Dear Mr. Prescott,
I am delighted that the Inspector’s Report on the City Council’s Local Plan rejected the notion of a community stadium at Falmer and proposed alternative sites.
The proposed stadium will damage a beautiful piece of countryside, and has been opposed by most people who live and work nearby and Falmer Parish Council, as well as Lewes District Council which is responsible for part of the land. For a summary of why Falmer Parish Council are opposed, see http://www.thisisthealbion.co.uk/brighton__hove/news/local_issues/stadium/case_against_falmer1.html.
Supporters of the stadium claim that there is popular support for it in Brighton. A “referendum” was held locally in which a large majority of those voting supported the stadium. The referendum was, however, entirely fraudulent. No alternatives were given: we were simply asked “do you support having a new stadium at Falmer?”. This was tantamount to asking us “Do you want your local club to thrive?”, to which most people, including me, would say yes. Obviously if people are given a choice between a temporary site at Withdean and a permanent home for the club, most of them would prefer a permanent home. A genuine referendum would, however, have listed all the alternatives and asked people to state their preference.
The Falmer campus at Brighton University is a place of study and research for thousands of staff and students, and its lovely location, surrounded by views of fields and trees, is one of its main strengths. A campus in the shadow of a huge stadium and associated outbuildings, with large numbers of people coming and going, would be an ugly place. Club Chairman Dick Knight says “The proposed stadium will enhance the visual quality of the area” (http://www.thisisthealbion.co.uk/brighton__hove/news/local_issues/stadium/case_for_falmer.html): he’s entitled to his opinion, even if it is ridiculous.
I am also concerned about the safety of myself and other users of the campus; and the transport problems for access to and from the stadium seem to me to be insurmountable.
For these reasons I urge you to reject the application for a football stadium at Falmer.
Yours sincerely,
***** ****
I am delighted that the Inspector’s Report on the City Council’s Local Plan rejected the notion of a community stadium at Falmer and proposed alternative sites.
The proposed stadium will damage a beautiful piece of countryside, and has been opposed by most people who live and work nearby and Falmer Parish Council, as well as Lewes District Council which is responsible for part of the land. For a summary of why Falmer Parish Council are opposed, see http://www.thisisthealbion.co.uk/brighton__hove/news/local_issues/stadium/case_against_falmer1.html.
Supporters of the stadium claim that there is popular support for it in Brighton. A “referendum” was held locally in which a large majority of those voting supported the stadium. The referendum was, however, entirely fraudulent. No alternatives were given: we were simply asked “do you support having a new stadium at Falmer?”. This was tantamount to asking us “Do you want your local club to thrive?”, to which most people, including me, would say yes. Obviously if people are given a choice between a temporary site at Withdean and a permanent home for the club, most of them would prefer a permanent home. A genuine referendum would, however, have listed all the alternatives and asked people to state their preference.
The Falmer campus at Brighton University is a place of study and research for thousands of staff and students, and its lovely location, surrounded by views of fields and trees, is one of its main strengths. A campus in the shadow of a huge stadium and associated outbuildings, with large numbers of people coming and going, would be an ugly place. Club Chairman Dick Knight says “The proposed stadium will enhance the visual quality of the area” (http://www.thisisthealbion.co.uk/brighton__hove/news/local_issues/stadium/case_for_falmer.html): he’s entitled to his opinion, even if it is ridiculous.
I am also concerned about the safety of myself and other users of the campus; and the transport problems for access to and from the stadium seem to me to be insurmountable.
For these reasons I urge you to reject the application for a football stadium at Falmer.
Yours sincerely,
***** ****
