anyone know what the situation is wth the cheltenham game

[Dave the OAP]

Its was supposed to be a saturday in Dec

Council said "bugger off we need park and ride"

We tried to switch to friday - Cheltenham said "bugger off"

tried to switch to Sunday - didn't Cheltenham say bugger off to that too?

 

[Bry Nylon]

Isn't it now going to be played SATURDAY EVENING ...?

 

[Seagull Stew]

How can Cheltenham say "bugger off"?

Do the Football League not know our restrictions about playing in December at home and arrange the fixtures accordingly?

 

[tinx]

Isn't it a saturday evening kick off now?

 

[clippedgull]

I read that Cheltenham agreed to a Friday night KO. Dec 9

Maybe it's changed since then?

 

[Scotty Mac]

thought it was saturday evening, as cheltenham are away at blackpool in midweek and didnt want to do a load of traveling

 

[tinx]

According to the official site its Saturday 9th 19:45 kick off.

 

[Dave the OAP]

sat 19:45 according to the site...cheers

 

[Ernest]

Lets just give Cheltenham 3 points and save us the bother of ruining a Saturday night.
It's not as if any body will be going.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The Club had to submit an application to the City Council's Planning Applications Sub-Committee for their approval to vary the planning conditions that apply at Withdean.

The issue was on the agenda for yesterday's Sub-Committee meeting, with a recommendation from Council officers that the game be allowed to go ahead on the Saturday evening.

I presume the councillors agreed. If they didn't, we could appeal to Ruth Kelly and ask for a Public Inquiry.

 

[bhaexpress]

Cheltenham have good reason to not want to play on a Friday or Saturday evening, it's prime sheep shagging time !

 

[Lord Bracknell]

For all those Albion fans who just LOVE the planning process, here is the report that went to the Planning Applications Sub-Committee. Look out for the objections made by the usual suspects.



No: BH2006/02384 Ward: WITHDEAN
App Type Full Planning
Address: Withdean Stadium, Tongdean Lane, Withdean
Proposal: Variation of Condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP to allow Friday & Saturday matches during the month of December with an earliest kickoff time of 7.45pm & to allow play on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.
Officer: Nicola Slater, tel: 292114 Received Date: 14 July 2006
Con Area: N/A Expiry Date: 19 October 2006

Agent: N/A
Applicant: Brighton & Hove Albion FC, c/o Martin John Perry, Tower Point, 44 North Road, Brighton


1 SUMMARY
This application seeks planning permission for the variation of condition 6 of planning permission BH2005/00464/FP to allow Friday and Saturday matches during the month of December with an earliest kickoff time of 7.45pm and to allow play on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.

The report notes that the variation sought in condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP would not allow additional matches but increased flexibility upon whether matches should be played on a Friday or Saturday in December with an earliest kick-off at 7.45pm or on Boxing Day or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.

Due to the time differences between the close of the park and ride and the proposed earliest kick-off time of 7.45pm, playing on a Saturday is not considered to prejudice the operation of the Park and Ride. In terms of neighbouring amenity, there is not considered to be a material difference in terms of amenity between a game on a Friday evening or a Saturday evening and similarly whether a game is played on Boxing Day afternoon or the Boxing Day. The application is therefore recommended for approval.

2 RECOMMENDATION
That the Sub-Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in paragraph 10 of this report and resolves that it is minded to grant planning permission subject to any variations required to the existing S106 Obligation and the following Conditions and Informatives:

Conditions
1. No matches shall be played by the applicant at the Stadium on Saturday afternoons except the first Saturday of the month. All other matches in December shall be played with an earliest kick-off time of 7.45pm on Friday or Saturday evenings or shall be played on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.
Reason: In the interests of highway safety, the effective operation of the Council’s Park an Ride and to protect residential amenity in accordance with policies TR1, TR2, TR6, TR14, TR19 and QD27 of the Brighton & Hove Local Plan.

Informatives:
1. This decision is based on drawings and supporting documentation submitted on 14 July 2006.

