The Clown of Pevensey Bay
Well-known member
Inquiry day 14 (FRIDAY): You're Going Home In A Sheepcote Ambulance
Today's evidence at Brighton town hall came from the Friends of Sheepcote Valley. LIke us, they don't want a stadium built there, and they gave us plenty of reasons why.
I arrived a bit late, but I gather they started with a slide show presenting many attractive views of the valley. Then a woman who had lived there for thirty-five years told us that there were fifty-six varieties of plant (NOT counting grass) there... "and we want there to be more."
Then the Sheepies' chief protagonist, who suprised Nimby Toff Tosser Barrister Robert White by saying that she wanted to be known as Ms Hawkins (the hapless brief couldn't even pronounce "Ms"!), went on to talk about all the wildlife that exists there. She said there were masses and masses of badgers and weasels, and talked about the joy of seeing mother weasels leading their kittens round the countryside of an evening. "It fills me with joy," she said, "It's like being given a present."
She also mentioned the fact that there were LIZARDS in Sheepcote Valley. A good enough reason to stay well clear, I'd say.
Then she talked about the walks for unhealthy people that she led around the valley, and the positive effect that strolling up and down hills had had on up to thirty unfit Brightonians.
Up to cross examine for Lewes DC got Robert White... pinstripes so bright that I thought a Old Etonian zebra had somehow infiltrated the council chamber. He asked Ms Hawkins to point out where she led her walks, and put to her that none of the paths she used would actually be affected by a stadium at Sheepcote.
She said no they wouldn't, but that wasn't the point. A stadium and car park would destroy the enjoyment of the countryside for walkers.
White then went on to point out that it was quite easy to get to Sheepcote by bus, wasn't it? Yes it was, she said, but could she challenge some of the earlier evidence about walking from railway stations? The Inspector allowed her so to do. She said that the walking time calculated by Lewes's transport expert had negelected to include the fact that there were hills in between the station and Sheepcote. It takes people longer to walk up hills, she mentioned.
She said that by her reckoning, it would take twenty minutes longer than predicted by Lewes for even a fit person to walk from Moulescoomb station to Sheepcote. "And in the winter, which is wehn football is played, they'd be wearing lots of thick clothes. By the time they got to a stadium they'd be sitting for two hours in a pool of their own sweat."
Ms Hawkins, who it was difficult not to applaud from the public seats, then went on to point out that people walking from Moulescoomb station to a stadium at Sheepcote would probably become ill.
Wrapping up the proceedings for the week, the Inspector asked if Jonathan Clay for the Albion or Brighton council's brief had any further questions. "No further questions," they sang out in clear, Friday tones of voice. "Mr White?" asked the inspector.
"No questions." he said as he sat down, his voice lower than an unhappy mumble.
Today's evidence at Brighton town hall came from the Friends of Sheepcote Valley. LIke us, they don't want a stadium built there, and they gave us plenty of reasons why.
I arrived a bit late, but I gather they started with a slide show presenting many attractive views of the valley. Then a woman who had lived there for thirty-five years told us that there were fifty-six varieties of plant (NOT counting grass) there... "and we want there to be more."
Then the Sheepies' chief protagonist, who suprised Nimby Toff Tosser Barrister Robert White by saying that she wanted to be known as Ms Hawkins (the hapless brief couldn't even pronounce "Ms"!), went on to talk about all the wildlife that exists there. She said there were masses and masses of badgers and weasels, and talked about the joy of seeing mother weasels leading their kittens round the countryside of an evening. "It fills me with joy," she said, "It's like being given a present."
She also mentioned the fact that there were LIZARDS in Sheepcote Valley. A good enough reason to stay well clear, I'd say.
Then she talked about the walks for unhealthy people that she led around the valley, and the positive effect that strolling up and down hills had had on up to thirty unfit Brightonians.
Up to cross examine for Lewes DC got Robert White... pinstripes so bright that I thought a Old Etonian zebra had somehow infiltrated the council chamber. He asked Ms Hawkins to point out where she led her walks, and put to her that none of the paths she used would actually be affected by a stadium at Sheepcote.
She said no they wouldn't, but that wasn't the point. A stadium and car park would destroy the enjoyment of the countryside for walkers.
White then went on to point out that it was quite easy to get to Sheepcote by bus, wasn't it? Yes it was, she said, but could she challenge some of the earlier evidence about walking from railway stations? The Inspector allowed her so to do. She said that the walking time calculated by Lewes's transport expert had negelected to include the fact that there were hills in between the station and Sheepcote. It takes people longer to walk up hills, she mentioned.
She said that by her reckoning, it would take twenty minutes longer than predicted by Lewes for even a fit person to walk from Moulescoomb station to Sheepcote. "And in the winter, which is wehn football is played, they'd be wearing lots of thick clothes. By the time they got to a stadium they'd be sitting for two hours in a pool of their own sweat."
Ms Hawkins, who it was difficult not to applaud from the public seats, then went on to point out that people walking from Moulescoomb station to a stadium at Sheepcote would probably become ill.
Wrapping up the proceedings for the week, the Inspector asked if Jonathan Clay for the Albion or Brighton council's brief had any further questions. "No further questions," they sang out in clear, Friday tones of voice. "Mr White?" asked the inspector.
"No questions." he said as he sat down, his voice lower than an unhappy mumble.
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