Taking the campaign to Lewes, 10 years to the day - 26 April at the Volunteer...

[attila]

Could this be impaled at the top please?

As Strummer would say, this is a public service announcement (with guitars - and lots of beer!)

GOLDSTONE COMMEMORATION EVENING, Thursday April 26, ten years to the day, at the Volunteer in Lewes. Making our presence felt in Lewes just before the local elections, raising money for the Seagulls Party and drowning our sorrows in style on a very sad day for all Albion fans. Above all, making the point that TEN YEARS after the destruction of the Goldstone we still haven't got the go ahead for Falmer, and the culprits are a few streets away....

NB! The Volunteer is not as it was before! It's under new management, run by an Albion fan (Lucy Crook) who some of you will know - she was at the last game, she and her friends have some seats and other memorabilia (which will be brought in on the night) and she is very keen to host this event.

They now have 2 real ales (Harveys and a guest) and the Dark Star Brewery have kindly offered to donate a 9 (72 pints) of their wonderful Hophead, 100% of the takings from which will be going to the Seagulls Party. Admission will be £5, all of which will likewise go to the Seagulls Party - although it won't be a Seagulls Party event (for electoral reasons)

I hope the candidates who will be standing will be able to make an appearance nevertheless...
Bracknells?

I thought we might have an ad hoc Goldstone memorabilia exhibition - anyone who feels like bringing along souvenirs taken on the fateful day is welcome to do so. I will be bringing some grass(!) I also thought it would be a good idea to dedicate a short part of the evening to people's memoirs of the last game, and the battles which preceded it. The mike will be available to anyone who wishes to make a short contribution along those lines.

Wanted to get some different people to provide the live music this time, all of course dedicated fans. I have asked Steve North (Build a Bonfire co-author, actor and bandleader) to bring his band. I'm thinking of asking a bunch of Albion fans I found on myspace called Livingston Freeman to play (they sound pretty good) Any other suggestions?

And if anyone DOESN'T want all the recorded music to be punk/ska/reggae - bring something
along (as long as it's not Phil Collins or James Blunt)

Hope to see many of you there. We need to do something that day..and we can do it in a good cause.

Cheers A

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Can I bring some Specials stuff?


Great idea John ( if I am allowed to call you that)


See you there.


Any chance of " Mirror in the bathroom" by The Beat tomorrow please

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I'm not coming as there'll be no James Blunt.

 

[Giraffe]

And that will give the Lewes message exactly how?

Sorry don't mean to be negative, and I'm sure it will be a great night , but its not exactly going to get Lewes DC quaking in their boots is it? What else is planned to attack Lewes on that weekend?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Any chance of " Mirror in the bathroom" by The Beat tomorrow please

Good CALL Dave

'Mirror In The Bathroom' is the best 2-Tone single BY FAR

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What else is planned to attack Lewes on that weekend?

Since that is the last weekend before the council elections the following Thursday, might I suggest that the answer should be ...

HUNDREDS of Albion supporters out campaigning for the Seagulls Party candidates.

 

[butchy]

this sounds like a very good way to commemorate the 10 years.....on another note, can voters in brighton and hove vote for the seagulls party in the elections?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

this sounds like a very good way to commemorate the 10 years.....on another note, can voters in brighton and hove vote for the seagulls party in the elections?

Happily ... no.

The Seagulls Party won't be making life difficult for the local politicians who have consistently been supporting Falmer Stadium for years.

 

[attila]

Giraffe - we're standing candidates against them, which is probably the best way to worry them (legally...) and a good showing in their backyard, with attendant press coverage, will be a boost for the campaign. My personal views of what should be done to LDC go far further than that but do not accord with those of the club!!

Dave - I would love to play 'Mirror in the Bathroom' but (strangely) only have it on vinyl.
Provide a copy and it shall be done.

 

[Mr Blobby]

And that will give the Lewes message exactly how?

Sorry don't mean to be negative, and I'm sure it will be a great night , but its not exactly going to get Lewes DC quaking in their boots is it? What else is planned to attack Lewes on that weekend?

Every little bit helps - be supportive and just turn up - ever £ raised for the seagulls party is good news.

Its people like Atilla (and many others) who have never given up. They must dispair at time when they just get negative feedback.

I went to Mellor to protest at Archer - was there any point in that as he wasnt at home? The fact he new it was going to happen (as per the planned Lewes event) keeps the pressure on.

FANS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Giraffe - we're standing candidates against them, which is probably the best way to worry them (legally...) and a good showing in their backyard, with attendant press coverage, will be a boost for the campaign. My personal views of what should be done to LDC go far further than that but do not accord with those of the club!!

Dave - I would love to play 'Mirror in the Bathroom' but (strangely) only have it on vinyl.
Provide a copy and it shall be done.

I will burn you a copy tonight and get someone to pass it to you

regards

 

[Storer68]

and almost a year has passed since martin Pery described this as "a Pyrrhic victory to Lewes, this is the most sensible and quickest route out of the mess Lewes have created, because the club will not have to wait for a court hearing, or the time it takes for the judgement to be made. It is only a minor technicality and was not a determining factor in the decision."