2. The applicant is reminded of the need to comply with the other conditions attached to permission BH2005/00464/FP.

3. This decision to grant Planning Permission has been taken:

i) having regard to the policies and proposals in the East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Structure Plan/Brighton & Hove Local Plan set out below:
East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Structure Plan 1991-2011:
TR1 Integrated Transport and Environment Strategy
TR2 Travel Awareness
TR3 Accessibility
TR15 Park and Ride
Brighton & Hove Local Plan:
TR1 Development and the demand for travel
TR2 Public transport accessibility and parking
TR3 Development in areas of low public transport accessibility
TR5 Sustainable transport corridors and bus priority routes
TR6 Park and ride
TR7 Safe development
TR14 Cycle access and parking
TR18 Parking for people with a mobility related difficulty
TR19 Parking standards
QD27 Protection of Amenity; and

ii) for the following reasons:
The variation sought in condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP would not allow additional matches but increased flexibility upon whether matches should be played on a Friday or Saturday in December with an earliest kick-off at 7.45pm or on Boxing Day or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.

Due to the time differences between the close of the park and ride facility and the proposed earliest kick-off time of 7.45pm, playing on a Saturday is not considered to prejudice the operation of the Park and Ride. In terms of neighbouring amenity, there is not considered to be a material difference in terms of potential impact on amenity between a game on a Friday evening or a Saturday evening and similarly whether a game is played on Boxing Day afternoon or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon. Subject to compliance with condition 1 the proposed variation of condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP is not considered to prejudice the park and ride facility or the amenity of local residents.


3 THE SITE
The application relates to Withdean Stadium, which is on the west and south sides of and has access from Tongdean Lane. The site has an area of 5.9ha. The Stadium complex incorporates a running track/football pitch equipped with floodlights mounted on 30m high columns; a permanent stand to the north; temporary stands to the south and east of the pitch/track; turnstiles and temporary ancillary buildings including facilities for home and away football supporters at the east end; covered sports hall (tennis, health and fitness and squash clubs); open air tennis courts towards the Stadium’s western boundary; tarmac car park at the north-western corner; the Withdean Sportsman Public House and miscellaneous ancillary buildings in the centre and towards the northern end; and a tarmac parking area on the north-eastern side in use for the Council’s Shoppers’ Park & Ride facility and by Stadium and public house customers.

The site is set in a natural bowl with the land generally sloping upwards to the north, west and south. Immediately to the south of the Stadium is the Withdean Woods Local Nature Reserve. The Stadium is screened from the woodland by fencing and baffling extending along the southern boundary of the Stadium. There are also Greenways (designated in the Brighton and Hove Local Plan) running along the north and south sides of the stadium. The area surrounding the Stadium and woodland is characterised by residential development on spacious plots. To the east, Tongdean Lane joins Withdean Road and then leads eastwards under a railway bridge, where it is reduced in width to one lane, to London Road (A23). The woods adjoining the railway line are also included within the Local Nature Reserve.

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club has played its home first team League and Cup games at the stadium since the 1998/99 season. The stadium is also host to other sporting organisations including three local Athletics Clubs (Brighton & Hove, Phoenix and Arena 80) and Brighton & Hove Squash Club. Other users include schools and the Sports Development Unit (for sports development initiatives). The club has temporary planning permission until 30 June 2008 to continue playing at the stadium, the Stadium has a current capacity of 9002 spectators.

4 RELEVANT HISTORY
The Stadium has an extensive planning history, dating from when the athletics arena was opened in 1955. For the purposes of this application, however, the most relevant applications are those relating to use of the stadium by Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

BH2005/00464/FP: Provision of new stands and extension of existing stands to provide an additional 1966 seats. Replacement and relocation of two storey hospitality unit and addition of purpose built changing rooms. Addition of two storey stewards room and club office and new turnstiles. Continuation of use of Withdean Stadium until 30 June 2008 and the retention of existing temporary facilities. Replacement and relocation of existing athletics clubhouse and alterations to athletics facilities. Permission to allow Brighton and Hove Albion to play the first match in December on a Saturday and permission to play the first match in December on a Saturday and permission to play up to three matches per season on a Sunday during each season. Approved 20 July 2005 after the completion of a S106 Agreement.
Condition 6 of planning approval BH2005/00464/FP states:
‘No matches shall be played by the applicant at the Stadium on Saturday afternoons in December except on the first Saturday of the month. All other matches shall be played on Friday evenings with a kick-off time of 7.45pm or shall be played on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.
Reason: In the interests of highway safety, the effective operation of the Council’s Park & Ride and to protect residential amenity and in accordance with policies ENV1, TR9 and TR26 of the Brighton Borough Local Plan and TR1, TR5, TR (new policy – Safe development) and QD27 of the Brighton and Hove Local Plan Second Deposit Draft.’

