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BRIGHTON and Hove Albion fans last night accused a council of trying to kill off their club after councillors decided to challenge John Prescott's decision on Falmer stadium.
Lewes District Council dealt a blow to thousands of Seagulls fans across Sussex by agreeing to launch a legal bid in the High Court to call for a judicial review.
Club chairman Dick Knight said a successful appeal against Prescott's decision to allow the stadium at Falmer would destroy Brighton and Hove Albion.
But he maintained the council's legal challenge would not stop the club from going ahead with plans for the £50 million stadium.
Fans reacted angrily after councillors met in secret, refusing to let the public hear their discussion by barring The Argus from their meeting, before sending out a statement by email to announce their decision.
This is despite a legal appeal by The Argus which called on the council to hold last night's cabinet meeting in public.
The Argus tried to challenge the private meeting by quoting the Local Government Act 1972 which states that council cabinet decisions must be made in public.
But the challenge was refused on the grounds the meeting included legal advice from the council's barristers.
Cabinet members left via fire exit doors, not the main exit, after the meeting.
Tim Carder, chairman of the Albion's supporters' club, accused the council of trying to destroy the Seagulls.
He said: "I can only conclude that Lewes District Council is seeking to delay the building of the stadium in the hope that the Albion go under for financial reasons.
"Despite the lip-service paid in their statement to the need for a new home for the club, it's obvious to me that they are anti-Albion and would be happy to see the club go out of business.
"Fortunately the club - the board, the staff and the supporters - are strong and are as one on this. There might be more delay and uncertainty, but we will come through this, just as we have with every other obstacle put in our path over the last decade."
After the meeting, Lewes District Council released this statement: "John Prescott's decision to grant planning permission for a new football stadium at Falmer is to be challenged in the High Court because it conflicts with his own Government's planning guidance, designed to protect Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) against this sort of development and because a number of important planning issues were either overlooked or were not properly considered."
The council said it decided to proceed with the legal challenge after taking advice from a barrister.
It said: "The district council has never argued that the Albion should not have a new stadium and believes there are alternative sites available which are more suitable for this development."
Council leader Ann De Vecchi refused to about the decision, saying she would not comment until discussions with "interested parties" were over.
The decision is a bombshell to thousands of fans who only a month ago were jubilantly celebrating when the 22,000-seater stadium was given the go-ahead after a seven-year battle and two public inquiries.
Mr Knight said: "We will carry on with business as usual. We are determined to get this stadium.
"It's bad news for our fans but totally predictable. Lewes District Council has done everything possible to stop this stadium happening.
"Myself and Martin Perry are very pragmatic and we don't count our chickens. It does not surprise me they are going to lodge this appeal. There is no guarantee that the judge will say there is a justified reason for lodging it anyway.
"Why don't they actually name a better site and tell me where it is. We would be only too happy to go there."
A High Court judge will now consider whether or not to hear the appeal. If it goes ahead, the judge could order Mr Prescott to revisit the report from the third planning inspector.
This could be a lengthy process before he has to make a decision for a second time.
Paul Samrah, of the Falmer For All campaign, said: "The fans will be absolutely horrified and totally shocked.
"To commit more public money to this would be an absolute abuse."
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It's a dreadful waste of time and public money apart from anything else. It's also a total abuse of power. The fact that the council did all this in a closed meeting shows what a complete and utter bunch of wankers they are. I think that their council tax payers should refuse to pay until they cease this ridiculous charade.
Lewes District Council dealt a blow to thousands of Seagulls fans across Sussex by agreeing to launch a legal bid in the High Court to call for a judicial review.
Club chairman Dick Knight said a successful appeal against Prescott's decision to allow the stadium at Falmer would destroy Brighton and Hove Albion.
But he maintained the council's legal challenge would not stop the club from going ahead with plans for the £50 million stadium.
Fans reacted angrily after councillors met in secret, refusing to let the public hear their discussion by barring The Argus from their meeting, before sending out a statement by email to announce their decision.
This is despite a legal appeal by The Argus which called on the council to hold last night's cabinet meeting in public.
The Argus tried to challenge the private meeting by quoting the Local Government Act 1972 which states that council cabinet decisions must be made in public.
But the challenge was refused on the grounds the meeting included legal advice from the council's barristers.
Cabinet members left via fire exit doors, not the main exit, after the meeting.
Tim Carder, chairman of the Albion's supporters' club, accused the council of trying to destroy the Seagulls.
He said: "I can only conclude that Lewes District Council is seeking to delay the building of the stadium in the hope that the Albion go under for financial reasons.
"Despite the lip-service paid in their statement to the need for a new home for the club, it's obvious to me that they are anti-Albion and would be happy to see the club go out of business.
"Fortunately the club - the board, the staff and the supporters - are strong and are as one on this. There might be more delay and uncertainty, but we will come through this, just as we have with every other obstacle put in our path over the last decade."
After the meeting, Lewes District Council released this statement: "John Prescott's decision to grant planning permission for a new football stadium at Falmer is to be challenged in the High Court because it conflicts with his own Government's planning guidance, designed to protect Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) against this sort of development and because a number of important planning issues were either overlooked or were not properly considered."
The council said it decided to proceed with the legal challenge after taking advice from a barrister.
It said: "The district council has never argued that the Albion should not have a new stadium and believes there are alternative sites available which are more suitable for this development."
Council leader Ann De Vecchi refused to about the decision, saying she would not comment until discussions with "interested parties" were over.
The decision is a bombshell to thousands of fans who only a month ago were jubilantly celebrating when the 22,000-seater stadium was given the go-ahead after a seven-year battle and two public inquiries.
Mr Knight said: "We will carry on with business as usual. We are determined to get this stadium.
"It's bad news for our fans but totally predictable. Lewes District Council has done everything possible to stop this stadium happening.
"Myself and Martin Perry are very pragmatic and we don't count our chickens. It does not surprise me they are going to lodge this appeal. There is no guarantee that the judge will say there is a justified reason for lodging it anyway.
"Why don't they actually name a better site and tell me where it is. We would be only too happy to go there."
A High Court judge will now consider whether or not to hear the appeal. If it goes ahead, the judge could order Mr Prescott to revisit the report from the third planning inspector.
This could be a lengthy process before he has to make a decision for a second time.
Paul Samrah, of the Falmer For All campaign, said: "The fans will be absolutely horrified and totally shocked.
"To commit more public money to this would be an absolute abuse."
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It's a dreadful waste of time and public money apart from anything else. It's also a total abuse of power. The fact that the council did all this in a closed meeting shows what a complete and utter bunch of wankers they are. I think that their council tax payers should refuse to pay until they cease this ridiculous charade.
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