Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 71,897
Notes From The Initial Session Of The Re-Opened Inquiry (It's A Bit Long)
'Welcome My Friends,
To The Show That Never Ends'
Well... here we are again, another year, a different venue, the same three-ring circus.
Arrive at Brighton Town Hall 9.30 sharp. Which is a shame cos it starts at 10.00. And none too sharply either.
Escorted into the Public Gallery on the second floor wearing a visitor badge. Mahogany on the ceilings, much stained glass with latin inscriptions, walls nicotine yellow-brown, chipped benches and a clock stuck on quarter to eight.
I'm one of the first there. Martin Perry looks happy to see me. Smiles. Maybe he thought nobody would come. I give him the thumbs-up. Next into the gallery is a bloke carrying an enormous rucksack from which he produces an enormous blue seat. 'Look at this, ejector seat, found it in a skip' he announces proudly. 'Lets hope you dont get ejected then' says a bloke in the next row.
The two warring factions sort themselves out; NIMBYs to the left of chamber, Albion to the right. It's the same major players; Mr Clay for the Albion (his ash-blonde assistant is WELL fit!), Mr. White and Charlie 'Bad Mullet' Hopkins for LDC, Miss McPherson for Brighton & Hove Council. The new inspector is Mr. David Brier, who looks uncannily like a thinner happier John Prescott. Good omen maybe?
Mutterings from the public gallery that nobody can hear very much. Public invited by mr. Brier. into the main chamber to fill up any empty seats. THPP is out of the gallery and into a big comfy chair like a fat out-of-condition WHIPPET!
All the major players stand up and introduce themselves. Some notable absentees: Sussex Uni had sent a letter saying that this time around they would be maintaining a watching brief. As Mr. Brier said 'Shame none of them actually turned up to do any watching'. Same goes for The Friends Of Whitehawk Hill, who were mysteriously absent, despite helpfully providing a shopping list of yet another 'suitable' sites - including the site of the old Goldstone...
Mr. Brier. set out his stall - and this is important. He stated that he will not be recommending a Yes or No to the Falmer proposal. Instead his report will be a 'companion' to the original report, giving further assessment on the other 'alternative' sites such that ODPM will be able to reach a final decision.
There then followed a rather entertaining - and lengthy - episode in which 'a Hove resident of sixty years' in the public gallery hijacked the entire proceedings to gripe at the council's failure to provide a working induction loop for the hearing-impaired. Got the feeling this was a long running battle which was being aired for maximum effect. Eventually, Mr. Brier invited Hove resident to join the main seating area of the Inquiry. 'OK' he said, 'but it'll be difficult. I'm registered blind'...
The rest of the morning was taken up with opening remarks:
1. For the Albion - Mr. Clay comprehensively demolished the case for all of the alternative sites, as well as putting the boot into the reports of previous Inspectors Messrs. Hoile and Collyer as 'inaccurate and unfair'. In addition he accused that Mr Hoile of 'lacking objectivity'. Back of the net!
2. For Brighton & Hove Council - Miss McPherson confirmed the council's position re: full backing for Falmer remains unaltered. Further transport analysis carried out by the council since the last phase of the inquiry reaffirms that Falmer came out on top as the only sustainable option of the sites on the list.
3. For Lewes District Council - Mr. White demanded that the original Hoile/Collyer findings be made binding - for signs of a falling out with the Albion's Mr. Clay who demanded that the inspector use his own value judgement as a planning inspector.
And that's about it. I'm sure Lord B. will give a proper report later, but that's how I saw it.
Oh, yeah, and Dick Knight stumbled into the proceedings after the first hour clutching a can of cherry coke. No seats left in the main auditorium so he plonked himself down at a trestle table from where he could see nothing and hear not very much - with or without induction loop. Like a gentleman, I gave up my seat to him...
'Welcome My Friends,
To The Show That Never Ends'
Well... here we are again, another year, a different venue, the same three-ring circus.
Arrive at Brighton Town Hall 9.30 sharp. Which is a shame cos it starts at 10.00. And none too sharply either.
Escorted into the Public Gallery on the second floor wearing a visitor badge. Mahogany on the ceilings, much stained glass with latin inscriptions, walls nicotine yellow-brown, chipped benches and a clock stuck on quarter to eight.
I'm one of the first there. Martin Perry looks happy to see me. Smiles. Maybe he thought nobody would come. I give him the thumbs-up. Next into the gallery is a bloke carrying an enormous rucksack from which he produces an enormous blue seat. 'Look at this, ejector seat, found it in a skip' he announces proudly. 'Lets hope you dont get ejected then' says a bloke in the next row.
The two warring factions sort themselves out; NIMBYs to the left of chamber, Albion to the right. It's the same major players; Mr Clay for the Albion (his ash-blonde assistant is WELL fit!), Mr. White and Charlie 'Bad Mullet' Hopkins for LDC, Miss McPherson for Brighton & Hove Council. The new inspector is Mr. David Brier, who looks uncannily like a thinner happier John Prescott. Good omen maybe?
Mutterings from the public gallery that nobody can hear very much. Public invited by mr. Brier. into the main chamber to fill up any empty seats. THPP is out of the gallery and into a big comfy chair like a fat out-of-condition WHIPPET!
All the major players stand up and introduce themselves. Some notable absentees: Sussex Uni had sent a letter saying that this time around they would be maintaining a watching brief. As Mr. Brier said 'Shame none of them actually turned up to do any watching'. Same goes for The Friends Of Whitehawk Hill, who were mysteriously absent, despite helpfully providing a shopping list of yet another 'suitable' sites - including the site of the old Goldstone...
Mr. Brier. set out his stall - and this is important. He stated that he will not be recommending a Yes or No to the Falmer proposal. Instead his report will be a 'companion' to the original report, giving further assessment on the other 'alternative' sites such that ODPM will be able to reach a final decision.
There then followed a rather entertaining - and lengthy - episode in which 'a Hove resident of sixty years' in the public gallery hijacked the entire proceedings to gripe at the council's failure to provide a working induction loop for the hearing-impaired. Got the feeling this was a long running battle which was being aired for maximum effect. Eventually, Mr. Brier invited Hove resident to join the main seating area of the Inquiry. 'OK' he said, 'but it'll be difficult. I'm registered blind'...
The rest of the morning was taken up with opening remarks:
1. For the Albion - Mr. Clay comprehensively demolished the case for all of the alternative sites, as well as putting the boot into the reports of previous Inspectors Messrs. Hoile and Collyer as 'inaccurate and unfair'. In addition he accused that Mr Hoile of 'lacking objectivity'. Back of the net!
2. For Brighton & Hove Council - Miss McPherson confirmed the council's position re: full backing for Falmer remains unaltered. Further transport analysis carried out by the council since the last phase of the inquiry reaffirms that Falmer came out on top as the only sustainable option of the sites on the list.
3. For Lewes District Council - Mr. White demanded that the original Hoile/Collyer findings be made binding - for signs of a falling out with the Albion's Mr. Clay who demanded that the inspector use his own value judgement as a planning inspector.
And that's about it. I'm sure Lord B. will give a proper report later, but that's how I saw it.
Oh, yeah, and Dick Knight stumbled into the proceedings after the first hour clutching a can of cherry coke. No seats left in the main auditorium so he plonked himself down at a trestle table from where he could see nothing and hear not very much - with or without induction loop. Like a gentleman, I gave up my seat to him...
good stuff THPP, especially like section number 2 from Miss McPherson, thats gotta carry some weight surely!?
