Public Inquiry Programme - April and May 2005

[Dave the OAP]

So when does the inspector provide his recommendations?

I am 1000% convinced Prescott will say no as there is an alternative ( albeit not as good perhaps) which is Sheepcoat Valley.

I am also ( in conspiratoraial mode) of the opinion that DK knows this and that is why he went ape shit on Talksport!!!!

 

[perseus]

So when does the inspector provide his recommendations?

I am 1000% convinced Prescott will say no as there is an alternative ( albeit not as good perhaps) which is Sheepcoat Valley.

I am also ( in conspiratoraial mode) of the opinion that DK knows this and that is why he went ape shit on Talksport!!!!

Nobody will get in punching distance of Prescott before the Election.

I expect Prescott will have moved to another Ministry by the time the new Inspectors Report appears on the desk of who is responsible?

 

[perseus]

The South-east Plan (operational from 2007) regional planning policies indicate "within areas of protected or sensitive landscapes, including AONBs, development should be small scale and community based"

http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/plan/cons_draft_jan05/sec_d_04-06.pdf

This open to interpretation. It seems, on balance of probability, that the site inspection by the Inspector will clearly confirm that the plan will NOT be rejected because the coach park falls within the technical AONB boundaries. The above regional plan has not come in operation yet, but it indicates the modern thinking. Any precedents about planning permission in an AONB that could be set by granting Falmer will be put into the light of the above (not passed yet).

I will be writing to the South-east planning consultation process, approving the reassessment of the advice regarding AONBs and stating that land-use should be considered on the merits and suitability of the land rather than arbitary boundaries drawn up in the last millennium.

Falmer will not be turned down on transport grounds either.

So the greatest barrier to Falmer is not Prescott or the ODPM but the cost of the project!

It is still a bit of a disappointment to me that the Albion and Brighton Council did not have the guts to go for something a little bit better by locating the stadium in Falmer Village Way Middle (transecting the current road) allowing small scale expansion at a later date. And being further away from the noise of of the roads and railway line.

 

[Gritt23]

IF the Inspector concludes that there is NO alternative suitable site available, I would think it would be a fairly straightforward (and speedy) decision in favour of Falmer.

If the conclusion is that one (or more) alternative site might be suitable and available, the process could be fairly drawn out - possibly with the Albion and the City Council being drawn into yet more correspondence with the ODPM's advisors - and it could be months before we get a decision.

And remember ... the only decision that the Secretary of State is being asked to make is a YES or NO to Falmer. If alternative sites pop into the frame, it would be for the Albion to decide whether to submit a new planning application to the City Council.

In which case Lord B, we'll be able to assume what the decision is based on the time it takes to hear. If we get towards the end of June, and we suddenly hear the announcement will be in the next few days, then it will be going in our favour.

On the other hand the silence will be deafening if we reach the end of July and still no word.

Would you more or less go along with that as a timescale?

 

[Storer68]

Is the final session in the main hall of the Centre. That can hold around 4,000 people!!!!!!

surely they are not expecting that many people to turn up

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The status of the draft South East Plan has been discussed at some length at this Inquiry, along with other elements of future planning arrangements, like the Local Development Framework - which will be required to be in conformity with the Regional Plan.

Essentially, the new arrangements carry very little weight at the moment. Apart from anything else, the draft South East Plan is only a consultative document and is likely to be changed significantly once the consultation process is concluded.

The Government still expects planning decisions to conform with Local Plan policies and Government Planning Policy Statements (which have only recently replaced PPGs - Planning Policy Guidance).

No-one should be alarmed by suggestions that the Albion will be stitched up by any changes in national or regional planning procedures.

Perseus raises costs as a potential "barrier to Falmer" - as he has done many times before. I repeat what I have said before. Using costing methodologies that have been accepted by ALL parties to the Inquiry, Falmer is both affordable and cheaper than any of the other sites.

To suggest that Falmer isn't affordable is simply to make mischief.

 

[Gritt23]

Is the final session in the main hall of the Centre. That can hold around 4,000 people!!!!!!

surely they are not expecting that many people to turn up

I think it's just because they needed to find an alternative venue for that date. The Inquiry wasn't supposed to still be sitting in May, and the Town Hall was being used on that date.

 

[Gritt23]

To suggest that Falmer isn't affordable is simply to make mischief.

Doesn't sound much like Perseus.

 

[The Large One]

So when does the inspector provide his recommendations?

I am 1000% convinced Prescott will say no as there is an alternative ( albeit not as good perhaps) which is Sheepcoat Valley.

I am also ( in conspiratoraial mode) of the opinion that DK knows this and that is why he went ape shit on Talksport!!!!

Dave, wakey wakey. The Inspector is not making any recommendations. Or were you away when he said that?

How can a lesser quality site be given the nod? How can Sheepcote be given the go-ahead when it will create 100 years of weekend traffic jams across the city of Brighton & Hove, and where parking facilities are non-existent? Sheepcote is TOTALLY unsuitable.

