Lewes District Council Blamed For Enquiry Delay

[GUNTER]

From the Argus today:

Falmer opponents blamed for inquiry delay
by Tom Pugh

Brighton and Hove Albion have accused opponents of Falmer stadium of using cynical tactics to delay the reopened public inquiry.

The inquiry, reopened by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to explore possible alternative sites for a 22,000-seat stadium, was due to start on January 11.

However, it was put off after staunch opponent Lewes District Council said one of its key witnesses was unavailable.

The club and Brighton and Hove City Council agreed to bring the inquiry forward to December 1.

However, the district council said it was unable to prepare fresh evidence in time.

Yesterday, a new date was set for February 1, 2005, meaning the three-week inquiry will not finish until February 18.

Albion chairman Dick Knight said: "These cynical moves by Lewes Council are designed to delay the reopened inquiry and I am at a loss to understand why the Planning Inspectorate has let it get away with it.

"No doubt Lewes Council and Lewes MP Norman Baker are hoping to delay the stadium decision until after the General Election to scupper the planning application and put the Albion's future in jeopardy.

"John Prescott and his advisers should not be fooled by these devious tactics.

"Allowing six weeks for the inspector to submit his report means it will be on Mr Prescott's desk by April, leaving enough time for the decision to be made before the earliest date for a General Election."

Albion chief executive Martin Perry called the delays "totally unnecessary" and urged supporters to ram home the message that Falmer is the only stadium option when they march in Brighton today to lobby delegates at the Labour conference.

He said: "We have far more work to do than Lewes and if our team could prepare their evidence in time for an earlier date, then so could Lewes.

"We call on all fans to join us in the march to demonstrate not only how much support there is for this project but also to draw attention to the shabby way in which opponents are trying to frustrate the process."

Lewes District Council leader Ann De Vecchi has said January was too soon because consultants and legal representatives would not be free.

She blamed Mr Prescott, saying: "John Prescott had the report from the planning inspector last December. He only published his reasons for holding another inquiry in July. The inefficiency lies with him."

 

[Lammy]

Has the FFA team considered getting a petition together involving people in favour of the ground who live in the Lewes District area? What right does LDC have to spend my tax on an issue concerning Brighton and Hove council? At least B&HC held a referendum!

 

[Wardy]

Agree it beats me how much "power" Lewes District Council seem to have over this.

 

[Beach Hut]

FFS Lewes is fast becoming a place I will avoid

 

[Lord Bracknell]

If you live in Lewes District, write to Lewes District Council and complains about their disruption of the process.

You might care to mention the further £35,000 they are committing to consultants' and legal fees - apparently to people who aren't even available for the Public Inquiry dates.

And you might also make the point that the resumed Inquiry is not intended to consider the arguments about Falmer, but just the possible alternative sites that have been put forward - NONE of which is in Lewes District. What competence does Lewes District Council have to comment upon locations that are the responsibility of other local authorities?

This is a letter that was handed out at Lewes FC's match on Saturday:-


Dear Supporter

I am sure you are aware that John Prescott’s assessment of our proposals for the new stadium at Falmer is going into extra time. In the next few months a resumed Public Inquiry will examine other “potential” sites against a list of specific criteria before the Deputy Prime Minister gives his final verdict.

While the delay is very frustrating, we believe the process will prove once and for all that our original assessment was correct and there is only one site in Brighton for a new stadium that will meet Government criteria – Falmer.

The Albion will have to spend many more thousands of pounds on gathering evidence, presenting expert witnesses, legal representation, etc. – in addition to the £2.5 million we have already spent on the Falmer application and original Inquiry.

Our opponents, led by Lewes District Council, will be committing further significant sums of public money towards representation at the Inquiry. We know that they are currently gathering together a team of experts to try and challenge evidence submitted by our team on sites none of which are in the Lewes area. As a resident of Lewes District (which also includes Ringmer, Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe Cliffs) you might well resent this use of Council taxpayers’ money. And you won’t be alone, because almost 5,000 of your fellow residents signed the Falmer-For-All petition compared to under 1,000 who signed the petition against the stadium, a ratio of 5:1!

If you are unhappy with this situation, we recommend that you contact your councillor(s) on Lewes District Council straightaway. I have attached details of names and addresses of all the councillors. * Wards have one, two or three councillors. If you are not sure in which Ward you live then contact Lewes District Council on (01273) 471600.

We also recommend that you write to Cllr Ann De Vecchi, Leader of the Council, and to John Crawford, Chief Executive. Both can be contacted at Lewes District Council, 32 High Street, Lewes BN7 2LX. And if you really want to get the message home, send a letter to the local newspaper: Sussex Express, 25 High Street, Lewes BN7 2LU.

Finally, please support the march to the Labour Party conference in Brighton on 27th September if you possibly can. Keep the faith – We will get our new stadium!

Many thanks for your continued support,

Yours faithfully

Martin Perry
Chief Executive

* A list of Lewes DC Councillors, including addresses and e-mail addresses can be found
here

 

[Rangdo]

Lewes Albion fans need to make it clear to the council that they do want the stadium. Let them know their seats are at risk if they oppose.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Don't suppose there's any way the Albion (or voters in the Lewes District Council area) can start charging the cynical swine on LDC for any increase in costs due to these pathetic delays?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