BH2004/03117/FP: Variation of conditions 5 and 6 of planning permission BH2002/01948/FP to allow Brighton and Hove Albion to play matches at Withdean Stadium on 4 December 2004 and on a maximum of three Sundays during the 2004-2005 football season. Granted following completion of Section 106 agreement 26/11/04. Planning permission subsequently quashed by Order of the High Court.

BH2002/01948/FP: Provision of new stands and extension of existing stands to provide an additional 1966 seats. Replacement and relocation of two storey hospitality unit and addition of purpose built changing rooms and new turnstiles. Continuation of use of Withdean Stadium by Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club until 30 June 2005 and the retention of existing temporary facilities. Relocation of existing athletics clubhouse and alterations to athletics facilities. Granted following completion of Section 106 agreement 15/10/04. Planning permission subsequently quashed by Order of the High Court.

BH2000/00664/FP: Construction of additional 960 seats in a temporary stand and temporary buildings in NE corner with additional turnstile unit. Modification of conditions No.2 (removal of temporary structures: to read 2003 rather than 2001); No.5 (restoration of new car park to grassed area: to read 2003 rather than 2001); No.6 (matches on Saturday p.m. only, to read in addition Sunday or Bank Holiday p.m.: evening kick off at 8pm: to read 7.45 pm); No 7. (no matches to be played on Saturday afternoons in December); No.12 (no amplified music except "Sussex by the Sea"). Granted following completion of Section 106 agreement 20/11/02.

BH1999/01020/FP: Monopitch steel roof over north stand spectator seating (extension to existing provision to cover remaining seats). Granted 16/06/99.

BH1998/00523/FP: Alterations to Withdean Stadium including installation of new permanent seating terrace with new temporary roof to north stand and temporary seating terrace to south stand. Erection of four 30m high floodlighting columns, turnstiles and ancillary buildings, bicycle stand provision, construction of a new car park at the north-western corner of the site and other paving/surfacing works. Erection of new steel security fencing to supplement existing to the southern boundary of the site. Erection of temporary lighting columns in Mill Road in connection with the applicant's Park and Ride scheme. Granted 29 March 1999.

5 THE APPLICATION
Planning permission is sought to vary Condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP to allow Friday & Saturday matches during the month of December with an earliest kickoff time of 7.45pm & to allow play on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.

The supporting documentation accompanying the application states that every season the football club have played at Withdean, a game has been allocated at home on a Saturday in December. For the past seven seasons, the club have managed to accommodate this by bringing the match forward to the Friday evening. This year, however, the club have not been able to reschedule the game to the Friday. Other options which were considered, included reversing the fixtures with the team the Club are due to play on the 9 December 2006, and using an alternative date, which is allocated as a FA Cup game. Both of these options were not considered acceptable by the Football League. The club therefore propose to vary condition 6 to allow Saturday matches in December with a kick off time of 7.45pm. The supporting statement suggests that “it is our understanding that the reason for the condition was to ensure there was no impact by football matches on the City Park & Ride site at Withdean during the heavy Christmas shopping period. By delaying the kick-off there will be no impact on shoppers using the City Park & Ride.” The supporting documentation also suggests that the Club will place additional stewards in the City Park and Ride area two hours prior to kick-off to ensure that the operation of the Park and Ride continues to operate smoothly throughout the afternoon and evening.

In considering this new application, the Council gave a scoping opinion and concluded that an EIA was not required for the reason that it did not consider that significant effects on the environment would occur.

