning department, by using the link below and giving them your comments as to why this development should go ahead.”
Here are some suggestions you may wish to take into account when writing your comments to the planning department:
1) The land designated for this development is currently a redundant piece of wasteland next to a noisy motorway.
2) This development could be the catalyst for regeneration of the area. The Crays are desperately crying out for regeneration. It will bring about a brighter future, a renewed sense of pride and community spirit together with facilities to instigate a vastly improved feeling of well-being to the next generation of young people growing up in the Crays area.
3) It is a sobering thought that the Crays has the lowest life expectancy in the whole of Greater London. This development can help redress and improve that position by heightening the fitness levels of local people.
4) This is a socially considerable and responsible planning proposal that contains every endeavour to comply with the Greater London Authority requirements for the environment, traffic, noise, light etc. The vision for the new stadium is based on Dartford’s new stadium, which has proven to be a massive success, bringing an increase in civic pride and a refreshed feeling of energy to the residents of Dartford. The building of Princes Park Stadium has helped to reduce crime and graffiti. We believe it would do the same in the Crays.
5) Cray Wanderers Football Club is the second oldest football club in the world and the oldest in London. Currently without a proper base in the Crays, the club needs to return to where it originated over 150 years ago.
6) The Kent County Cricket Club recently gained planning permission from Bromley Council for a new stand and facilities on Green Park land in Beckenham with a new housing development to pay for them. So, if it’s good enough for Beckenham why would it not be good enough for Cray?
Mr Phillips summed up the situation perfectly, saying, “The famous Cray Wanderers Football Club could go out of existence if planning consent is not granted as the current lease with Bromley Football Club at Hayes Lane runs out in 2014.”
He added: “Please, go onto the Link below and back our application, ask your friends and neighbours to do so as well.
“We are aware that the Council will take close notice of local comments so if you have relations and friends who live in, or close to, this area, please ask them to help us, too.
“Ask them to contact their friends and neighbours. We need this to escalate to such an extent that the Council will not wish to turn down this application.
“This project has endless benefits to offer the community, please help us to achieve our objectives.
“Thank you for reading this and thank you for submitting positive comments on the Council website through the link below.”
http://searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=M3E1EGBT0GG00.
When you have finished your comments, please be sure to tick the “send me a reply email” box and forward a copy to Kerry Phillips at kerryphillips@hotmail.com.
Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk
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