Falmer Villager Fears - VITALLY IMPORTANT

[Robot Chicken]

I had a chat with someone who has grandparents in Falmer village, by the station. It turns out she knew about the stadium plans, and expressed her disgust at the current plans.

However, the reasons she gave are not what would have been thought normal by posters here...

The reasons she gave regarded the belief that her grandparent's council house (and possibly her aunt's one as well) were going to be demolished to make way for the coach park at the stadium. This viewpoint seemed to be based off the refusal of planning permission for an extension to the council-owned house where they live, due to reasons of it being uneeded "in the short term". This is understandably worrying her grandparents sick. There is also an opinion that the pictures the Argus printed about where the stadium is going to be built are wrong and not to be trusted.

However, from my knowledge of the stadium plans, the only buildings being demolished are the University buildings. Can someone with more knowledge of the plans confirm this for me?

If it is untrue that any non-University buildings are being demolished, this shows a worrying amount of serious misinformation going around Falmer Village. It might be an idea for the FFA team to send a mailshot to the entire village of Falmer informing them of the exact plans of the stadium, and its total effect on the area, in terms of buildings, roads, etc

I have invited the person I spoke with to join in the debate and place her family's side of the story.

 

[Cian]

Its very possible the council refused permission for a variaty of other reasons.

Firstly, if the council house is very, very old the council may be moving the tenants anyway, for restoration or demolition of the house. They do have an obligation to provide a certain level of housing, Parker Morris and all that. Hence they'd refuse permission for the extension "in the short term", as the tenant would be moved anyway.

Also, if whatever extension they wanted (kitchen? bathroom?) was going to be provided by the council in a few years anyway, they'd refuse the tenant permission for it "in the short term" again, as they'd get it free in a while.

Just some theories

 

[Robot Chicken]

The grandparents have apparently lived there for 50 odd years and are worried sick that they will be turfed out to make way for the coach park.

If we can allay their fears this could turn them into allies?

 

[PaoloRossiJohnson]

Where are the houses?

To the East of the B-road to Rottingdean?

If so, they will definitely not be being demolished...

You may know this already, but on either the Falmer For All site, or the clubsincrisis site, there is a map/photo of the proposed site, with the stadium superimposed onto it - there is no new development to the East of the B-road to Rottingdean...

(Don't know if these are the same photos the Argus printed...)

 

[Robot Chicken]

If the local Falmer residents believe otherwise shouldn't we re-educate them??

 

[PaoloRossiJohnson]

If the local Falmer residents believe otherwise shouldn't we re-educate them??

Absolutely - I think a mailshot's not a bad idea.

Or let the Argus know the residents' thoughts, and persuade them to quote chapter and verse on the location of buildings likely to be demolished.

Failing that, or anything else, invite the residents to the new Inquiry...!!!

 

[Robot Chicken]

That's a good idea. Why not, if we can get the NIMBYs to see sense then we are on the way to winning.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

If the house is next to the station, it's to the west of the Woodingdean road.

I don't recall ANY discussion at the Inquiry of houses being demolished. The coach park will be accessed from the Woodingdean road and Village Way. It won't affect the houses by the station.

I'd suggest that someone contacts one of the local councillors and asks for further information.

 

[Robot Chicken]

Yay, the Lord is here.

We need to do something about this piece of misinformation as soon as possible. Hopefully this girl I spoke to will post on here and she will obviously speak to her grandparents, who will speak to their neighbours etc...

 

[Everest]

her grandparent's council house going to be demolished . . . . . . . . . . .

refusal of planning permission due to reasons of it being uneeded "in the short term".

Grandparents . . . . "in the short term"

Knowing how councils work sometimes, I wouldn't put it past them to think that these people won't be "around" much longer..

 

[dougdeep]

The place where the Argus put their circle (where the stadium will be) is always in the wrong place,there is a fence which goes part way across the field which marks the boundary. The stadium has to go to the west(right when looking from the A27) , the coachpark should be on the left,in Lewes territory.

 

[Safeway]

If the local Falmer residents believe otherwise shouldn't we re-educate them??

To be honest I've given up trying. No matter HOW many times you explain the facts of the matter to them, for example that there will be NO development whatsoever in the village, they simply put their hands over their ears and shout "I can't hear you."

The NIMBYs don't want a stadium and that is the end of the matter as far as they are concerned. No amount of reasoning or explanation is going to change that.

In short, they are f***ing scum.

 

[Lammy]

To be honest I've given up trying. No matter HOW many times you explain the facts of the matter to them, for example that there will be NO development whatsoever in the village, they simply put their hands over their ears and shout "I can't hear you."

The NIMBYs don't want a stadium and that is the end of the matter as far as they are concerned. No amount of reasoning or explanation is going to change that.

In short, they are f***ing scum.

Very true. The Stadium will actually be some way from the village itself and probably not even viewable from the pond area they love sooo much. The only impact on their lives would be a huge increase in business if they are sensible (i.e. the Swan comes around) I'm sure some farm house grub wouldn't go amiss. The traffic increase will be neglegable too seeing as most fans will be forced to park and ride or use the train. those that do turn up in a car have to use the Uni car park which is the other side of a dual carrageway to them. The only increase in traffic will be coaches using the coach park and the players/staff. And even all that is only for a short period, once at 2:30 - 3:00 and once more at 5:00 - 5:30 every OTHER saturday for 9 months of the year. This will only occur in the winter months where not many people will be walking about anyway!

In short I don't think a stadium there will have a very big impact at all!

I used to live in Nottingham for a year not far from all THREE grounds there (City, County, Cricket). Street parking was allowed and people parked down our street. Big deal. After five they all went home. No trouble at all!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

I know the feeling.

I've lived right next to Fratton Park, the Dell, Ashton Gate and now am just over the other side of the main road from Underhill. You expect traffic and a little noise on a Saturday and you get used to it, it really isn't a big deal.

 

[Safeway]

My friend in Swindon can see the County Ground from her flat and loves it.

That said, you could hardly describe central Swindon as picturesque, but you get the idea.

 

[Rangdo]

The only houses I know of near the station are on the other side of the railway line (A27 side) to the stadium development. They are sandwiched tightly between the station/line and the A27 so I cannot see any room for development there.

 

[Safeway]

Another person I know, an old man in his eighties, lives in a house that backs onto the alley way at the back of the Milton End (away fans) at Fratton Park. Again, he's never had a problem in all the time he's lived there, despite his back gate having been booted in a few times by 'scummers' (Southampton fans).

 

[Seagull73]

I used to live in Newtown Road when the Goldstone was still there, and parking was a bit of a problem on a Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours, but other than that it was no problem at all.

Admittedly, I was at the Goldstone most, if not all of the time, but it really is no hassle.

 

[Bobby's Gull]

I know someone who opposes Falmer, although doesn't live there has friends that do. He has to be one of the most ignorant and arrogant people I have to speak too. I've tried so many times to re-educate him about the issue, he continually talks about the hooligan element that will be inflicted upon Falmer, the noise that will be created (his company had a box up at Carrow Rd, and he found the noise awful ironically he was an architect) and that countryside will be ruined around the village. He'll never change his opinion about Falmer.

 

[chips and gravy]

I used to live in Newtown Road when the Goldstone was still there, and parking was a bit of a problem on a Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours, but other than that it was no problem at all.

Admittedly, I was at the Goldstone most, if not all of the time, but it really is no hassle.

I lived in Wilbury Villas for 18 months and wasn't a regular match attender then but never noticed when the games were on. That is a similar distance as the Falmer stdium will be from the village