He said it would not affect the club's latest target of opening the £50 million arena in time for the 2009/10 season.


The Argus 7 April 2006

Planning permission for Albion's Falmer stadium has been sensationally quashed after John Prescott admitted making a blunder in his letter of approval.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a fundamental factual error when he said "Yes" to the 22,000-seat arena last October and will now reconsider the application.

Lawyers for Lewes District Council pointed out the mistake in their evidence to the High Court, where they were seeking a judicial review of the planning permission.

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) said Mr Prescott acknowledged he had made an error in his decision letter, when he said "Yes" to Falmer.

As a result, his office has decided not to challenge Lewes District Council's legal action.

The spokesman said: "Instead, the planning permission will be rescinded and the Secretary of State will make a new decision.

"This does not mean the original decision was wrong. We have conceded because of a technical error, not because of the substance of the decision."

In his approval letter, Mr Prescott made a number of references to the stadium being inside the development boundary of Brighton and Hove as designated by the local plan.

But Lewes District Council pointed out only a small part of the stadium site at Village Way was inside the boundary.

It was understood to be the council's key argument in its attempt to get the stadium permission overthrown in the High Court in a joint action with Falmer Parish Council and the South Downs Society.

Anti-stadium campaigners are claiming victory but Albion bosses said fans had nothing to worry about and the news was likely to actually speed up the long-running stadium saga.

Albion Chief Executive Martin Perry said: "The club is pleased that the Treasury Solicitor has decided to take this route.

"Although it will give a Pyrrhic victory to Lewes, this is the most sensible and quickest route out of the mess Lewes have created, because the club will not have to wait for a court hearing, or the time it takes for the judgement to be made. It is only a minor technicality and was not a determining factor in the decision."

He said it would not affect the club's latest target of opening the £50 million arena in time for the 2009/10 season.

Club chairman Dick Knight added: "It is extremely frustrating that Lewes have been be able to delay the process on a technicality. I fail to understand why they should be so hostile towards the stadium, which will bring massive sporting, social and economic benefits, not just to Brighton and Hove but to the whole of Sussex including Lewes."

Mr Prescott will now invite the football club, Lewes District Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and other parties to the planning inquiry to submit written evidence on the mistake.

The ODPM could not say how long that would take or what the outcome would be, but Mr Perry predicts the club will have final, water-tight planning permission by August this year.

But if Mr Prescott says "Yes" again there is a chance Lewes District Council could seek another judicial review.

The boundary issue was not the only point made by the council in its evidence to the High Court. It also questioned whether Mr Prescott was right to allow development on a legally-protected landscape and that he failed to recognise other suitable sites, like Sheepcote Valley and Toad's Hole Valley.

The ODPM spokesman added: "The Secretary of State does not concede on any of the other grounds of challenge that Lewes District Council have made."

Norman Baker MP, who opposed the Falmer site, said: "It seems like a pretty major mistake to make and it will mean more unwelcome uncertainty for both the club and the people of Falmer. I'm not surprised in one way because the ODPM is the most useless department in the Government and John Prescott is a buffoon.

"Whatever happens now we need a decision in the shortest possible time. This can't go on indefinitely."

Tim Carder, chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters' Club, said: "Congratulations to Lewes, it looks like they will have won the day on this one technicality.

"But Mr Prescott wording his decision incorrectly doesn't alter the fact the stadium was approved because it significantly helps the regeneration of a deprived area. It is still in the national interest, and it was given the go-ahead because the benefits hugely outweigh the harm to this nondescript, urbanised part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Falmer For All campaigner Ed Bassford sounded a warning note, saying: "A lot will depend on whether or not Lewes District Council accepts the other points it made were invalid.

"If not then they could well seek another judicial review if Mr Prescott says yes again."

A spokesman for Lewes District Council was unavailable for comment last night.

 

[Storer68]

are we allowed to ask for Supertramp?

 

[supaseagull]

The Seagulls Party won't be making life difficult for the local politicians who have consistently been supporting Falmer Stadium for years.

Good - it's about time people on here gave B&H council some credit for standing by the Albion so much. I wonder how many other councils(Lab, Con or Lib) in the South of England would spend so much time & money assisting their local team.

 

[BensGrandad]

The Volunteer was the flagship of East West Taverns which was owned by Trevor Baker has it changed hands completely or just got a new manager, working for Trevors new company. Compass Taverns who also own Bar Nun in Haywards Heath, amongst many more.

 

[mona]

Good luck.
I'll try to be there. I live 100 miles away.
Shouldn't this be a sticky ahead of all the knob-obsessed threads?

 

[Cheshire Cat]

And that will give the Lewes message exactly how?

What else is planned to attack Lewes on that weekend?

 

[Tooting Gull]

How is the old Seagulls Party membership processing going? Nearly through the backlog?

 

[Yorkie]

 

[Lady Bracknell]

The Volunteer was the flagship of East West Taverns which was owned by Trevor Baker has it changed hands completely or just got a new manager, working for Trevors new company. Compass Taverns who also own Bar Nun in Haywards Heath, amongst many more.

I thought it was owned by Punch Taverns. But that's not important right now. However, Lucy, who took the pub over a while back is absolutely SOUND.