THE STOW: Chandlers accused of betrayal at SOS march

12:51pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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ACCUSATIONS of betrayal and deception were levelled at Walthamstow Stadium's Chandler family at a Save our Stow protest march.

The Chandlers were accused of putting profit before people as stonyfaced protestors heard they had made a pre-sale agreement a year ago despite insisting there was no deal on the table.

The details of the "option to buy" contract, revealed by the Guardian on this website on Friday has angered trainers and staff at Walthamstow Stadium.

They say they were given assurances by the Chandler family that the future of the track was secure for at least the foreseeable future.

Walthamstow and Chingford MPs Neil Gerrard and Iain Duncan Smith were also kept in the dark.

SOS spokesman Rick Holloway also told the crowd of around 150 people that The Stow had been touted around all the major developers but not offered to the industry.

Mr Gerrard said the news had come “out of the blue” at the march on Saturday afternoon.

“It doesn’t feel nice when you hear that,” he said.

“I’ve been going there 25 years so I’m a bit sad really, a lot sad. It’s part of Walthamstow, it’s something that people remember Walthamstow by and recognise Walthamstow by so it really does matter.”

Mr Duncan Smith added: “They told us both there were no deals done. What they wanted to do was run this place down as fast as they could and that’s been the saddest part of it.”

He called on the council to get off the fence, saying it was running away from the issue and should have a view.

Amid shouts of Save our Stow, brandishing banners and wearing SOS t-shirts the marchers walked on Waltham Forest Town Hall to deliver a 15,000 signature petition.

The protestors want the council to refuse planning permission for housing on the site.

They hope this will make it more likely The Stow's new owners will sell to the SOS consortium, which wants to continue racing there.

Millionaire Richard Codd, part of the SOS consortium said he felt like he had been “run around the mulberry bush”.

“In the cold, hard light of day if you put cash before people it's a sad, sad day.” he said. “I'll run it to make a profit but I'd put people first.”

Managing director, Jack Chandler, refused to be drawn on the claims, saying the family were forced to sell because of falling attendances.

He added that SOS had a very good press team and it would be difficult to compete.