CAST is calling on fans to submit email comments to the Council to protect the club’s future at The Valley under the new Local Development Plan - deadline for comments is 6 September.

Please take action urgently as outlined below - this is a numbers game so do send in individual emails by the deadline on Sunday. Include your full name and address and do highlight your address if you live within RBG. This is a once in 10 years opportunity to ensure the Council takes notice.

Royal Borough of Greenwich is currently undertaking a second round of consultation on the new Local Development Plan. Once adopted, this plan will shape planning and development decisions over the coming 10 years or more. CAST, with the support of the club, is submitting a detailed response via planning consultancy 4TY Planning, led by former CAST board member Mark Batchelor. The new plan as proposed provides no protection for The Valley and its curtilage beyond noting it as a “public destination”. This is even weaker than the existing local plan.

CAST recently met with local councillors on the matter and they agreed to give consideration to a policy to protect  The Valley as a sporting and cultural asset to the borough. We are proposing the following policy, which has been drafted in consultation with the club:

“The Council will support The Valley as the home stadium of Charlton Athletic Football Club and will support the Club’s long-term provision of a sustainable, fit-for-purpose stadium within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Development at or affecting The Valley should protect and enhance the Club’s long-term future and should not prejudice the improvement, expansion, redevelopment or appropriate reprovision of the Club’s stadium facilities.”

1. Deadline: 6^th September at 11:59pm
2. Email comments to: Local-Plan-Consultation@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
3. Email subject: The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton - Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan Representation
4. Points to consider including:
   1. The Valley has been the Club's home stadium since 1919
   2. Focal point for community interaction
   3. Cherished by supporters of CAFC in Greenwich and further afield
   4. Brings significant economic, cultural and social value to Greenwich
   5. Concerned that the existing policy protections are being weakened
   6. Important for the Club and The Valley to be properly acknowledged and protected in the new Local Plan
   7. Fully endorse the formal representation made by CAST

For a copy of CAST’s full representation please email secretary@castrust.org. It includes local examples of how other councils recognise and protect their football clubs and their stadia, not least our two local rivals.

Now do go and write that email and let’s get the Council to take notice.