For what it's worth, here's my letter to Lib Dem councillors at LDC. Similar letter, with some small alterations near the end, going to all other councillors:
Dear ,
A short story about dreams and planning permission
I apologise for the peculiar title above. I’m afraid to be honest this is another letter about Falmer, but not (I hope) one that is immediately consigned to the bin.
When I was growing up in Burgess Hill, over 30 years ago, I dreamed of being a professional footballer. Pretty much every other week I’d jump on the train at Burgess Hill station, headed for Hove, from where I’d make the short walk to the Goldstone Ground to watch my heroes of Brighton & Hove Albion. The football wasn’t always great, but the experience was fantastic. Many years later, I am still a fan (indeed, although I live over a hundred miles from Brighton, I’m still a season ticket holder). Unfortunately the club has been through some very tough times – you will I’m sure be aware of the scandalous deeds of the previous owners, which resulted in the Goldstone Ground being sold, and the club being forced to play “home” games in Gillingham. Although the club is now back in Brighton, the facilities are poor, and it’s much more difficult for young lads (and girls) to just jump on the train and go to watch their heroes. For many kids the dream of playing football for a living is something they can’t now connect with.
However, Brighton & Hove Albion is nothing if not resourceful. For many years now, recognizing that the future of professional football in Sussex rests with the young people of the county, the club has developed the most wonderful youth system. Under the guidance of people like Martin Hinshelwood and Dean Wilkins, an increasing number of young players born or brought up in Sussex are making their way into the first team. Last season two such examples (Adam Virgo and Dan Harding) were sold for combined transfer fees in excess of £2m – sad in one way, but testament (a) to the success of the club’s youth policy, and (b) to the financial realities of fighting for a new ground. In addition to bringing local players through it’s successful youth policy, good players from other Sussex teams can find a route to professional football – recent examples include Albert Jarrett (who was on trial at Lewes), and Doug Loft (signed from Hastings last month).
Fortunately, more and more local people are becoming aware of the club’s youth policy. A couple of weeks ago I had the good fortune to watch Brighton & Hove Albion Under-18s beat Chelsea U-18s in the FA Youth Cup. This was a fantastic achievement – a team comprising entirely of players born or brought up in Sussex defeating the cream of young talent from the world’s richest club. But for me, the best thing about that night was that somewhere between 3,000 – 4,000 people turned up at Withdean on a pretty cold night. Looking around me, it was great to see large groups of children (boys AND girls), with their parents (yes – many mothers!). It was also great to listen to the conversation around me – dads doing their best to explain tactics to their kids, mums chatting with each other, and enjoying the game.
However, despite all that is good about this – despite all the positive work the club does in the community (the half term training camps for kids all over Sussex in the next few weeks is just a minute example), the club is still fighting for a permanent home. Without this, quite simply, the club cannot continue. There will be no more professional football in Sussex. The dreams of thousands of youngsters will die, and the enjoyment which the club brings to tens of thousands of people throughout the county (and beyond) will be no more.
As you know, the club has been seeking planning permission to build a new ground adjacent to the University buildings at Falmer. Although planning permission was finally granted in October last year, Lewes District Council has decided to seek a Judicial Review of that decision. On the face of it, there would seem to be some validity to this challenge. However, dig just a little deeper and the decision seems perverse, to say the least. I really don’t want to waste your time and mine rehearsing the many arguments for and against Falmer – the Public Inquiry did that. What I really want to do is simply to appeal to the sanity of Lewes District Council, and ask for a reconsideration of the decision. Although I’m clearly not a council tax payer in the Lewes area, I DO keep in contact with local issues, and there are quite obviously some major funding priorities surely with greater claim on local funds than a further very costly legal battle over Falmer.
The site is, after all, on the very periphery of Lewes District (indeed, the stadium itself is within Brighton & Hove, not Lewes). The land which the stadium will occupy has been the subject of intensive agriculture for many years, and is hardly a “green field” site. It is adjacent to some rather ugly university buildings and the busy A27 dual carriageway – but fortunately (for public transport access), is also right next to a station.
