Premier League giants spark furious protests over plans to build £2m sports facility on ‘beautiful’ ancient woodland

Tottenham Hotspur have sparked anger among local residents after unveiling plans to build a £2million sports facility in an area of ‘beautiful’ ancient woodland.

The club are constructing a new women’s academy, featuring a clubhouse and 11 pitches, in Whitewebbs Park in Enfield, north London.

Enfield Council and City Hall have approved Spurs’ plans but they have attracted the fury of residents, who are campaigning against the construction and fear it will destroy the local area.

One campaigner, Caroline Day, accused the club of ‘using the growing interest in women’s football as an excuse to destroy a park’.

‘In every way ethically, they are lacking compared with the other clubs,’ she told Metro.

Those opposed to the project claim 16 hectares of green space will be lost, along with rare species of wildlife and vegetation, as a result of the plans, with Spurs aiming to develop an area previously used as a golf course.

The club are aiming to build a new facility including a clubhouse and 11 pitches in Whitewebbs Park

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They also point out how the club’s main training ground, Hotspur Way, is located close to Whitewebbs Park.

A crowdfunder aiming to raise £30,000 to fight the plans has been launched. Some of those who have joined it are Spurs fans who claim they will be giving up their memberships with the club unless they perform a dramatic u-turn.

A total of £23,000 has been generated so far and there are still two weeks remaining on the crowdfunder. 

The campaign group Guardian of Whitewebb have already taken Spurs to the High Court after arguing the development would have no benefit to the community.

‘A lot of our supporters are Spurs fans who feel let down by a club they have put so much energy into supporting,’ added Ms Day.

In a statement reported by The Sun, Tottenham said the project would ‘improve local access to nature and habitats, and provide new facilities for visitors, community groups, and sports clubs’.