2000 extra seats, whats happening...

[Caveman]

Has anyone got a clue? Because we certainly need them.

 

[saltash seagull]

perry said in the argus a few months back that it would cost us £250,000 if we didnt go up cos of the empty new seats in the away end that we wouldn't be able to sell to home fans! well doesn't look like it's gonna make much difference cos they certainly aint gonna be in for the start of the season

 

[Curious Orange]

My understanding is that the council are looking for a suitable place for the additional park and ride site that is required before the seats can be put in.

Lord B has posted something about this before - basically the Carden Avenue (or is it Road, sorry I'm not local) site won't get passed by the planning committee, so a site they can approve needs to be found.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Carden Avenue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tut tut tut

 

[Comedy Steve]

Didn't Asda object and then hastily withdraw their objection when it went public?

 

[Curious Orange]

Carden Avenue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tut tut tut

Well how am I supposed to know? I'm from Haywards Heath, and I haven't even lived there since I was 5!!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

My understanding is that the council are looking for a suitable place for the additional park and ride site that is required before the seats can be put in.

Lord B has posted something about this before - basically the Carden Avenue (or is it Road, sorry I'm not local) site won't get passed by the planning committee, so a site they can approve needs to be found.

Because the Council no longer has a Labour majority, committee decisions are less predictable than they used to be.

The extra seats already have planning permission, but this is subject to a suitable park and ride site being found (and approved by the Council). The plans that were drawn up for Carden Avenue were opposed by a small number of Withdean residents (who temporarily dragged ASDA into the case - until NSC frightened them off). But the Withdean people were successful in getting the Council nervous about the likelihood of the Carden Avenue road closure arrangements being approved by the Environment Committee and the issue was therefore withdrawn from the Committee's agenda - on a promise (made publicly by Councillor Gill Mitchell) that the Council would help find an alternative solution that would satisfy the planning condition.

What's happened since? I don't know.

 

[Albionite83]

The fact that we are having so much trouble getting even this number of extra seats at Withdean strengthens even further the argument for Falmer.

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

I think we've been holding back on committing ourselves to putting in these extra seats until we knew what division we were going to be in next season. Martin Perry stated in the Argus a couple of months ago that the extra seats could cost us over £250,000 if we stayed in Division 2 because those extra seats were mainly for away supporters of which there would be less in Div 2. Now we are in Division 1 and facing the likes of Leeds, West Ham and Sunderland we might see some progress.

 

[Albion Dan]

These seats would help us out so much, to have a ground that holds 9000 will make withdean so much more respectable. Away teams like Leeds, Ipswich, West ham, Forest, Sunderland, QPR, Sheff Utd, Millwall etc will easily fill a 2000 away end up.

I just cant see it happening though!

 

[Dave the OAP]

I thought the original plans were for a stand at the west end of the ground, with its own entrance etc etc which would hold 1000 ish and be designated for away fans use.

We would move the changing rooms etc into the sports centre and extend the stand now occupied by away fans out along behind the goal giving an extra 1000 sets there.

If this is going to go ahead, I assume they will have to get on with it sharpish.

 

[elbowpatches]

they've been banging on about extra seats for a couple of years. I hope it does happen but don't count your chickens.

 

[Fridge Man]

Well how am I supposed to know? I'm from Haywards Heath, and I haven't even lived there since I was 5!!

Haywards Heath tut tut tut

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Well how am I supposed to know? I'm from Haywards Heath, and I haven't even lived there since I was 5!!

By hove born and bred's logic, you and I, sir, should both be C****** P***** supporters, as we both live closer to Smellworst than Withdean. Seriously, though, the issue of the seats does worry. I suppose the greyhound stadium car park could be used, as it was in the Goldstone days. I would prefer to see a permanent stand at the East End, with a roof, but that of course risks Withdean being seen as acceptable, and would put Falmer at risk, which cannot happen at all costs.

 

[Northstander]

Let these bigger clubs see Withdean and the situation we are in, it will on help get the YES!!