ShorehamGull
He's now back
Inquiry day 21 (Wednesday 14th April)
It was a return to the NSC inquiry team for me after being unable to attend yesterday afternoon’s session.
No, I was not suspended or suffering injury, I just had to attend a job interview, so my priorities were pushed away from giving inquiry support to the Albion but also being able see Megan.
I arrived all in good time today, 45 minutes to be exact, and the only other person I found in the room at the time was Mr Clay, he was carefully reading some notes or it may have been a copy of this weeks Dennis the Menace comic.
I had turned up early under the impression is was a 9:30 kick off, but soon found out it was a 10am start, this makes a change because I am usually late.
Gaffer arrived 5 minutes after me and was under the same impression as me that it was a 9:30 start. After conversation with Gaffer I soon realised what I had missed yesterday, all this trouble starts when I’m not there.
I blamed Gaffer for not keeping control of yesterday’s session properly, and not sending off anyone that was out of order.
Megan arrived with her usually radiant smile, as I said “Good Morning” to her. After a “Good Morning” reply to me she proceeded to her seat, which for the last couple of days has been on the dark side of the chamber (Nimby Gallery). This is not Megan’s fault; there are no seats available that are within easy hearing distance of Mr Clay, but there again I can offer a lap she can sit on.
Today’s session was a continuation of yesterday witness Mr Joseph Ellis, the transport expert for Toads Hole Valley. I think someone has found it funny to stick superglue on the witnesses’ chair, because they always seem to spend hours in that chair within moving a muscle.
Mr Clay continued cross examination of Mr Ellis about his evidence on the transport issues of THV. Mr Clay asks about available car parking on the THV site next to the stadium, of which 1467 spaces will be available for weekend matches and 700 for weekday matches. Mr Ellis explained that a reduced number of cars on weekdays coming to THV would easily reduce congestion in the surrounding area. But as Mr Clay pointed out this would cause more people to park in residential streets in the Toad Hole area for those who could not get any available spaces nearer the stadium.
The debate went to issues concerning the congestion that would be caused at the Dyke Road roundabout and the slip roads that go from it (East and West bound).
Mr Clay challenged Mr Ellis about congestion on the slip road heading west bound from Brighton up to the Dyke Road roundabout. From his calculation Mr Clay carefully worked out that there would be too much congestion on the slip road and tail backs would go back up to and beyond the A23/A27 westbound turn off. Mr Clay said the Highways agency would reject any transport application for that area because of safety.
Mr Ellis claimed that only a small amount of congestion would be caused, but his calculations were only based on cars, he had not allowed for coaches, buses, etc.
Mr Ellis in his evidence had ear-marked Mill Road as a possible good park and ride area for up to 1500 cars, but the thing is that parts of the Mill Road are within the AONB.
This got me thinking about his Mill Road idea, and yes I do think from time to time. Let’s say the stadium goes at THV and we park our cars in Mill Road, how are we going to negotiate getting across the Dyke road roundabout and down Kings George 6th Avenue? Have we got to have a lollipop lady standing there stopping hundreds of cars so we can get to the stadium?
Battles went on about traffic and congestion before Mr Clay finished before lunch to have treatment on his back by a young lady physio, Mr Clay came back after lunch in a very good mood.
Anyway Miss McPherson was the next to get down and dirty with Mr Ellis, asking him a series of questions about walking times and distances to and from train stations for THV
At one point Miss McPherson blew her top after Mr White kept on interrupting and trying to answer Mr Ellis questions for him. Miss McPherson shouted saying “Mr White will you PLEASE NOT interrupt me while I am asking Mr Ellis questions”, Mr White leaped to his feet saying he did not agree with the questions, Mr Brier steps in to break up the fight for which I think Miss M would of won.
Miss McPherson finished, and after a few questions from Mr White concerning Sheepcote Valley, Mr Ellis could now get unstuck from his seat.
And that was the completion of the day for everyone, as the bell went for end of another inquiry day.
We have a possible half day tomorrow with Ms Hazel McKay (Regency Society) reading her closing submission.
It also looks as though the inquiry will be sitting on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of May now instead of just the 4th of May like originally scheduled at the end beginning of the week. This is so that LDC, Brighton and Hove City council and the club can read their closing submission.
Much to my disappointment it looks as though it’s Megan last day tomorrow, she is moving to another department within the company she works for, I am certainly going to miss her. Also it’s possibly my last day at the inquiry as well because of work commitments. Ok I don’t yet know the outcome of yesterday’s job interview until next week, but there is a good possibility I will be working somewhere when the inquiry is back on again for those few days in May.