LDC has decided to commit no more than £25,000 to the Judicial Review. Unfortunately, having started the process, there is no way that LDC can effectively cap it’s exposure to this figure. LDC has named Brighton & Hove Albion as a defendant in the Judicial Review, but somewhat bizarrely Councillor de Vecchi has stated that the club does not need to defend itself! The club has estimated it’s legal costs at around £90,000. The ODPM’s costs will presumably be greater. Total legal costs could easily, therefore, be in the region of a quarter of a million pounds. All of which will need to be met by Lewes District Council if the Judicial Review does not succeed. Some funding has been offered by Falmer Parish Council, but to date I understand that Falmer has been unable to raise the £30,000 it has committed. If the process reaches it’s natural conclusion, I can imagine that many will be nervously awaiting the outcome….not just the football club and LDC, but in particular the council tax payers of Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford, and the surrounding areas.
If the worst (from my perspective) DOES occur, and the Judicial Review is successful, and the further inevitable delays force the club out of existence, there will no doubt be several cheers from a small minority of Falmer residents. But what about the rest of Sussex? The dreams of so many young and budding sportsmen and women will be no more. The joy I saw on those faces at Withdean a few weeks ago as they watched Brighton & Hove Albion’s youth team beating Chelsea – how will that be replaced? A barren field next to some rather ugly university buildings will have been “spared” – but at what cost?
You may wonder what gives me, a resident of Somerset, the right to ramble on at length to local politicians 100 miles from where I live. Well, apart from the obvious issue of my support for Brighton & Hove Albion, I’m a Liberal Democrat voter, and I’ve been dismayed by the stance which LDC has taken over Falmer – it’s bad for the residents of Sussex, and bad for the party. At a time like this, when the LibDems appear to have become a bit of a laughing stock, it’s essential the party does all it can to restore it’s credibility.
I know this letter has rambled on a bit, and if you’re still reading – THANKYOU! My last words are simply these – please take time to think about the path that Lewes District Council is taking. It isn’t too late to reconsider. By accepting the result of the Public Inquiry the councillors would be doing an immense service to the future of sport throughout Sussex, almost certainly saving the council tax payers of Lewes a great deal of money, and saying quite clearly to the people of Sussex and beyond – Yes, we DO listen to the people, and we ARE prepared to be pragmatic for the greater good of ALL. Thousands of youngsters throughout the county can then carry on dreaming!
Dear ,
A short story about dreams and planning permission
I apologise for the peculiar title above. I’m afraid to be honest this is another letter about Falmer, but not (I hope) one that is immediately consigned to the bin.
When I was growing up in Burgess Hill, over 30 years ago, I dreamed of being a professional footballer. Pretty much every other week I’d jump on the train at Burgess Hill station, headed for Hove, from where I’d make the short walk to the Goldstone Ground to watch my heroes of Brighton & Hove Albion. The football wasn’t always great, but the experience was fantastic. Many years later, I am still a fan (indeed, although I live over a hundred miles from Brighton, I’m still a season ticket holder). Unfortunately the club has been through some very tough times – you will I’m sure be aware of the scandalous deeds of the previous owners, which resulted in the Goldstone Ground being sold, and the club being forced to play “home” games in Gillingham. Although the club is now back in Brighton, the facilities are poor, and it’s much more difficult for young lads (and girls) to just jump on the train and go to watch their heroes. For many kids the dream of playing football for a living is something they can’t now connect with.
However, Brighton & Hove Albion is nothing if not resourceful. For many years now, recognizing that the future of professional football in Sussex rests with the young people of the county, the club has developed the most wonderful youth system. Under the guidance of people like Martin Hinshelwood and Dean Wilkins, an increasing number of young players born or brought up in Sussex are making their way into the first team. Last season two such examples (Adam Virgo and Dan Harding) were sold for combined transfer fees in excess of £2m – sad in one way, but testament (a) to the success of the club’s youth policy, and (b) to the financial realities of fighting for a new ground. In addition to bringing local players through it’s successful youth policy, good players from other Sussex teams can find a route to professional football – recent examples include Albert Jarrett (who was on trial at Lewes), and Doug Loft (signed from Hastings last month).
