Hammers split over Newham council’s U-turn on statue

West Ham supporters are split right down the middle whether the World Cup statue on the corner of Barking Road and Green Street should move to Stratford close to the London Stadium or stay where it is close to the where the Boleyn Ground once stood.

With over 1,848 voting 926 (50.1%)  want it to move to the vacant purpose built plinth outside the London Stadium while 9222 (49.9%) want it to stay where it is as a permanent reminder.

Last week Newham council overturned a previous promise to move to the World Cup statue featuring Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters from Barking road to the London Stadium.

Former Newham Mayor Robin Wales and his cabinet agreed the statue could be moved and a plinth was created outside the Stadium with planning permission granted approved. The statue originally cost £725,000 to commission jointly by Newham and West Ham with £325,000 coming directly from West Ham and £400,000 from a government grant. Newham council paid for the base.

Wales was ousted as Newham mayor earlier this year to be replaced Rokhsana Fiaz and one of her election promises to Newham residents was to keep the statue where it is. Whatever happens, the statue will need to move when the traffic junction is re-designed.

West Ham reportedly offered Newham council a six-figure sum to move it but this offer was rejected and last week the new Newham Mayor and her Cabinet agreed to keep the Champions sculpture at its current location in what insiders call a politically motivated decision.

For those who want to speak to the new Newham Mayor about the Statue decision, she can be contacted by Email at rokhsana.fiaz@newham.gov.uk   or via Twitter at @RokhsanaFiaz