The crowdfunder was launched in August to raise funds for a judicial review against the decision to approve the Spurs women’s academy at Whitewebbs Park, reports James Cracknell

A protest at Whitewebbs Park earlier this year

A crowdfunder launched this summer to raise funds for a fresh legal challenge against the women’s football academy planned at Whitewebbs Park has been deemed a “huge success”.

The Guardians of Whitewebbs group launched the fundraising campaign at the start of August following the news that Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan had rubber-stamped Enfield Council’s decision to approve planning permission to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

The group initially set out to raise £20,000, but after hitting this target increased their ambition to £30,000. With three days left of the crowdfunding appeal as of Thursday (2nd), nearly £28,000 has been raised.

“It is incredible really,” Guardians of Whitewebbs campaigner Benny Hawksbee told the Dispatch. “What has been amazing is that 850 people have made donations, which shows the community is really on our side on this.

“It is really encouraging, we have had hundreds of messages of support.

“The crowdfunder has been a huge success.”

Friends of Whitewebbs Park chair Sean Wilkinson previously led a judicial review case at the High Court against the council’s decision to award a 25-year lease for the park to Tottenham Hotspur, but the judge deemed the decision to be lawful in May 2024 following a three-day hearing earlier that year.

The Guardians of Whitwebbs case is different, as it will instead challenge the planning decision made by the council in February this year.

Spurs striker Bethany England told Enfield Civic Centre at that meeting that the plan for a women’s and girls’ football academy was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” that would help “inspire and nurture the very best talent”.

However, the plans involve fencing off 16 hectares of the park.

Supporting the Guardians of Whitewebbs legal challenge will be the Public Interest Law Centre, as well as environmental group CPRE.

The grounds for the case were submitted to the High Court two weeks ago. They claim, in summary, that the council “misled” the planning committee.

A council spokesperson said: “Enfield Council is confident that proper legal processes and procedures have been followed in the determination of the planning application and will vigorously defend the judicial review.”

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