Today's Argus
Lewes District Council has been accused of risking a £160,000 legal bill by trying to block Brighton and Hove Albion's Falmer stadium.
The club's financial experts have estimated that defending the challenge in the High Court could cost the council three times more than it has budgeted.
The club will today appeal to cabinet members to abandon the expensive court battle over the £50 million stadium. Club supporters will also present councillors with a 5,165-signature petition asking them to drop the fight.
Following a public inquiry, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ruled in October that a stadium could be built in Falmer, which stands in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
But Lewes District Council, supported by Falmer Parish Council, the South Downs Society and with funding from the South Downs Joint Committee, has launched proceedings for a judicial review of the decision, saying Mr Prescott's reasoning was flawed.
Lewes District Council had previously estimated losing the case could make it liable for up to £65,000 in costs incurred by Mr Prescott's department.
It has set aside £25,000 from a contingency fund for fighting planning appeals.
Falmer Parish Council would contribute £30,000, the Sussex Downs Society has committed £5,000 and the South Downs Joint Committee has promised £5,000.
The council says council tax levels would not be affected because the money is coming from a ring-fenced planning appeals fund held in its reserve budget.
But the council could end up facing even more costs if it were to lose the appeal. Albion directors said yesterday that if the Seagulls won, they intended to sue for their own legal bill of up to £90,000.
They said that as Lewes District Council had named the club as a "defendant" rather than an "interested party", they had a good case for their costs to be paid.
Brighton and Hove City Council's costs are expected to be up to £5,000.
The Albion's chief executive Martin Perry said: "This is yet another financial burden for the club we could do without.
"We have been named as a defendant and we will be going to court - along with the city council and the Government - to defend ourselves.
"We remain extremely confident that Mr Prescott's decision will be upheld in the High Court and, unfortunately, the taxpayers in Lewes will be left to bear the brunt of the cost."
The building of the 22,000-seater stadium was due to start this year but must wait after the hearing. Work is expected to take two years.
The petition will be presented today by Ed Bassford, an Albion fan who lives in Firle, near Lewes. He said: "The district council is taking a very high financial risk. It should withdraw the case. It would be a risk to the council tax-payers of Lewes."
Tim Carder, chairman of the Albion's supporters' club and a Seagulls historian, will also quiz the council on its financial position and democratic processes.
Lewes District Council disputed that it could be liable for the costs incurred by the football club or city council.
It said the case only called into question the reasoning of the Deputy Prime Minister's decision.
Neil Commin, Lewes's lead councillor for planning, said: "So far, we have heard nothing from John Prescott's office in response to the appeal.
"We have heard that the city and Albion may want to be represented at the High Court hearing. That is up to them but, if they do, it may delay the hearing.
"The district council will not have any liability for its costs."
But the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said that, in theory, if the claimants lose a challenge, the court could rule that the costs of co-defendants must be paid.
Lewes District Council has been accused of risking a £160,000 legal bill by trying to block Brighton and Hove Albion's Falmer stadium.
The club's financial experts have estimated that defending the challenge in the High Court could cost the council three times more than it has budgeted.
The club will today appeal to cabinet members to abandon the expensive court battle over the £50 million stadium. Club supporters will also present councillors with a 5,165-signature petition asking them to drop the fight.
Following a public inquiry, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ruled in October that a stadium could be built in Falmer, which stands in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
But Lewes District Council, supported by Falmer Parish Council, the South Downs Society and with funding from the South Downs Joint Committee, has launched proceedings for a judicial review of the decision, saying Mr Prescott's reasoning was flawed.
Lewes District Council had previously estimated losing the case could make it liable for up to £65,000 in costs incurred by Mr Prescott's department.
It has set aside £25,000 from a contingency fund for fighting planning appeals.
Falmer Parish Council would contribute £30,000, the Sussex Downs Society has committed £5,000 and the South Downs Joint Committee has promised £5,000.
The council says council tax levels would not be affected because the money is coming from a ring-fenced planning appeals fund held in its reserve budget.
But the council could end up facing even more costs if it were to lose the appeal. Albion directors said yesterday that if the Seagulls won, they intended to sue for their own legal bill of up to £90,000.
They said that as Lewes District Council had named the club as a "defendant" rather than an "interested party", they had a good case for their costs to be paid.
Brighton and Hove City Council's costs are expected to be up to £5,000.
The Albion's chief executive Martin Perry said: "This is yet another financial burden for the club we could do without.
"We have been named as a defendant and we will be going to court - along with the city council and the Government - to defend ourselves.
"We remain extremely confident that Mr Prescott's decision will be upheld in the High Court and, unfortunately, the taxpayers in Lewes will be left to bear the brunt of the cost."
The building of the 22,000-seater stadium was due to start this year but must wait after the hearing. Work is expected to take two years.
The petition will be presented today by Ed Bassford, an Albion fan who lives in Firle, near Lewes. He said: "The district council is taking a very high financial risk. It should withdraw the case. It would be a risk to the council tax-payers of Lewes."
Tim Carder, chairman of the Albion's supporters' club and a Seagulls historian, will also quiz the council on its financial position and democratic processes.
Lewes District Council disputed that it could be liable for the costs incurred by the football club or city council.
It said the case only called into question the reasoning of the Deputy Prime Minister's decision.
Neil Commin, Lewes's lead councillor for planning, said: "So far, we have heard nothing from John Prescott's office in response to the appeal.
"We have heard that the city and Albion may want to be represented at the High Court hearing. That is up to them but, if they do, it may delay the hearing.
"The district council will not have any liability for its costs."
But the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said that, in theory, if the claimants lose a challenge, the court could rule that the costs of co-defendants must be paid.