What do you base your 'we will get Sheepcote' opinion on? Paranoia? Your usual self-effacing Yorkshire charm? Too many blue Smarties? Get real, lad.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

In which case Lord B, we'll be able to assume what the decision is based on the time it takes to hear. If we get towards the end of June, and we suddenly hear the announcement will be in the next few days, then it will be going in our favour.

I'd go along with that.

On the other hand the silence will be deafening if we reach the end of July and still no word.

Would you more or less go along with that as a timescale?

The silence will no doubt be deafening. But, even then, it could be a sign that the Government is just double checking some details before announcing a YES decision.




We all WANT an early decision. The Club NEEDS an early decision. Unfortunately, once the decision gets into the hands of the ODPM, their priority is to look after their own interests and be satisfied that they are not vulnerable to legal challenges. That in itself can cause delays.

 

[Easy 10]

I will be writing to the South-east planning consultation process, approving the reassessment of the advice regarding AONBs

and I'm sure they'll be very pleased at receiving your approval.

It is still a bit of a disappointment to me that the Albion and Brighton Council did not have the guts to go for something a little bit better by locating the stadium in Falmer Village Way Middle (transecting the current road) allowing small scale expansion at a later date. And being further away from the noise of of the roads and railway line.

So when we're sitting in a 23,000 seater stadium watching the Albion take some hapless Coca Cola League side apart on our unstoppable march to the Premiership, you're going to be worried about the noise of an 18 wheeler going past on the A27, or a train rattling through the station ?

 

[sparkie]

Perseus raises costs as a potential "barrier to Falmer" - as he has done many times before. I repeat what I have said before. Using costing methodologies that have been accepted by ALL parties to the Inquiry, Falmer is both affordable and cheaper than any of the other sites.

To suggest that Falmer isn't affordable is simply to make mischief.

That reminds me about something which worried me. I've a vague feeling that some of the Falmer funding was to made up of a grant available from EB4U which the stadium would qualify for. Now I read an article this week ( which may or may not be accurate of course ) which was saying that EB4U was rapidly running out of spare money... So could it be that by the time all these delays have finally, finally finished that there will be no funding left in the EB4U pot?

 

[Storer68]

That reminds me about something which worried me. I've a vague feeling that some of the Falmer funding was to made up of a grant available from EB4U which the stadium would qualify for. Now I read an article this week ( which may or may not be accurate of course ) which was saying that EB4U was rapidly running out of spare money... So could it be that by the time all these delays have finally, finally finished that there will be no funding left in the EB4U pot?

Brighton & Hove City Council has set up a Scrutiny Panel to look at EB4U's project and financial management. I thought you'd find it helpful to learn that the Scrutiny Panel will be holding two public sessions in the EB4U area.

The public sessions will be held at 10.15am on Tuesday 26 April at the Valley Social Centre, Whitehawk Way and at 1.30pm on Wednesday 4 May at Moulsecoomb Hall, Lewes Road.

Members of the public will only be invited to give oral evidence to the Scrutiny Panel if they indicate in advance that they wish to do so. Members of the public who do not wish to give oral evidence in public can alternatively provide their evidence as written a submission. If you wish to give evidence, please contact Julia Riches on 01273 291084 or by email julia.riches@brighton-hove.gov.uk before 11 April.

The cross-Party Scrutiny Panel will be Chaired by Councillor Jan Young (Con) with Councillors Kevin Allen (Lab); Roy Pennington (Lab); Brian Pidgeon (Con) and David Watkins (Lib-Dem). Please note that the Green Party were invited to nominate a member but declined to do so.

The EB4U Scrutiny Panel will also be hearing oral evidence from EB4U staff and Board Directors at 10.15am on Tuesday 12 April at the Winterbourne Centre, Hodshrove Lane, Moulescoomb. This session is open to the public to attend

 

[Lord Bracknell]

That reminds me about something which worried me. I've a vague feeling that some of the Falmer funding was to made up of a grant available from EB4U which the stadium would qualify for.

There's a bit of a muddle here.

EB4U funding comes from SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency. The money is targeted at regeneration in East Brighton.

The Falmer Stadium project also qualifies for a regeneration grant from SEEDA. But it's a quite separate project from EB4U.

If the EB4U project is running short of funding, it makes no difference whatsoever to Falmer.

 

[Screaming J]

Perseus raises costs as a potential "barrier to Falmer" - as he has done many times before. I repeat what I have said before. Using costing methodologies that have been accepted by ALL parties to the Inquiry, Falmer is both affordable and cheaper than any of the other sites.

To suggest that Falmer isn't affordable is simply to make mischief.

He has also been rabbitting on about Village Way South or Middle since time immemorial as well; ignoring the fact that this would either place the whole bang-shoot in the planned national park or chop off Village Way.

Phrases like sock short of service wash or sandwich short of picnic come to mind.