6 CONSULTATIONS
External:
Neighbours: Letters of representation have been received from Leahurst Court Limited, Withdean Residents Association and the occupiers of 1 Eldred Avenue; 3, 9, 15 Shepherds Croft; 24 Tongdean Lane; 8 Valley Drive; 60 Wayland Avenue; Withdean Lodge objecting to the proposal on the following grounds:
• there will be an increase in noise and disturbance because of the additional matches;
• local residents have had to suffer disruption to their lives whenever a home match is held. This temporary use of Withdean Stadium by Brighton & Hove Albion continues without any end in sight, the council failed to heed the original objections which forecast that this would not be a short term problem;
• during December the shoppers’ Park and Ride Service operates for extended hours, generating extra parking and traffic flow in the vicinity of the Stadium. To add to this congestion by holding football matches on Fridays and Saturdays, is wholly unacceptable;
• over the Christmas Bank Holiday period local residents are likely to have family and friends visiting and need to park cars on the roadside (not everyone has a driveway). Road closures and restricted access have actually prevented such gatherings in previous years and to hold a football match on Boxing Day or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon is a further imposition on the long suffering local residents;
• the reasons for condition 6 still pertain, weekends in December are very busy in terms of road traffic and Saturday use of the Park and Ride in the run up to Christmas;
• road closures, parking difficulties and the impact of noise will be a further impediment;
• the police have confirmed that the level of policing will be drastically decreased to take account of the football club’s relegation to a lower division. Saturday evenings will inevitably find police stretched in Brighton.

Letters and emails of no objection and support have been received from the occupiers of 9 Ash Walk; 46 Bedford Gardens, Crewe; 61 Broomfield Drive; 26 Clarence Road; 26 Charles Road; 8 Coppice Gardens, Crowthorne; 28 Crest Way, Portslade; Flat 4, 144/146, Flat 2, 285 Dyke Road; 196 Elm Drive; 22 Elrington Road; Allington, Englands Lane, Queen Camel, Yeovil; 12 Mayvern Court, Eridge Road, Crowborough; 2 Fairlight Place; 4 Frobisher Court, Cleveland Road, London; 64 Glendale Avenue; 10 Gleneagles Court, Iona Way, Haywards Heath; 13 Goran Avenue; 22 Goring Road; 103 Greenacres (x3); 9 Hardy Close; 95 Holmes Avenue; 7 Hellingly Close; 26 Hempstead Road, Saltdean; 53 Hertford Road; 37b Hova Villas; 27 Hudson Close, Worthing; 7 Hunters Way, Norton, Malton, North Yorkshire; 51 Ladies Mile Road; 17 Laxton Walk, Kings Hill; 84 Leahurst Court, Leahurst Court Road; 132a Lustrells Vale (x2); 42b Lyndhurst Road; 7 Lynton Road; 7 Maes Dewi, Pritchard; 21 Marmion Road; 12 Marine Gardens; 4 Meadway Court; 9 Mill Drive, Henfield; 24 Nevill Road; 29 New Barn Close; 45 Newtown Road; Little Cobwebs, North Lane, West Hoathly; 55 Old Shoreham Road; 8 Patcham Grange; 131 Peabody Road, Farnborough; 12 Ridgeway Close, Southwick; 61 Rodmell Avenue; 6 Stafford Way; 91 Station Road; 72 Stoneham Road; 15 The Firs, Lakenheath, Suffolk; 34 Toronto Terrace; 12a The Martins Drive; 15 The Rowans; 35 Thornbush Crescent; 98 Upper Brents, Faversham, Kent; 3 Valley Close; 10 Village Close (x2); 1 Waldron Avenue; 8 Whichelo Place; 1 Wood Lane, Small Dole, Henfield; Many of these are in similar email format. Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters’ Club and the occupiers of 141 Cassiobury Drive; 44 Cheltenham Place; 6 Golden Lane; 5 Monument View; 17 Nightingale Close, Fakenham, Norfolk; 4 Railway Cottages, Ravens Mead, Heathfield Copse, Firle; 24 Rigden Road; 64 St Andrews Road; Flat 8, 6 Second Avenue; 78 Shadwells Road, Lancing; 17 Shepherds Croft; 41 Trinity Point, Hurstpierpoint; 57 Upper Abbey Road; 52 Waldegrave Road; 74 Westbourne Street; 43 Windsor Close; 44 Wolseley Road; 2 anonymous raising the following points:
• large numbers of fans walk to the stadium, the fans are always well behaved;
• it is unfortunate that consideration to the numerous conditions appertaining to the use of Withdean were not taken into account by the Football League;
• most shoppers return to their cars well before the last possible bus, whilst people attending a match at Withdean Stadium in contrast usually arrive within the 30 minutes prior to kick off due to the lack of facilities;
• the variance in condition will not have a detrimental effect upon the efficiency of the park and ride;
• the proposal would increase shopping in the town in the run up to Christmas;
• the existing condition, which prohibits Saturday afternoon matches during December (except for the first Saturday) was designed to prevent a conflict with the city centre park and ride operation from Withdean in the important period leading up to Christmas and during the December sales. The Albion have observed both the letter and the spirit of this condition and the majority of shoppers will have returned to their cars before the supporters arrive;
• the proposed condition, allowing matches to take place on Saturday evenings at 7.45pm is a simple change which will ease the problems the football club faces arranging fixtures at its temporary home. Importantly, this change will not interfere with the principle behind the condition;
• there will be no detrimental effect to the amenity enjoyed by nearby residents as no extra matches are proposed, merely a change from Friday to Saturday.

