In response to the comments made by Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy that the club plan to leave N17 even if their bid for the Olympic Stadium fails, David Lammy (MP for Tottenham) said:
“I find it shocking that Daniel Levy is trying to hold North London to ransom by saying ‘give me the Olympic Stadium, or else’. He has clearly decided that the club is too posh for Tottenham. That is a disgrace.
“Daniel Levy is treating Spurs fans, Tottenham residents and London taxpayers with contempt. All of us deserve more respect than this.
“Spurs were granted permission to redevelop White Hart Lane just three months ago. Daniel Levy didn’t complain in October that staying in Tottenham was unviable. What has changed in the last three months? If Tottenham was good enough in October, why isn’t it good enough now?
“If Daniel Levy wants to discuss White Hart Lane with me, he only has to pick up the phone. Releasing glib statements to the media is no way to treat the fans of a magnificent club and the residents of a great city. We deserve better than this.”
The redevelopment of White Hart Lane remains cheaper than the similar development by Arsenal F.C. at the Emirates Stadium. The planning obligations (i.e. the Section 106 agreement) of the Northumberland Development Project (the redevelopment of White Hart Lane) are thought to be in the region of £15 million - £17 million, whereas Arsenal F.C. paid upwards of £60 million for a new waste incinerator alone and £7.6 million to improve the areas transport links.
