Lord Bracknell
On fire
BBC Radio Four's Straw Poll programme - the summer stand-in for Any Questions comes from Falmer this week. It's a debate about the acceptability of development in the countryside.
Roz and I went to the recording on Wednesday evening.
Nick Clarke, the presenter, introduces the programme by telling everyone that they've come to Sussex University because it's close to the site chosen for the Albion's new stadium. The panel of speakers then wander off into a discussion about climate change, global warming and the acceptability (or otherwise) of wind farms.
If you can stick with this stuff, you'll hear me chipping in from the floor with a reminder that the stadium site is hardly taking up green and pleasant land anyway and that tens of thousands of people want the stadium built and the planning process needs to take their views into account.
Nick Clarke then asks whether this is a controversial issue locally.
Sundry green panellists then agree that the Albion needs a stadium, until a NIMBY chirps up with the observation that we don't - because we've just lost two football matches.
The producer then - sensibly - interrupted the recording with the words "That's enough football!"
And it's back to global warming.
If you can't be bothered to listen, just vote YES by phoning 09001 800 311 between 8.50pm on Friday and 2.20pm on Saturday.
I don't want to spoil the excitement, but the studio audience voted YES to the motion. Which is good news.
Programme details from the BBC website:-
Straw Poll
Fri 13 Aug, 20:00 - 20:50 50 mins
The third of six debates on issues of perennial interest, chaired by Nick Clarke in front of a specially invited audience. Listeners can also vote on the motion:
"We must sacrifice some green and pleasant land in favour of more down to earth purposes"+
To vote YES dial 09001 800 311
To vote NO dial 09001 800 322
(Lines open after the programme and remain open until 2.20pm on Saturday - maximum call cost 10p)
[Rptd Sat 1.10pm]
Email: strawpoll@bbc.co.uk
Roz and I went to the recording on Wednesday evening.
Nick Clarke, the presenter, introduces the programme by telling everyone that they've come to Sussex University because it's close to the site chosen for the Albion's new stadium. The panel of speakers then wander off into a discussion about climate change, global warming and the acceptability (or otherwise) of wind farms.
If you can stick with this stuff, you'll hear me chipping in from the floor with a reminder that the stadium site is hardly taking up green and pleasant land anyway and that tens of thousands of people want the stadium built and the planning process needs to take their views into account.
Nick Clarke then asks whether this is a controversial issue locally.
Sundry green panellists then agree that the Albion needs a stadium, until a NIMBY chirps up with the observation that we don't - because we've just lost two football matches.
The producer then - sensibly - interrupted the recording with the words "That's enough football!"
And it's back to global warming.
If you can't be bothered to listen, just vote YES by phoning 09001 800 311 between 8.50pm on Friday and 2.20pm on Saturday.
I don't want to spoil the excitement, but the studio audience voted YES to the motion. Which is good news.
Programme details from the BBC website:-
Straw Poll
Fri 13 Aug, 20:00 - 20:50 50 mins
The third of six debates on issues of perennial interest, chaired by Nick Clarke in front of a specially invited audience. Listeners can also vote on the motion:
"We must sacrifice some green and pleasant land in favour of more down to earth purposes"+
To vote YES dial 09001 800 311
To vote NO dial 09001 800 322
(Lines open after the programme and remain open until 2.20pm on Saturday - maximum call cost 10p)
[Rptd Sat 1.10pm]
Email: strawpoll@bbc.co.uk
.
are sitting by their phones following the Saturday repeat of the programme for "Straw Poll Talkback" at 2pm... the fact that it's on just before a match could give a few NIMBYs the opportunity to look like they are a majority...