Internal:
City Clean: No objections.

Environmental Health: No objections.

Traffic Manager: The applicants’ supporting letter describes how they have tried to rearrange the game allocated in breach of planning condition 6 in the same ways as on the previous 7 occasions on which such as an allocation has been made since they have been playing at Withdean. In this case it has proved impossible to rearrange the game to the satisfaction of the Football League.

Condition 6 is intended to prevent problems arising from conflict between Christmas shoppers and football fans. The last park and ride bus on Saturdays is timed to arrive at Withdean at 6.21. The service is not extended into the evenings in the Christmas shopping period and there are no proposals to do this. The proposed modified condition would allow games to be played in the evenings with kick offs no earlier than 7.45. Given these timings the potential for conflict is minimal. This could only arise from fans arriving very early and seeking to use the park and ride car park and/ or shoppers leaving their cars in the park and ride car park and catching another bus back to the area after the park and ride service has stopped. The applicants have offered to provide extra stewarding and this will be sufficient to address the very small potential problem.

The applicants have confirmed that the usual measures to encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport will be provided at games permitted by the variation sought, and this is appropriate.

In view of these points there is no transport objection to this application.

7 PLANNING POLICIES
East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Structure Plan 1991-2011:
TR1 Integrated Transport and Environment Strategy
TR2 Travel Awareness
TR3 Accessibility
TR15 Park and Ride


Brighton & Hove Local Plan:
TR1 Development and the demand for travel
TR2 Public transport accessibility and parking
TR3 Development in areas of low public transport accessibility
TR5 Sustainable transport corridors and bus priority routes
TR6 Park and ride
TR7 Safe development
TR14 Cycle access and parking
TR18 Parking for people with a mobility related difficulty
TR19 Parking standards
QD27 Protection of amenity

8 CONSIDERATIONS
The main considerations in the determination of this application relate to the impact the variation would have through altering the match days in December, any resulting increases in traffic movements and any potential cumulative impact.

Previous permissions have allowed the temporary occupation of Withdean Stadium by Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. These permissions were subject to conditions including restrictions on playing times and dates and the playing of amplified music and for removal of the temporary structures and a car park area. Related section 106 agreements have addressed traffic mitigation provisions including identification of a cordon around the site within which car-borne traffic is discouraged, stewarding arrangements and measures to encourage football supporters to travel to the Stadium by public transport, together with financial penalties where the targets are not met. The legal agreements contained targets relating to travel by sustainable means, parking within the cordon and spectators using the Nature Reserve, with financial penalties incurred where the targets are not met.

The most recent application was granted planning permission on the 20 July 2005 (ref: BH2005/00464/FP), for the provision of new stands and extension of existing stands to provide an additional 1966 seats; replacement and relocation of two storey hospitality unit and addition of purpose built changing rooms; addition of two storey stewards room and club office and new turnstiles; continuation of use of Withdean Stadium until 30 June 2008 and the retention of existing temporary facilities; replacement and relocation of existing athletics clubhouse and alterations to athletics facilities. Permission to allow Brighton and Hove Albion to play the first match in December on a Saturday and permission to play the first match in December on a Saturday and permission to play up to three matches per season on a Sunday during each season.

