Veterans declare war on Chelsea’s planned £2billion stadium revamp
CHELSEA’s £2 billion stadium revamp has been put on hold after old soldiers declared war on the plan.
Club bosses need to buy a £50 million plot next to the stadium to develop and extend the Stamford Bridge site.
News Group Newspapers LtdChelsea’s £2 billion stadium revamp has been put on hold after old soldiers declared war on the plan[/caption]
But the land includes the historic Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions where around 100 military veterans and war widows live – and many are battling to stay put.
Vets have now applied for an injunction to stop the Stoll charity trustees who run the block from selling it.
Documents seen by The Sun state that the sale “will diminish the local community and harm residents, many of whom are vulnerable and all of whom have served their country.”
Stoll resident Geoffrey Reed applied to Wandsworth County Court for an injunction to remain in place until the trustees have shown they have properly “discharged their duties.”
The legal block is a major blow to American tycoon Todd Boehly’s ambitious plans to transform The Blues’ west London home.
Military pensioners living at the 1.2-acre site said they would refuse to leave if given their marching orders.
One of the youngest army veterans, Matthew Bignell, 36, said: “People here won’t leave. They’ll have to be taken to court and get eviction notices.
“I’m in a position where I can physically and financially afford to leave but I probably won’t to show support for the other tenants.”
The two-acre site backs onto Stamford Bridge and the deal would pave the way for a full-scale rebuild of the ground, boosting capacity from 42,000 to 55,000.
Mr Boehly’s plans also include two giant sculptures of lions – the Chelsea emblem – outside Stamford Bridge.
The veterans’ planning block creates a new headache for the tycoon after moves to relocate the club’s stadium to Battersea were red carded by angry fans.
