When Hounslow Council's planning committee gave Brentford's plan to build a new stadium at Lionel Road the thumbs up last month, fans could have been forgiven for popping the champagne corks there and then.
However, as those who have been toiling away heroically on the scheme for years pointed out, the job is only half done, and the club have another huge obstacle to overcome this month before they can give the green light for diggers to move in on the plot of derelict railway land next to the M4 flyover.
For, although the local authority has given its official backing to the scheme, it must now also get rubber-stamped by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, before Bees fans can truly get ready to wave goodbye to the loveable but limited Griffin Park, and dream of a new stadium befitting the club's growing ambitions.
Last Friday (January 17), the planning application approved by Hounslow Council was passed to the office of Boris, who has until Thursday, January 30, to decide whether to approve or reject the application.
However, just as was the case when the plan went before the local authority, there is again a campaign being waged by opponents to the development, who are writing letters to the Mayor demanding he direct Hounslow Council to refuse the application.
Hounslow's planning committee saw the huge community and regeneration benefits the scheme would bring to the area. Hopefully Boris and his team will see this too – but the efforts of Brentford supporters will be crucial in this. A fantastic effort by them saw hundreds of emails and letters of support written to Hounslow Council for stage one – now they need to do the same foe stage two.
Brentford need ALL fans, regardless of where they live, to write in to show their support for the new stadium , which the club's supporters have worked so hard to secure over the past decade, and upon which it’s future depends.
There is not much time to act before Boris decides, so it is crucial to act NOW. You can do this by emailing your support to the Mayor Boris Johnson, Sir Edward Lister, and the Strategic Planner David Blankson-Hemans.
They can be reached at mayor@london.gov.uk , david.blankson-hemans@london.gov.uk and edward.lister@london.gov.uk .
You must include your full name and address and enter the following in the subject field – Brentford Community Stadium: Planning Application Reference No: P/2013/1811.
Get writing now, Bees fans, it could be the most important email you ever send!
