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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 4 July 2008

Arsenal ‘must rethink’ plan for Emirates sports centre

ARSENAL have been told by Islington to withdraw a consultation document that would have closed the door on a community sports centre close to the Emirates stadium.
The club have been told by the council to go back to the drawing board with plans to redevelop the site.
Islington’s planners were concerned that Arsenal’s proposed development was too large, and that proposals for a new multiplex cinema would have put the historic Holloway Odeon at risk.
The council has this week written to Arsenal FC outlining their concerns and saying that the application was likely to be turned down in its present form.
Councillor Terry Stacy, Lib Dem deputy leader of Islington said: “There has been considerable strength of feeling locally about various aspects of this development.
“We all want to get the Queensland Road development back on track as quickly as possible but with Arsenal and the local community working together to get the balance right for everyone.”
Ian Shacklock, who has collected a petition with more than 3,000 signatures in favour of a community sports centre on the site, said he was delighted by the move.
“This keeps the door open for a sports complex just when we thought all hope was lost,” he said.

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