Condition 6 of this approval stated:
‘No matches shall be played by the applicant at the Stadium on Saturday afternoons in December except on the first Saturday of the month. All other matches shall be played on Friday evenings with a kick-off time of 7.45pm or shall be played on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.
Reason: In the interests of highway safety, the effective operation of the Council’s Park & Ride and to protect residential amenity and in accordance with policies ENV1, TR9 and TR26 of the Brighton Borough Local Plan and TR1, TR5, TR (new policy – Safe development) and QD27 of the Brighton and Hove Local Plan Second Deposit Draft.’

Among the matters relevant to the consideration of the potential impacts of the proposed development are the timing and frequency of matchdays. Also relevant is whether there are other uses or developments within the area which, when considered together with the present proposal, might give rise to a cumulative impact. The reasoning for the imposition of condition 6 of BH2005/00464 was in the interests of highway safety, the effective operation of the Council’s Park & Ride and to protect residential amenity. The proposal seeks to hold matches either on a Friday or Saturday with an earliest kick-off at 7.45pm and does not result in any additional matches. Condition 6 is intended to prevent problems arising from conflict between Christmas shoppers and football fans. The last park and ride bus on Saturdays is timed to arrive at Withdean at 6.21pm. Furthermore, the service is not extended into the evenings in the Christmas shopping period and according to the Traffic Manager there are no plans to extend this service. The proposed modified condition would allow games to be played in the evenings with kick-offs no earlier than 7.45. Given the differences in times between the use of the park and ride and the start of the football match, it is not considered likely that a Saturday evening game would impact on the use of the park and ride. The traffic manager has commented on the application and considers that conflict between the use of the park and ride for shopping and the football ground could only arise from fans arriving very early and seeking to use the park and ride car park and/ or shoppers leaving their cars in the park and ride car park and catching another bus back to the area after the park and ride service has stopped. To mitigate this, the applicants have offered to provide extra stewarding and this is considered to sufficiently address the very small potential problem. It is therefore considered that the variation of condition to allow football matches on a Saturday, providing the earliest kick-off was 7.45pm would not impact on other uses or developments within the surrounding area and therefore an increased cumulative impact is not considered to result.

Concerns have been raised regarding the increased noise and disturbance resulting from games been played on a Saturday. Spectators and the public address system do generate increase noise levels on matchdays. Complaints have been received in the past from local residents on this basis. However, Environmental Health officers have monitored the situation and have concluded that there is no statutory noise nuisance. Monitoring was carried out on the 12 and 16 September, whereby measurements were taken at the western boundary with Shepherds Croft before and during the game and at half time. The results were compared to readings that were taken from the same position during previous seasons. The Environmental Health officer has confirmed that the duration and frequency of the disturbance from the PA is not considered a statutory noise nuisance on the basis of the monitoring carried out. It is important to note, that the proposal does not result in an increase in the number of matches and whether a game is played on a Friday evening or a Saturday evening would be no different in terms of potential impact. Environmental Health officers have commented on the application and consider that the proposal is not considered to impact on local residents with regard to environmental issues.

Condition 6 of planning permission BH2005/00464/FP permitted games to be played on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon. The increased flexibility allowing a game on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon would not result in an increase in the number of matches to be played. For this reason, whether the game is played on Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday would not result in additional impact.

The proposed development falls within Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. The Council adopted a screening opinion on the 3 August 2006 that the proposed development did not require Environmental Impact Assessment. The Council’s screening opinion is attached as Appendix A.

