LDC Tory Group Back Falmer Stadium and Oppose an Appeal

[Lord Bracknell]

LEWES DISTRICT COUNCIL…CONSERVATIVE GROUP

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Community Stadium Falmer


At the Local Elections in May the Conservative Party made 6 gains from the Liberal Democrats to bring its representation up to 17 out of a total of 41. The majority party remains the Liberal Democrats.

The Liberal Democrats have undertaken to decide swiftly their decision on an appeal. Their Lead Councillor for Planning has expressed concern that the decision of Hazel Blears will weaken environmental protection in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Environmental Protection is not enhanced by the granting by this selfsame Liberal Democrat Council of permission for a Wind Turbine within the designated South Downs National Park. That decision could as a precedent lead to a blighting of the countryside when future applications are determined and was taken contrary to the recommendations of their officers. It is when it suits them that Liberal Democrats hold themselves out as protectors of the environment

The continuation of the saga of Falmer by means of an appeal will in our view be a waste of public money. Many of us in the Conservative party including Parliamentary candidates for the Lewes Constituency have campaigned for the stadium and wish that this seemingly never ending saga is brought to an end. Enough is enough.


Tony Nicholson

Deputy Leader
Conservative Group
Lewes District Council.

28th July 2007

 

[cjd]

LB, do you think this statement will influence the decision of the Lib Dems on LDC......?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It certainly means that there won't be a unanimous decision of the LDC Cabinet Committee to back an appeal. Councillor Tony Nicholson and his two Conservative colleagues are now publicly committed to vote against such action.

Even if they unearth some tenuous grounds for taking Hazel Blears' decision to appeal, I also expect that the LDC Planning Officer will repeat the advice that he gave to councillors last time:-


"Whilst your officers accept counsel's advice that there is a 'reasonable to good prospect' of succeeding in the High Court, they have misgivings about the likelihood of the Secretary of State reaching any different conclusions on a redetermination. They believe that there is a strong possibility, given the history of the matter to date, that the Secretary of State would still grant planning permission on a redetermination".

 

[pasty]

Quote "Environmental Protection is not enhanced by the granting by this selfsame Liberal Democrat Council of permission for a Wind Turbine within the designated South Downs National Park. That decision could as a precedent lead to a blighting of the countryside when future applications are determined and was taken contrary to the recommendations of their officers. It is when it suits them that Liberal Democrats hold themselves out as protectors of the environment"

 

[Goodfella]

This is good news putting even further pressure on the Lib Dems not to launch an appeal, i hope they will now do the sensible thing and retreat quietly.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Good old Tories.

 

[Napper]

come on LDC , publically say that you are not appealing any more , the pressure to do so is immense.

 

[The Oldman]

It's the Falmer lot that worry me.

 

[cannedheat]

It's the Falmer lot that worry me.

Me to

 

[reuters]

It's the Falmer lot that worry me.

agreed

but they can't appeal alone, can they? they need LDC, don't they?

 

[byf]

I know its not over yet to the word...and were all waiting for them to say "were not appealing"

But last time they scrapped up something and had half of an argument..they now day by day are losing all there support and arguments.

People who backed anti falmer and LDC are slowly coming out of the woodwork & admitting defeat, they have no fight left. The AONB is now gone, the decision has again been granted in our favour by Hazell....for 2nd time

They have nothing left....IT'S OVER!

We know it and so do they!

Theres no way it will continue.

 

[Strike]

Good news just hope this Falmer saga can end with a new ground ASAP.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

LDC Lib Dems starting to look a bit ISOLATED

 

[dougdeep]

Most of the Tory gains were in Seaford.

 

[portslade seagull]

lets just keep our fingers crossed

 

[ROSM]

LDC Lib Dems starting to look a bit ISOLATED

funny that :yahoo:

 

[NMH]

Looks like a bit of added pressure from other political parties, and that they really have wasted their constituent's money.

Imho, their only good bet would be to concede defeat as gracefully as they can (now), lick their wounds and try to make up for what they've been doing, in order to try winning some voting friends to replace the ground they've lost.

That money could have been spent on refurbishing some of the history that Lewes holds dear, for future generations to admire after they'd enjoyed the modern facilities they'll be thankful to have at Falmer Stadium.

 

[El Presidente]

I suspect that the Lib-Dems will choose not to appeal, but will wait until the last minute until they do so. Throughout this tortuous process it has been clear that their motivation has been one of spite, and a desire for the club to go into administration by racking up the costs as much as possible, whilst spending public money without a care in the world.

They have not come out of this with any credit whatsoever, and as someone who has voted for them regularly in the past (mainly for tactical reasons, but with some support for their policies), it has been a permanent parting of the ways between them and me.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Got this off the LDC website:

'The political composition of the Council is as follows:

Liberal Democrat Group 23
Conservative Group 17
Independent 1'

Who is the Independent councillor, does anybody know? Could he/she be asked for a statement as to whether they're pro-Falmer? Every little helps

 

[dougdeep]

Got this off the LDC website:

'The political composition of the Council is as follows:

Liberal Democrat Group 23
Conservative Group 17
Independent 1'

Who is the Independent councillor, does anybody know? Could he/she be asked for a statement as to whether they're pro-Falmer? Every little helps

http://www.councillor.info/lewes.aspx?WardCode=GP&LaCode=21UF

Ruth O'Keefe