Housing association said staff in fear for personal safety
Housing association L&Q has cancelled consultation events for a 320-home London development after staff were subjected to “threats” and “aggressive behaviour” by campaigners.
L&Q claims campaigners insulted staff during a consultation event over plans to replace a former greyhound track at Walthamstow Stadium with a residential development, leaving the staff in fear for their personal safety.
Opposition group Save our Stow refuted the claims in a statement on the campaign group website: “SOS would like to publically say that we totally refute L&Q’s claims that we have threatened or insulted any of their staff in anyway [sic].”
L&Q says the Waltham Forest scheme would bring 320 one, two, three and four bedroom homes to the area, as well as allotments and community and leisure facilities.
Objectors include London mayor Boris Johnson and local MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Stella Creasy, who argue the site should return to greyhound racing. Both Duncan Smith and Creasy were due to attend the consultation event tonight, according to Save our Stow. Johnson said on Tuesday that it was “lamentable” that iconic stadia had been forced to close, and urged Londoners to help preserve stadia in active use for dog racing.”
In a statement L&Q said its staff had been sent ‘increasingly aggressive messages’ by SoS.
Steve Yianni, L&Q Regional director, said: “It is with deep regret that we are postponing these events but we cannot put our own staff’s personal safety at risk from those who oppose our plans for redevelopment of the area.”
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