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Albion 'red herring' in Falmer row
by Rob Hustwayte
Opponents of a new stadium at Falmer have said the announcement that plans will have to be delayed for a year is a red herring.
Albion bosses Dick Knight and Martin Perry revealed on Wednesday they have been forced to shelve the scheduled opening of the arena until 2009 and warned the club would lose £50,000 a week in revenue.
They said the delaying tactics of the stadium's opponents in bringing the High Court action had succeeded.
But Simon Barnes, of Falmer Parish Council, which is acting jointly with Lewes District Council in seeking a Judicial Review of the planning permission, said: "It is a smoke screen.
"I suspect the real reason for the delay is that the football club has not been able to raise adequate finance to get this stadium started and they are simply blaming us through convenience.
"We are not in this to delay proceedings. We want it resolved as soon as possible.
"We are taking the Judicial Review to save the downland area around Falmer being opened up to development and to challenge John Prescott because he overlooked established planning policy by granting this permission.
"Otherwise we will end up with homes and supermarkets stretching up to Woodingdean."
Lewes District Council leader Ann De Vecchi said: "There's no hidden agenda of any kind. The dispute is between us and John Prescott's decision letter. It's not to do with the club at all.
"From our perspective the Deputy Prime Minister didn't follow his own planning policy so what happens from now on is anyone's guess.
"We believe he's in breach of his own planning guidance and that's a position shared with the Campaign to Protect Rural England nationally.
"It has nothing to do with delaying anything. It's just to do with fighting for clarification about the highest level of planning policy to protect an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
Pro-stadium campaigners lined up to condemn the two councils.
Lord Bassam of Brighton said: "It's a disgrace Lewes District Council's actions have further delayed the stadium development.
"The club is a victim of a vision-free, narrow-minded party political attack from the Liberal Democrats in Lewes, which is frustrating for all Albion fans who are keen to see the stadium built."
"Every year that the Seagulls miss out on the additional revenue that can be generated from having a modern, 22,000-capacity stadium makes it harder for the club to stay in the upper echelons of league football."
Falmer For All chairman Paul Samrah said: "It stinks. "Once again Lewes District Council is trying to kill our club in the face of overwhelming democratic support for the stadium."
Tim Carder, chairman of the Albion supporters' club, said: "The news is disappointing but not unexpected.
"When Lewes District Council launched its legal challenge I commented that its only ambition could be to delay the project. It appears to have done that, but it won't deflect the Albion board or the supporters from ultimately securing the club's future.
"The stadium will be built there, perhaps later rather than sooner thanks to Lewes, and when it is it will provide the most fantastic community facility for Brighton, Hove, Lewes and the whole of Sussex."
None of the parties involved have been given any indication of when a court appearance is likely to take place.
Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Dick Knight will be in the hot seat tonight when he holds an online question and answer session for fans.
Supporters have been asked to send in questions for Mr Knight, which he will answer in a broadcast on the club website, Seagulls World.
Apparently it is our fault as we do not have the funds in place
by Rob Hustwayte
Opponents of a new stadium at Falmer have said the announcement that plans will have to be delayed for a year is a red herring.
Albion bosses Dick Knight and Martin Perry revealed on Wednesday they have been forced to shelve the scheduled opening of the arena until 2009 and warned the club would lose £50,000 a week in revenue.
They said the delaying tactics of the stadium's opponents in bringing the High Court action had succeeded.
But Simon Barnes, of Falmer Parish Council, which is acting jointly with Lewes District Council in seeking a Judicial Review of the planning permission, said: "It is a smoke screen.
"I suspect the real reason for the delay is that the football club has not been able to raise adequate finance to get this stadium started and they are simply blaming us through convenience.
"We are not in this to delay proceedings. We want it resolved as soon as possible.
"We are taking the Judicial Review to save the downland area around Falmer being opened up to development and to challenge John Prescott because he overlooked established planning policy by granting this permission.
"Otherwise we will end up with homes and supermarkets stretching up to Woodingdean."
Lewes District Council leader Ann De Vecchi said: "There's no hidden agenda of any kind. The dispute is between us and John Prescott's decision letter. It's not to do with the club at all.
"From our perspective the Deputy Prime Minister didn't follow his own planning policy so what happens from now on is anyone's guess.
"We believe he's in breach of his own planning guidance and that's a position shared with the Campaign to Protect Rural England nationally.
"It has nothing to do with delaying anything. It's just to do with fighting for clarification about the highest level of planning policy to protect an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
Pro-stadium campaigners lined up to condemn the two councils.
Lord Bassam of Brighton said: "It's a disgrace Lewes District Council's actions have further delayed the stadium development.
"The club is a victim of a vision-free, narrow-minded party political attack from the Liberal Democrats in Lewes, which is frustrating for all Albion fans who are keen to see the stadium built."
"Every year that the Seagulls miss out on the additional revenue that can be generated from having a modern, 22,000-capacity stadium makes it harder for the club to stay in the upper echelons of league football."
Falmer For All chairman Paul Samrah said: "It stinks. "Once again Lewes District Council is trying to kill our club in the face of overwhelming democratic support for the stadium."
Tim Carder, chairman of the Albion supporters' club, said: "The news is disappointing but not unexpected.
"When Lewes District Council launched its legal challenge I commented that its only ambition could be to delay the project. It appears to have done that, but it won't deflect the Albion board or the supporters from ultimately securing the club's future.
"The stadium will be built there, perhaps later rather than sooner thanks to Lewes, and when it is it will provide the most fantastic community facility for Brighton, Hove, Lewes and the whole of Sussex."
None of the parties involved have been given any indication of when a court appearance is likely to take place.
Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Dick Knight will be in the hot seat tonight when he holds an online question and answer session for fans.
Supporters have been asked to send in questions for Mr Knight, which he will answer in a broadcast on the club website, Seagulls World.
Apparently it is our fault as we do not have the funds in place