Fortunately, more and more local people are becoming aware of the club’s youth policy. A couple of weeks ago I had the good fortune to watch Brighton & Hove Albion Under-18s beat Chelsea U-18s in the FA Youth Cup. This was a fantastic achievement – a team comprising entirely of players born or brought up in Sussex defeating the cream of young talent from the world’s richest club. But for me, the best thing about that night was that somewhere between 3,000 – 4,000 people turned up at Withdean on a pretty cold night. Looking around me, it was great to see large groups of children (boys AND girls), with their parents (yes – many mothers!). It was also great to listen to the conversation around me – dads doing their best to explain tactics to their kids, mums chatting with each other, and enjoying the game.
However, despite all that is good about this – despite all the positive work the club does in the community (the half term training camps for kids all over Sussex in the next few weeks is just a minute example), the club is still fighting for a permanent home. Without this, quite simply, the club cannot continue. There will be no more professional football in Sussex. The dreams of thousands of youngsters will die, and the enjoyment which the club brings to tens of thousands of people throughout the county (and beyond) will be no more.
As you know, the club has been seeking planning permission to build a new ground adjacent to the University buildings at Falmer. Although planning permission was finally granted in October last year, Lewes District Council has decided to seek a Judicial Review of that decision. On the face of it, there would seem to be some validity to this challenge. However, dig just a little deeper and the decision seems perverse, to say the least. I really don’t want to waste your time and mine rehearsing the many arguments for and against Falmer – the Public Inquiry did that. What I really want to do is simply to appeal to the sanity of Lewes District Council, and ask for a reconsideration of the decision. Although I’m clearly not a council tax payer in the Lewes area, I DO keep in contact with local issues, and there are quite obviously some major funding priorities surely with greater claim on local funds than a further very costly legal battle over Falmer.
The site is, after all, on the very periphery of Lewes District (indeed, the stadium itself is within Brighton & Hove, not Lewes). The land which the stadium will occupy has been the subject of intensive agriculture for many years, and is hardly a “green field” site. It is adjacent to some rather ugly university buildings and the busy A27 dual carriageway – but fortunately (for public transport access), is also right next to a station.
LDC has decided to commit no more than £25,000 to the Judicial Review. Unfortunately, having started the process, there is no way that LDC can effectively cap it’s exposure to this figure. LDC has named Brighton & Hove Albion as a defendant in the Judicial Review, but somewhat bizarrely Councillor de Vecchi has stated that the club does not need to defend itself! The club has estimated it’s legal costs at around £90,000. The ODPM’s costs will presumably be greater. Total legal costs could easily, therefore, be in the region of a quarter of a million pounds. All of which will need to be met by Lewes District Council if the Judicial Review does not succeed. Some funding has been offered by Falmer Parish Council, but to date I understand that Falmer has been unable to raise the £30,000 it has committed. If the process reaches it’s natural conclusion, I can imagine that many will be nervously awaiting the outcome….not just the football club and LDC, but in particular the council tax payers of Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford, and the surrounding areas.
If the worst (from my perspective) DOES occur, and the Judicial Review is successful, and the further inevitable delays force the club out of existence, there will no doubt be several cheers from a small minority of Falmer residents. But what about the rest of Sussex? The dreams of so many young and budding sportsmen and women will be no more. The joy I saw on those faces at Withdean a few weeks ago as they watched Brighton & Hove Albion’s youth team beating Chelsea – how will that be replaced? A barren field next to some rather ugly university buildings will have been “spared” – but at what cost?
You may wonder what gives me, a resident of Somerset, the right to ramble on at length to local politicians 100 miles from where I live. Well, apart from the obvious issue of my support for Brighton & Hove Albion, I’m a Liberal Democrat voter, and I’ve been dismayed by the stance which LDC has taken over Falmer – it’s bad for the residents of Sussex, and bad for the party. At a time like this, when the LibDems appear to have become a bit of a laughing stock, it’s essential the party does all it can to restore it’s credibility.
I know this letter has rambled on a bit, and if you’re still reading – THANKYOU! My last words are simply these – please take time to think about the path that Lewes District Council is taking. It isn’t too late to reconsider. By accepting the result of the Public Inquiry the councillors would be doing an immense service to the future of sport throughout Sussex, almost certainly saving the council tax payers of Lewes a great deal of money, and saying quite clearly to the people of Sussex and beyond – Yes, we DO listen to the people, and we ARE prepared to be pragmatic for the greater good of ALL. Thousands of youngsters throughout the county can then carry on dreaming!