SG News at 23:30 Brighton Town Hall
It was a return to the NSC inquiry team for me after being unable to attend yesterday afternoon’s session.
No, I was not suspended or suffering injury, I just had to attend a job interview, so my priorities were pushed away from giving inquiry support to the Albion but also being able see Megan.
I arrived all in good time today, 45 minutes to be exact, and the only other person I found in the room at the time was Mr Clay, he was carefully reading some notes or it may have been a copy of this weeks Dennis the Menace comic.
I had turned up early under the impression is was a 9:30 kick off, but soon found out it was a 10am start, this makes a change because I am usually late.
Gaffer arrived 5 minutes after me and was under the same impression as me that it was a 9:30 start. After conversation with Gaffer I soon realised what I had missed yesterday, all this trouble starts when I’m not there.
I blamed Gaffer for not keeping control of yesterday’s session properly, and not sending off anyone that was out of order.
Megan arrived with her usually radiant smile, as I said “Good Morning” to her. After a “Good Morning” reply to me she proceeded to her seat, which for the last couple of days has been on the dark side of the chamber (Nimby Gallery). This is not Megan’s fault; there are no seats available that are within easy hearing distance of Mr Clay, but there again I can offer a lap she can sit on.
Today’s session was a continuation of yesterday witness Mr Joseph Ellis, the transport expert for Toads Hole Valley. I think someone has found it funny to stick superglue on the witnesses’ chair, because they always seem to spend hours in that chair within moving a muscle.
Mr Clay continued cross examination of Mr Ellis about his evidence on the transport issues of THV. Mr Clay asks about available car parking on the THV site next to the stadium, of which 1467 spaces will be available for weekend matches and 700 for weekday matches. Mr Ellis explained that a reduced number of cars on weekdays coming to THV would easily reduce congestion in the surrounding area. But as Mr Clay pointed out this would cause more people to park in residential streets in the Toad Hole area for those who could not get any available spaces nearer the stadium.
The debate went to issues concerning the congestion that would be caused at the Dyke Road roundabout and the slip roads that go from it (East and West bound).
Mr Clay challenged Mr Ellis about congestion on the slip road heading west bound from Brighton up to the Dyke Road roundabout. From his calculation Mr Clay carefully worked out that there would be too much congestion on the slip road and tail backs would go back up to and beyond the A23/A27 westbound turn off. Mr Clay said the Highways agency would reject any transport application for that area because of safety.
Mr Ellis claimed that only a small amount of congestion would be caused, but his calculations were only based on cars, he had not allowed for coaches, buses, etc.
Mr Ellis in his evidence had ear-marked Mill Road as a possible good park and ride area for up to 1500 cars, but the thing is that parts of the Mill Road are within the AONB.
This got me thinking about his Mill Road idea, and yes I do think from time to time. Let’s say the stadium goes at THV and we park our cars in Mill Road, how are we going to negotiate getting across the Dyke road roundabout and down Kings George 6th Avenue? Have we got to have a lollipop lady standing there stopping hundreds of cars so we can get to the stadium?
Battles went on about traffic and congestion before Mr Clay finished before lunch to have treatment on his back by a young lady physio, Mr Clay came back after lunch in a very good mood.
Anyway Miss McPherson was the next to get down and dirty with Mr Ellis, asking him a series of questions about walking times and distances to and from train stations for THV
At one point Miss McPherson blew her top after Mr White kept on interrupting and trying to answer Mr Ellis questions for him. Miss McPherson shouted saying “Mr White will you PLEASE NOT interrupt me while I am asking Mr Ellis questions”, Mr White leaped to his feet saying he did not agree with the questions, Mr Brier steps in to break up the fight for which I think Miss M would of won.
Miss McPherson finished, and after a few questions from Mr White concerning Sheepcote Valley, Mr Ellis could now get unstuck from his seat.
And that was the completion of the day for everyone, as the bell went for end of another inquiry day.
We have a possible half day tomorrow with Ms Hazel McKay (Regency Society) reading her closing submission.
It also looks as though the inquiry will be sitting on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of May now instead of just the 4th of May like originally scheduled at the end beginning of the week. This is so that LDC, Brighton and Hove City council and the club can read their closing submission.
Much to my disappointment it looks as though it’s Megan last day tomorrow, she is moving to another department within the company she works for, I am certainly going to miss her. Also it’s possibly my last day at the inquiry as well because of work commitments. Ok I don’t yet know the outcome of yesterday’s job interview until next week, but there is a good possibility I will be working somewhere when the inquiry is back on again for those few days in May.
SG News at 23:30 Brighton Town Hall
