Campaigners have urged Richmond Council to take out a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in a bid to save Udney Park from development.
It is currently locked and its pavilion in a state of disrepair as the row continues. Only some small-scale sports have been allowed.
The Imperial Sports Ground, Udney Park has been the centre of a dispute after being sold by Imperial College for £6m in 2015. It is currently under offer but both Savills and Quantum, have declined to comment on the detail of the offer.
The campaigners claim that the only offer submitted, prior to tender closing, is from a consortium led by Thamesians Rugby Club.
The response from Quantum said that there are a number of interested parties whilst not providing any detail.
These may include Goals or The Chelsea Foundation but the latter seems less likely as Roman Abramovich has put the Chelsea up for sale.
Richmond have set a precedent for using a CPO to deal with the future of public spaces with the Twickenham Riverside CPO.
The Friends of Udney Park would therefore support a CPO with the purpose of setting up a community-based charity to run the site.
The May Local Elections will bring the subject to a head in Richmond and the trust are urging residents to question the intentions of the councillors standing seeking their support for the CPO.
Come June 2022 the future if Udney Park will become clearer.
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