Campaign against proposed stadium and commercial development at Harlington, Bedfordshire

The Campaign for Sustainable Harlington (CaSH) is an action group made up of Harlington residents to oppose proposals to build a new 25,000 seat stadium for Luton Town Football Club and a substantial 200 acre commercial distribution development - one and quarter times the size of Harlington itself.

Things you should know:
· This is a commercial bid for precious greenbelt land, dressed up as a new home for the local football team with unnecessary and unwanted ‘community’ facilities.

· This development is larger than Harlington itself; it and its activities will swamp the village.

· Football and other stadium traffic might avoid the motorway and public transport and come through Harlington.

· Football fans won’t pay parking prices at the stadium; they will park in your road. Futhermore, only 1,250 parking places are planned for a 25,000 seat stadium.

· An estimated 3,000 lorries a day could drive in and out of the warehousing development 24/7.

· Lorries will cut through the village especially when traffic problems occur on the M1

· On match days or concert days, you will have to queue to get into and out of your village.

· The value of your property will go down and you will find it difficult to sell should you wish to move.

· You will be able to hear football crowds and concert crowds - weekends and week days.

· You will see an increase in anti-social behaviour in the village.

· You will be able to see the 100 ft hotel tower from many points in the village, including from your homes.

· 98% of Harlington residents have said they will not use the community facilities on offer

· Only 12% of the UK is now greenbelt. It is increasingly being lost to developers for commercial gain.

· LTFC struggle to get 7,000 fans to a match. If the stadium at J12 goes ahead, it needs to attract 25,000. The club is losing over £2m a year; it’s been relegated and is being investigated by the FA.