"One Johnny Prescott, there's only one Johnny Prescott..."

[Common as Mook]

Is the "welcome" he deserves for his role in getting us a new ground, or for his role in f***ing this country up beyond all recognition.

Have to say I'm torn.

 

[The Large One]

he didnt do anything for it apart from delay stuff further! hazel said yes not him, he is a complete an utter twat in my opinion and should not be welcome!

Jesus wept.

Feel free to re-write history any way you see fit...

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

he didnt do anything for it apart from delay stuff further! hazel said yes not him, he is a complete an utter twat in my opinion and should not be welcome!

Very strange, and IMHO a rather misguided comment.

I'm certainly no Prescott lover, but he could have said no, after the initial Inspectors' reports.

He didn't, we had the opportunity to question it, and (partly) because of this we are where we are today.

 

[SK1NT]

Without Prescott Falmer would more than likely still not have been built....

Prescott
Prescott
Prescott

Prescott was key in getting Falmer... Anyone that thinks otherwise does not have a clue about the history...

 

[Razi]

What's a "Tweetup?"

[MENTION=7807]john[/MENTION]prescott
Hi @NorthStandChat Can you please RT to see if any Seagulls can make a #bhafc tweetup in Brighton at around 1045 on Saturday morning?

 

[Braders]

Listening to the few bits he had to say on the Withdean Years DVD were brilliant

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Without Prescott Falmer would more than likely still not have been built....

Prescott
Prescott
Prescott

Prescott was key in getting Falmer... Anyone that thinks otherwise does not have a clue about the history...

This, and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves.

 

[Storer 68]

Someone in his office cocked it up. If you think we would have overridden two pubic enquiries without the backing of the Deputy Prime Minster then you are mistaken. Blears was following orders.

Rubbish. In 26 years as a civil servant in 3 government departments, I have NEVER known a secretary of state agree to do something as trivial as this on the orders of their superiors.

but doesn't get away from the fact that he did NOT sign the letter that gave us permission to build at Falmer. Hazel Blears did and believe me, having briefed Prime Minsiters and Secretaries of State, , there was absolutely NO guarantee that Blears would support the bid when she came in. JP or Steve Bassam might well have briefed her about the situation but she still could have said no to the planning application had she wanted to. She already had 2 planning inspectors reports against the develeopment taking place.

 

[Seagull73]

but doesn't get away from the fact that he did NOT sign the letter that gave us permission to build at Falmer. Hazel Blears did and believe me, having briefed Prime Minsiters and Secretaries of State, , there was absolutely NO guarantee that Blears would support the bid when she came in. JP or Steve Bassam might well have briefed her about the situation but she still could have said no to the planning application had she wanted to. She already had 2 planning inspectors reports against the develeopment taking place.

So in other words, Prescott contributed absolutely nothing towards our stadium bid... Riiiiggght

 

[Hotchilidog]

Rubbish. In 26 years as a civil servant in 3 government departments, I have NEVER known a secretary of state agree to do something as trivial as this on the orders of their superiors.

but doesn't get away from the fact that he did NOT sign the letter that gave us permission to build at Falmer. Hazel Blears did and believe me, having briefed Prime Minsiters and Secretaries of State, , there was absolutely NO guarantee that Blears would support the bid when she came in. JP or Steve Bassam might well have briefed her about the situation but she still could have said no to the planning application had she wanted to. She already had 2 planning inspectors reports against the develeopment taking place.

Maybe 'following orders' was a little strong, but Prescott's approval was key. If he had thrown it out we were finished. Prescott fully supported the stadium, and having the DPM on board counts for a lot when politics come into play. If it were down to the inspectors we would not have the stadium. Political necessity got us the stadium and Prescott's approval was pivotal in this.

To whitewash Prescott's contribution out of our eventual success is nonsense in my opinion.

 

[Prof P]

Rubbish. In 26 years as a civil servant in 3 government departments, I have NEVER known a secretary of state agree to do something as trivial as this on the orders of their superiors.

but doesn't get away from the fact that he did NOT sign the letter that gave us permission to build at Falmer. Hazel Blears did and believe me, having briefed Prime Minsiters and Secretaries of State, , there was absolutely NO guarantee that Blears would support the bid when she came in. JP or Steve Bassam might well have briefed her about the situation but she still could have said no to the planning application had she wanted to. She already had 2 planning inspectors reports against the develeopment taking place.

I bow to your superior knowledge on planning application procedure. But, you know, its 20 degrees outside, we're about to watch a six pointer to stay in the play off places in our spanking new stadium, watching the best football in the division (and, I might add, I happen to be taking my two boys to their first ever football match tomorrow. Not strictly relevant to you I know, but I thought I'd throw it in)....so lighten up for fuckssake and give the fat man a round of applause.

Hate to break this to you but life as an Albion fan ain't going to get much sweeter than this so if someone turns up to our HOME who had a hand in getting us here I'm going to give him a cheer. Go on, you might enjoy yourself.

 

[Tooting Gull]

What's a "pubic enquiry"?. Sounds interesting.

 

[ROSM]

She already had 2 planning inspectors reports against the develeopment taking place.

actually no she didn't. Prescott had two inspectors saying no. he then agreed to reopen the inquiry to examine other sites with a very strict ToR to it. That inquiry found there were no other sites and he said yes. That yes was overturned and re-evaluated by first Ruth Kelly and then Blears who did sign the letter and say yes.

I still maintain that Prescott giving us another chance and the way the ToR was written are the reasons why we got a yes. I agree Blears could have said no but the way the second Inquiry was directed, it really would have been jaw dropping if she had.

 

[surrey jim]

What's a "Tweetup?"

Apparantly "A group of friends on Twitter (social network) that are planning to meet up. A request by a user to meet with friends via Twitter"
Urban Dictionary: tweetup

 

[Storer 68]

Maybe 'following orders' was a little strong, but Prescott's approval was key. If he had thrown it out we were finished. Prescott fully supported the stadium, and having the DPM on board counts for a lot when politics come into play. If it were down to the inspectors we would not have the stadium. Political necessity got us the stadium and Prescott's approval was pivotal in this.

To whitewash Prescott's contribution out of our eventual success is nonsense in my opinion.

Prescott's SUPPORT was pivotal. I woudn't want to to whitewash that out of any picture. But, at the end of the day Barry, it was SUPPORT and not APPROVAL by the time the decision came to be made.. My simple point was that there was plenty of ammunition for Hazel Blears to use to if she had wanted to scupper the application, and she could have. I am sure that JP and Steve Bassam made their views on the subject very clear to her, but at the end of the day she, and only she, took the deciision. Officials may well have advised approval but she was quite free to ignore that if she wanted to or had a reason to.

 

[Bozza]

Bounce...

 

[Common as Mook]

jeepers...........

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I've just put my tie on and polished my shoes.

 

[Driver8]

Bounce...

View attachment 31218

This could get messy.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

This could get messy.

It will be interesting for sure. I'm going to have to reel in my sycophancy though.