Villagers have cast scorn on an announcement by Wasps Rugby Football Club that it has secured land to build a new stadium in their midst.

The club announced on Wednesday it had obtained a 10-year-option on land “in the South East near London” - presumed to be in Swanley.

The exact site wasn’t specified, but it is assumed by many to be either Pedham Place Golf Course or the nearby Petham Court Farm, as the club had proposed both sites to Sevenoaks District Council for inclusion in its upcoming Local Plan review as suitable for a 28,000-seat stadium.

But a stadium at either location has previously been stoutly opposed by villagers in Farningham, Eynsford and Crockenhill, who fear the effect such an influx of visitors would have on their rural road network, as well as being angry at the potential loss of countryside.

The campaign group Bees Not Wasps responded by saying: “An option is a conditional agreement to purchase something - an example being an agreement to purchase land if planning permission is granted.

“We believe this announcement by Wasps is part of a narrative to make the outcome seem more certain than it actually is, ahead of the next publication of the Local Plan and comment period in 2025.”

Su Hewitt, the campaign leader for No Pedham New Town, said: “This announcement has come as both a surprise and a shock.”

“Everyone thought they [Wasps] had gone away. We didn’t expect the stadium plan to rear its ugly head again.

“A previous document in the preparation of the draft Sevenoaks Local Plan 2040 suggested that the stadium could only be allowed at Pedham Place if there were also at least 2,500 houses, and that seems increasingly unlikely with the new government regulations protecting AONBs (now named National Landscapes).

“We understand the stadium on its own can’t be built - and the housing seems less likely than before.

“If the stadium were built here, it would be a disaster for our local roads.

“The other day, it took a friend five hours to get from Rochester to Hexatable, a distance of just 18 miles, with the traffic congestion as it is.”

“If the stadium were to add its traffic, people would just no longer be able to get to work.”

Mrs Hewitt said: “Previously, the Wasps have argued that Pedham Place would be a sustainable location, because their supporters could come by train to Swanley Station. But the station is not within walking distance of Pedham Place.”

Cllr Vince Robson is the chairman of Eynsford Parish Council. He said: “We are not far from the Brands Hatch racecourse and we already know how such a development as a stadium would affect our village.

“It would be just north of J3 on the M25, which is already often gridlocked.

“When there’s a race on at Brands Hatch, we become effectively prisoners in our village - you can’t get in or out because of the traffic.”

“KCC and National Highways are already concerned about this and I don’t think they support the idea of a stadium at all.

“Of course, it would be fantastic to have the club in Kent - but not at this location.

“Besides, the Wasps’ average gate was about 8,500. They have talked of a 28,000-seat stadium and our fear is that they will seek to derive income from putting it to other uses (such as pop concerts) - so we will end up putting up with extra traffic far more often than just on a match weekend.”

Cllr Robson added: “I’m not aware that Wasps has carried out any local consultation.”

“We still don’t really know what they intend. We need them to be far more transparent.”

KentOnline contacted the Wasps to discover exactly where the land was that the club had obtained an option on. There was no response.

There is a meeting of the Sevenoaks District Council Development and Conservation Advisory Committee on Thursday, December 5, where councillors will discuss the next stage of the Local Plan.

Protesters plans to be at the meeting to make their opposition to the stadium known.

It starts at 7pm and is at the council chambers in Argyle Road, Sevenoaks.

However, not everyone is opposed to a Wasps stadium in the area.

Joe Robinson is a Swanley resident who plays for Swanley RFC and is editor of Rugby World magazine.

Not surprisingly, he can see the advantages of a Wasps’ move.

He said: “From a rugby perspective, they should have moved to Kent 15 or 20 years ago.

“London Wasps, as they were known back then, were one of the biggest clubs in professional rugby.”

“And the fact that they went into administration in 2022 is a huge story that didn’t get spoken about as much as it should have been.

“They’re a side that won six premiership titles - three on the bounce - and two European cups. Their demise was akin to Arsenal or Chelsea going bust.

“If they had moved to Kent 20 years ago - and there was talk of ground-sharing with Charleton FC for example at The Valley - they would probably have future-proofed themselves financially.

“Instead they ended up with £95m of debt and effectively being wound up.”

Now under the new ownership of Chris Hollands, the club has applied to return to the second tier of English rugby in the 25/26 season.

I think it would be a net positive

Mr Robinson said: “That is under consideration. The big question is whether Christopher Holland can generate the revenue to resurrect Wasps as a professional club.

“And they have suggested with this 10-year option that they want to build a new ground and stadium from scratch.

“The problem is there isn’t the huge sponsorship available to rugby clubs that there is to football. So I think it’s very much still up in the air.”

But Mr Robinson was certain that a new stadium would be good for the area.

He said: “We’ve never had a professional rugby club in Kent, so it could be huge from a community standpoint - especially for Swanley.

“It would open up all sorts of opportunities.

“I know there is a lot of opposition, but I think it would be a net positive.

“It could really help society come together and really help young people get into sport.

“They are not going to come and build a big stadium, put four walls around it and keep everyone out!

“It would be a great new facility for Swanley.”