FALMER - Major progress

[Gritt23]

Please put to bed a fear of mine.

They have agreed the "access route" so basically that is the road layout.

I COULD be wrong, but I thought the Uni were bickering over who decides whether we are in breach of any of our contractual agreements during our tenancy at Falmer. It was all set to be the Local Government but the Uni were saying they weren't impartial enough, and wanted to decide themselves whether we were ever in breach.

Am I just making this up, or have I just got terribly confused somewhere along the line?

 

[Curious Orange]

Hurrah!!!!

I'm going to do my broken record bit now:

If you haven't yet written to Mr Prescott in support of the Stadium at Falmer then please do so now, and get your friends and family to do so too. This is vital to the future viability of our beloved Albion!!

 

[Bob!]

What happens next...
4. The Public Inquiry will also hear that the agreement between the Club and the University means that there will be no need for compulsory purchase to be used. (Which makes the whole project so much simpler).

From the story on the Official Site:

The club have modified their plans in agreement with the University of Brighton. The University are supporting the stadium proposals at Falmer so long as agreement can be reached on issues that enable the campus and the stadium to successfully co-exist.

The University were not happy with the access arrangements that were proposed in the original application. The modified layout meets their concerns and they will be supporting this new application. Discussion on the remaining issues is making good progress.

So hold your horses!!

Sounds like there's still a bit of talking yet to do!

 

[Mustela Furo]

Any ideas of timescales for these next steps?

Oct 14th - enquiry resumes for one week

Around Nov 1st - Inspector passes his report to John Prescott - expected to be positive

Open Ended - Prescott makes his decision (the club will be lobbying for a rapid decision - so hopefully before the end of the year)

and then ...

Either

Spring 2004 - some dick head in Falmer with more money than sense funds a judicial review or an appeal to the EU

Some time in 2008 - we finally get to start building

or

Spring 2004 - Plans revealed for the vacation of the University buildings on the site.

Summer 2004 - The bulldozers move in.

Late 2005 - First game at Falmer

 

[Icy Gull]

What happens next...

1. The Club submit a formal planning application to Lewes District Council for the revised access arrangements.

2. The Secretary of State calls in this application and refers it to the Public Inquiry (which has already been adjourned to the autumn).

3. When the Public Inquiry resumes, it will hear any objections to the new access arrangements. Falmer Parish Council are certain to be an objector. But the University of Brighton will be supporting the application.

4. The Public Inquiry will also hear that the agreement between the Club and the University means that there will be no need for compulsory purchase to be used. (Which makes the whole project so much simpler).

5. The Inspector will hear the evidence and reach his conclusions, which will be added to the Report on the rest of the Public Inquiry evidence that he has already heard.

6. The Report will be submitted to the Secretary of State with the Inspector's recommendations.

7. The Secretary of State then gives his decision.

8. Construction starts.

9. Construction finishes.

10. We start bickering about the need to strengthen the squad for the first game at Falmer.

11. Dick Knight won't resign.

12. E-Block Ernie demands a return to Gillingham.

13. Albion win their first game at Falmer.

14 FG spontaneously combusts as Dick Knight unveils his pipe dream and life without moaning about the Albion becomes unbearable.

 

[Turkey]

I wonder how far Bobby's million went to sorting this out.

 

[Zeitgeist]

7. The Secretary of State then gives his decision.

8. Construction starts.

9. Construction finishes.



[/B]

What is the chance though: betwen 7 and 8, some 80 year old lady from Falmer requesting a judicial review, a la the Withdean seats? Although any request may be groundless, this could be used a a nimby tactic to delay building, thus bleeding the Albion dry of more money. If that fails, no doubt they'll be beating a path to the European court of human rights!

Lord B...any views re the above?

 

[Turkey]

WE WANT FALMER
WE WANT FALMER
WE WANT FALMER

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What is the chance though: betwen 7 and 8, some 80 year old lady from Falmer requesting a judicial review, a la the Withdean seats? Although any request may be groundless, this could be used a a nimby tactic to delay building, thus bleeding the Albion dry of more money. If that fails, no doubt they'll be beating a path to the European court of human rights!

Lord B...any views re the above?

It's interesting that the race to the European Court in the case of the Arsenal stadium is being led by Charlie Hopkins, who also doubles up as the lawyer for Falmer Parish Council in our case.

My guess is that he will be given short shrift in the Arsenal case and he won't even bother to challenge the Falmer decision.

People moan about the costs the Albion have been incurring in fighting the Public Inquiry. One of the things that Dick Knight has been getting for his money is top quality legal advice. If it keeps us bombproof, it will have been worth every penny.

Keep the Faith!

 

[Blackadder]

Agreed.

This is hopefully a step in the right direction. I'm not going to get too carried away yet though.

 

[Zebedee]

I assume that if John Prescott approves Falmer that this is final and there is no appeals process but can anyone confirm this pse.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I assume that if John Prescott approves Falmer that this is final and there is no appeals process but can anyone confirm this pse.

Prescott's decision is final.

But every citizen has the right to challenge the legality of a government decision through the High Court. A challenge would have to demonstrate that either the Inspector or the Secretary of State had been in breach of the Town and Country Planning laws. Which is extremely unlikely.

Whilst you can challenge the processes that have been used, you can't use the courts to challenge the opinion of the Inspector or the Secretary of State.

 

[CAFC Matt]

With Blair in govenrment quite a few people may argue

 

[Zebedee]

Prescott's decision is final.

But every citizen has the right to challenge the legality of a government decision through the High Court. A challenge would have to demonstrate that either the Inspector or the Secretary of State had been in breach of the Town and Country Planning laws. Which is extremely unlikely.

Whilst you can challenge the processes that have been used, you can't use the courts to challenge the opinion of the Inspector or the Secretary of State.

Thanks My Lord! Much appreciated.

 

[Exiled in Exeter]

Back of the net.

Now we can look forward to the premiership yoyo status that Coppell was talking about on Sky Sports News. Well give or take 6 years.

 

[Everest]

If we have plans for a "Prescott Stand", would that sway his decision a little?