The Amex and the local area - positive views?

[Freddie Goodwin.]

I was at a meeting last week, run by the Uni's and the Albion in the Community and for local groups from the East Brighton area.

Nearly all thought the stadium was good but those closest, in Moulsecoomb & Coldean, had obvious concerns over parking & traffic as well as noisey fans after evening matches. These concerns are being discussed elsewhere on here. I don't think they are really that bad but they must be heeded and we need to respect these residents.

Anyway, positives were needed and it sometimes felt like all were on focusing on the negative side.

1 jobs. people complained locals weren't getting jobs and Albion only wanted students. Not so, the jobs were there before the students and students will not be here all season. Anyone here benefitted from jobs?

2 Businesses.
Local shops, chippies, pubs and bus services have benefitted. Some of these may well come to depend on matchday income for survival.

3 Education
For some years now Moulsecoomb kids have been turning their backs on the school on their doorstep to travel across town to other schools. If the Albion were to 'adopt' the local school then how good would that be? A strong local school is often the centre of a strong local community.

Any other positives? As a local, I'm pretty proud that the current most iconic building in Sussex is in our area and people are coming to the area. people who would have had no reason before coming to what's often said to be a 'problem' area. I think it's great that people visit the Hikers and see it's not all thugs and walk through Moulsecoombe and see it's far from being a slum.

But, what do you think....?

 

[Taybha]

lived in moulsecoomb for 15 years previously and can honestly say as a community ive not lived in a better one before or since , its true it has its share of wronguns but then where can you go that hasn't.

any form of regeneration in the area must be seen as positive and thus far all the doom and gloom merchants that fought so hard and spent so much of other peoples money to see it fail must be wondering why they bothered .

only know 2 people that work at the amex from the area but thats not to say there are not many more .

dont know if its my old ears but i could hardly hear any noise whatsoever from the station walk up to the ground after finishing work and getting to the ground after kick off ,this maybe due to a lack of action in those 5 minutes but i was expecting to hear the crowd from miles away.

so far the only straw the antis can grasp is the matchday traffic/parking congestion other than that i would say job well done all round

 

[Gwylan]

Local shops, chippies, pubs and bus services have benefitted.

PubS? Now the Bevendean's closed down, there's only the Hikers in Moulsecoomb and Coldean.

I live in Coldean and I haven't heard anyone moan about the stadium or parking. I know loads of people who go to the games though. There is a self-appointed residents association that seems to comprise a lot of moaning NIMBYs and I'm sure they'll have some gripes but they don't seem to represent the majority in the area. Last year, they were moaning about the halls of residence on the other side of Coldean Lane, next year it will be something else.

As someone who was brought up in Moulsecoomb and who now lives the other side of Lewes Road, I'm delighted that this part of Brighton has got such an iconic building.

I should also say that the Albion is doing the right thing by Coldean School. My daughter came back today very excited as Ashley Barnes and Craig Noone had been in her class and she did a Tudor dance with Ashley. I was delighted to hear that when asked who goes to the Albion, most of the class said they did - a new generation of fans.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I totally agree there is a golden opportunity to be grasped by making The Amex a true 'Community Stadium'. The Albion has received various accolades for reaching out to schools and specific groups across most of Sussex but could do well to focus some further effort on its immediate doorstep. The stadium is permanent, is not going away so it will pay to be 'good neighbours'. First team footie only happens 30ish times a year, so there is so much that could be done at other times. Yes the stadium needs to be economically viable and generate income from other events but also there is a payback if a strategy to engage with local interest groups is established. Now is the time to grasp the opportunity while everyone is basking in the feel good factor about the stadium and being associated with a successful footie team. Of course not everyone is a footie fan and there are the inevitable nimbys who might/might not be won over.

What about potential partnerships that could be forged with the Universities and the City authorities to positively enhance the spread and impact of The Amex and the club - and vice versa. Hopefully any improvements to the transport infrastructure serving Falmer would be mutually beneficial and more viable if developed in liaison with the Unis. The benefits would serve the Club well especially if it wants planning permission for more seats. It worries me that the volume of moans on here about transport will be used as evidence against our planning application, when in reality there are not many 20k+ sports arenas that can safely move crowds away in minutes. Is it a small but vociferous minority on NSC - or the vast majority of all fans who feel differently about this? Obviously increasing to 30+k will not improve that unless Tony Bloom and Martin Perry have a magic solution up their sleeves.

Similar questions and positive opportunities should arise with the new training complex / academy at Lancing not least by recruiting locals as groundstaff, cleaners, security and caterers.

A few months ago when the paint was barely dry and we were anticipating the first game at our new home there were already moans on here about Martin Perry giving certain factions at a fans forum a hard time about their perceived nit picking. However there were various other communications issues around that period and although some teething troubles were inevitable I suggested the Club would do well to appoint a PR guru to get a grip on its dealings with media and community matters. Let Martin use his undoubted skills where they are best suited ie on securing the additional seating and the training complex. Given what Tony Bloom has invested and his expectations for future success I think a PR guru and suitable resources are still a priority. Among his/her priorities should be achieving positive engagement with the local Falmer / Woodingdean / Moulscoomb / Bevendean / Coldean communities.

 

[Everest]

PubS? Now the Bevendean's closed down, there's only the Hikers in Moulsecoomb and Coldean.

Forgotten about the Swan?

(I know it's not in Moulsecoomb or Coldean, but it is local to the stadium)

 

[Easy 10]

My daughter came back today very excited as Ashley Barnes and Craig Noone had been in her class and she did a Tudor dance with Ashley.

Thank gawd it wasn't Buckley, that'd be his hammys gone for another three weeks.

 

[Gwylan]

Forgotten about the Swan?

(I know it's not in Moulsecoomb or Coldean, but it is local to the stadium)

The OP said groups from the East Brighton area - The Swan's not in Brighton

And my daughter said that AB couldn't dance very well ....

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Actually I was thinking of the Swan and, going the other way, there's scope for pubs further down the Lewes Road to soak up some extra custom.

On the point of stadium noise, I had hoped that I'd be able to hear the roar over in Lover Bev, where I reside and can hear the traffic from the A27, but I've never been at home on a match day! somebody at the meeting did comment that the stadium is so well designed that, whilst it may be a cauldron of noise inside, the noise is kept in, not a bad thing I suppose.

Oh, and on the 'workshop' I attended, the Uni's were very much involved with a Prof from each there, no less.