Five residents' associations are opposing the East Croydon Gateway scheme because they do not believe transport infrastructure could cater for the thousands of people an arena would bring to the area.

The associations, which represent 4,300 households in East Croydon, have written a letter to the council urging it to re-think the proposed site for the controversial arena and to make a final decision on the preferred development.

The council has stated in the past it would prefer Arrowcroft's 12,500 seater arena for the Gateway development.

However rival Stanhope/Schro-der has other plans for the site, which consist of a smaller arena, housing and offices.

Stanhope/Schroder also own part of the Croydon Gateway land adding to the complications of the saga, which has been going on since the 1990s.

Steve Collins, chairman of the Canning and Clyde Road Residents Association in Addiscombe, said there is no real infrastructure to support the number of people which will be using the arena regularly.

He has been joined in support by nearby residents associations including Morland Park, Whitgift Estate, HOME, Park Hill and the Croydon Society to urge Mike Fisher to decide.

The letter, sent to council leader Mike Fisher earlier this month says: "We have serious concerns about a large flexible use arena at the Gateway site - in particular transport issues, which impact on the scheme's viability."

The groups claim that despite previous requests to the council for detailed information on how crowds will travel to and from the arena, nothing has been received.

The letter continues: "We are stunned that there is no plain English management transport review that must underpin any viable business plan for this 12,500 seat arena scheme."

The residents associations claim they are continually fobbed off by the council and feel that the impact of the arena on the areas that they represent is impossible to assess without the information they have requested.

The letter concludes: "Without information on the transport plan we will continue to oppose it. There is concern about the consequences on taxpayers and the environment if the arena fails to attract suitable income and is then closed down."

A council spokesman said: "A traffic analysis has examined implications on travel and concluded that the numbers can be properly managed.

"We acknowledge that a project of this scale may cause apprehension among residents. We will ensure that those responsible for developing the Gateway site will liaise closely with community groups over all aspects of the scheme."

l What do you think? Write to us at the address on Page 2 or email newsdesk@ croydonguardian.co.uk.