9 CONCLUSIONS
The proposal to vary condition 6 of planning permission BH2005/00464/FP would enable matches to be held on Saturday in December, with an earliest kick-off of 7.45pm and to allow play on either Boxing Day or on the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon. The variation sought in condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP would not allow additional matches but increased flexibility upon whether matches should be played on a Friday or Saturday in December with an earliest kick-off at 7.45pm or on Boxing Day or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon. Due to the lack of facilities most supporters do not usually arrive until half an hour before the match commences, which is sufficient time after most shoppers have left the Park and Ride site, since this stops at 6.30pm. It is not considered therefore that the introduction of Saturday matches in December, subject to compliance with condition 1, would impinge on the park and ride scheme. With regard to the potential impact on amenity, there are not considered to be material differences between the use of the stadium on a Friday evening compared to a Saturday evening or between the Boxing Day or Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon. For these reasons the application is recommended for approval.

10 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT PERMISSION
The variation sought in condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP would not allow additional matches but increased flexibility upon whether matches should be played on a Friday or Saturday in December with an earliest kick-off at 7.45pm or on Boxing Day or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon.

Due to the time differences between the close of the park and ride facility and the proposed earliest kick-off time of 7.45pm, playing on a Saturday is not considered to prejudice the operation of the Park and Ride. In terms of neighbouring amenity, there is not considered to be a material difference in terms of potential impact on amenity between a game on a Friday evening or a Saturday evening and similarly whether a game is played on Boxing Day afternoon or the Boxing Day Bank Holiday afternoon. Subject to compliance with condition 1 the proposed variation of condition 6 of BH2005/00464/FP is not considered to prejudice the park and ride or the amenity of local residents.

11 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
None identified in relation to the variation of this condition.

 

[Mr Banana]

Neighbours: Letters of representation have been received from Leahurst Court Limited, Withdean Residents Association and the occupiers of 1 Eldred Avenue; 3, 9, 15 Shepherds Croft; 24 Tongdean Lane; 8 Valley Drive; 60 Wayland Avenue; Withdean Lodge objecting to the proposal...

It really makes me wish I had got round to collecting a weeks worth of my shit in envelopes and posting it through their letterboxes when I lived right in the middle of that lot last season.

Anyone who thinks Martin Perry doesn't earn his money should try putting up with these sort of documents on a weekly basis.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Dear Cheltenham Town
Please come to our Christmas Party to be held at Withdean Athletics track on SATURDAY 9 DEC at 7:45pm.

There will be the usual party games, such as 'Spot the Striker' and 'Blind Man's Defending,' plus of course, our comedy double act "Dean and Dean" will never be far away to add to the hilarity!

Unfortunatley, as none of our team are over 18 no alcohol will be allowed, but like every other visiting team, you will get a Seagulls Good Bag at the end of the evening, containing 3 lovely league points which will be yours to keep and take back to Gloucestershire with you!

Ps - it is likely will will have a few spare places at the party, so feel feel to being 3 or 4 thousand friends with you. All they need to do is tell the man on the door that "Dick said it would be okay."

See you in December!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Festive food is off the menu and you will have to supply your own forks.

RSVP

Ps Please come in a toga.

 

[crodonilson]

Does anybody know why night games tend to kick off at 7:45pm, I mean if it were Saturday afternoon, 7:45 seems to be neither her nor there, why not 7:30pm or 8pm. Not just this game but night games in general??

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The last decent game I went to kicked off at 9.30pm - a brilliant time for football, in my opinion.

Sevilla v Atromitos in the UEFA Cup.

 

[The Large One]

• there will be an increase in noise and disturbance because of the additional matches...

No, there won't. Do keep up



• during December the shoppers’ Park and Ride Service operates for extended hours, generating extra parking and traffic flow in the vicinity of the Stadium. To add to this congestion by holding football matches on Fridays and Saturdays, is wholly unacceptable...

Thursday morning 3am OK then?

 

[Dave the OAP]

"the police have confirmed that the level of policing will be drastically decreased to take account of the football club’s relegation to a lower division. Saturday evenings will inevitably find police stretched in Brighton."


Sorry i do not understand this point.....If the policing is drastically reduced as we are in teh lower division, how does this stretch the police in Brighton?

 

[Mr Banana]

It's reasons for having less police at the game. There are other things going on in Brighton on Satdi evenings, I believe***.




***such as THE PHARCYDE at The Beach on the evening of the Cheltenham game. £8 to see hiphop legends vs £23 to see our gallant bunch of guilless pretenders. Tricky.