Falmer access road gets Council approval!

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Proof that the opposition point of view always gets prominence in the local media.

From today's Sussex Express

Stadium road faces red light

LEWES District Council on Tuesday is expected to throw a further spanner into Brighton and Hove Albion's dream of a new football stadium at Falmer.

The council's planning committee is being recommended to oppose the widening of Village Way, together with junction improvements and a new roundabout, at the University of Brighton entrance.

The widening is needed to secure the backing of the university for the proposed 22,000-seat stadium.

But officers will tell councillors at Lewes that Falmer Parish Council had objected on grounds that the road would alter the visual character of Village Way.

Also the traffic signal controls were likely to cause major road safety problems, with the build-up of traffic far greater than the applicant envisaged.

The proposal would generally degrade the proposed National Park, the parish added.

The Highway Authority did not wish to restrict grant of consent.

Add district officers: 'The council's objections in principle to the stadium development have already been made at the public inquiry and are unchanged.

'The proposed highway works did not form part of the stadium proposal considered at the inquiry, and have arisen during negotiations between the club and Brighton University.

'The applicant has, on its own admission, submitted this application for the sole purpose of persuading the university to sign an agreement which will give the applicant control over university-owned land.

'The stated view to the inquiry of both the applicant's planning advisers and of the county council as highway authority is that the stadium and interchange proposal does not create any planning need for this new access requirement.'

The officers say that 'undue noise and disturbance and light impact' would result in the detriment of the character of the area and local residential amenity in Falmer.

When the public inquiry into the football stadium plans resumes on October 14, the council is recommended to oppose the road changes on the grounds that they will have a 'substantial and detrimental effect' on the character and setting of Falmer.

29 August 2003


This story could equally well be told this way:-

HIGHWAY AUTHORITY BACKS FALMER ROAD PLANS

East Sussex County Council, the local highway authority, has said that it sees no reason to stand in the way of the Albion's plans to improve access to the new stadium site at Falmer.

However, Lewes District Council and Falmer Parish Council continue to obstruct the football club. Both Councils will try to persuade the Public Inquiry that road improvements at Village Way - an access track to the University - will mean that it will look different.

Neither Lewes District Council nor Falmer Parish Council have any powers to stop this road scheme.
 




Yorkie

Sussex born and bred
Jul 5, 2003
32,367
dahn sarf
Is that the final hurdle out of the way before the inquiry reconvenes?
 




Gwylan

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
32,169
Uffern
How anyone has the nerve to object to any road widening round there after the A27 monstrosity is beyond me.

I think the damage has already been done.
 






Brixtaan

New member
Jul 7, 2003
5,030
Border country.East Preston.
unless i read that wrong.It's all going to plan .
 


Yorkie said:
Is that the final hurdle out of the way before the inquiry reconvenes?
I think there are still some discussions going on with Brighton University - although the main issues have been agreed.

Getting ESCC not to object to the new access is a big hurdle well jumped, though.
 


Gritt23

New member
Jul 7, 2003
14,902
Meopham, Kent.
That is a disgraceful way of publishing what is in effect a nothing story, whereby the objections by those councils do not carry any powers to prevent this road.

Is there still an issue outstanding regarding the administering of the site? Something about who decides whether we have managed the site correctly, and are therefore due to pay penalties.

I seem to think the plan was for the council to adjudicate, but the University believe it should be them.

Anyone know if that has been resolved?
 




The Oldman

I like the Hat
NSC Patron
Jul 12, 2003
7,212
In the shadow of Seaford Head
As I have said before. it's all down to 2 Jags Prescott and whether he wants to reward Caplin,Turner and co for being good party members. One thing must be in our favour, ESCC,WSCC, Lewes DC are all anti Labour so 2 Jags won't care a monkeys about what they say.
We will get there
 


Brovion

In my defence, I was left unsupervised.
NSC Patron
Jul 6, 2003
20,285
Has anybody seen the Leader? This same story appears almost like this:


"Stadium plan nearly scuppered!"

By 'A Leader Reporter' (Note no one put their name to it)

There was great news today in the glorious struggle to prevent the massive abomination that is the Community Stadium from despoiling the south downs. Our wise and enlightened planners have decided that the roads cannot be improved and without these improvements the whole ghastly plan cannot proceed!

The struggle is not yet over but rest assured that forces of darkness are on the run. We couldn't be arsed to talk to anyone from the club but no doubt they're all sucidal. Good.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
 




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