E-mail addresses of Lewes District Councillors (in handy copy and paste format):-

patricia.bennett@lewes.gov.uk; john.best@lewes.gov.uk; susan.bratchie@lewes.gov.uk; robert.brown@lewes.gov.uk; julie.carr@lewes.gov.uk; cllr.michael.chartier@eastsussex.gov.uk; kim.clark@lewes.gov.uk; edward.collict@lewes.gov.uk; neil.commin@lewes.gov.uk; angela.craven@lewes.gov.uk; rod.crocker@lewes.gov.uk; james.daly@lewes.gov.uk; kenneth.davies@lewes.gov.uk; sharon.davy@lewes.gov.uk; ann.devecchi@lewes.gov.uk; david.fitton@lewes.gov.uk; john.fletcher@lewes.gov.uk; robin.fricker@lewes.gov.uk; lynda.hallett@lewes.gov.uk; peter.harper@lewes.gov.uk;
jacqueline.harrison-hicks@lewes.gov.uk; shirley.james@lewes.gov.uk; elizabeth.lee@lewes.gov.uk; jo.lewry@lewes.gov.uk; helen.livings@lewes.gov.uk; kevin.mayers@lewes.gov.uk; david.mitchell@lewes.gov.uk; gerald.munro@lewes.gov.uk; david.neighbour@lewes.gov.uk; ruth.okeeffe@lewes.gov.uk; sarah.osborne@lewes.gov.uk; judith.ost@lewes.gov.uk; marina.pepper@lewes.gov.uk; david.rogers@lewes.gov.uk; ralph.taylor@lewes.gov.uk; norman.turner@lewes.gov.uk; john.webber@lewes.gov.uk; tracy.willis@lewes.gov.uk; ianwilson@dorian.freeserve.co.uk

If you DO contact a Lewes DC Councillor, DON'T assume that they personally are opposed to Falmer. Some of them support the Stadium!

And they tend to take your message more seriously if you include your name and address.

 

[Lammy]

E-mail addresses of Lewes District Councillors (in handy copy and paste format):-

patricia.bennett@lewes.gov.uk; john.best@lewes.gov.uk; susan.bratchie@lewes.gov.uk; robert.brown@lewes.gov.uk; julie.carr@lewes.gov.uk; cllr.michael.chartier@eastsussex.gov.uk; kim.clark@lewes.gov.uk; edward.collict@lewes.gov.uk; neil.commin@lewes.gov.uk; angela.craven@lewes.gov.uk; rod.crocker@lewes.gov.uk; james.daly@lewes.gov.uk; kenneth.davies@lewes.gov.uk; sharon.davy@lewes.gov.uk; ann.devecchi@lewes.gov.uk; david.fitton@lewes.gov.uk; john.fletcher@lewes.gov.uk; robin.fricker@lewes.gov.uk; lynda.hallett@lewes.gov.uk; peter.harper@lewes.gov.uk;
jacqueline.harrison-hicks@lewes.gov.uk; shirley.james@lewes.gov.uk; elizabeth.lee@lewes.gov.uk; jo.lewry@lewes.gov.uk; helen.livings@lewes.gov.uk; kevin.mayers@lewes.gov.uk; david.mitchell@lewes.gov.uk; gerald.munro@lewes.gov.uk; david.neighbour@lewes.gov.uk; ruth.okeeffe@lewes.gov.uk; sarah.osborne@lewes.gov.uk; judith.ost@lewes.gov.uk; marina.pepper@lewes.gov.uk; david.rogers@lewes.gov.uk; ralph.taylor@lewes.gov.uk; norman.turner@lewes.gov.uk; john.webber@lewes.gov.uk; tracy.willis@lewes.gov.uk; ianwilson@dorian.freeserve.co.uk

If you DO contact a Lewes DC Councillor, DON'T assume that they personally are opposed to Falmer. Some of them support the Stadium!

And they tend to take your message more seriously if you include your name and address.

I've emailed all these before (quite recently too!) I was objecting to the use of £35,000 of tax payers money being used to fight an appeal that a substantial numbe rof their constituants supported!

Some of the replies were very rude too!

What we need is a visible show of numbers. A petition calling for a referendum at least. If we had a referendum and we lost I woun't be so upset. But for them to throw my own feckin money at this makes me feel sick!

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Shouldn't be too hard to convince one of the society's to have Norman Baker as an effigy (or maybe Lewes DC) .

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Shouldn't be too hard to convince one of the society's to have Norman Baker as an effigy (or maybe Lewes DC) .

Baker and Ann de Vecchi (leader of Lewes DC) have already been done ... many years ago.

 

[Lammy]

So has Guy Fawkes but they still do him

 

[Oval Gull]

Has the FFA team considered getting a petition together involving people in favour of the ground who live in the Lewes District area? What right does LDC have to spend my tax on an issue concerning Brighton and Hove council? At least B&HC held a referendum!

Although I'm also frustrated at any delay, (be it Prescott, Lewes or whoever), Lewes DC have every right in the eyes of the law to raise concerns at issues that affect their area.

Remember that although the stadium is in Brighton and Hove, it is right on the border of Lewes DC, so it will have an impact (eg approach roads, traffic etc) on residents who live in Lewes.

I reckon the impact would be positive, but others don't think so - and Lewes DC, as the relevant local authority for Falmer village, can get involved if it so chooses.

As regards the referendum - yep, I reckon Lewes should have been involved in this - but was the district council ever approached by the club or by Brighton and Hove council to see if they wanted to take part? I doubt it but would love to be proved wrong.

 

[somerset]

Iwonder if there would be any value in dropping that letter to any/all football/sporting clubs across all the areas under LDC control. I know that perhaps they do not command the support that Lewes FC does for instance, but the players/coaches and their families have a say too.

 

[Lammy]

Although I'm also frustrated at any delay, (be it Prescott, Lewes or whoever), Lewes DC have every right in the eyes of the law to raise concerns at issues that affect their area.

Remember that although the stadium is in Brighton and Hove, it is right on the border of Lewes DC, so it will have an impact (eg approach roads, traffic etc) on residents who live in Lewes.

I reckon the impact would be positive, but others don't think so - and Lewes DC, as the relevant local authority for Falmer village, can get involved if it so chooses.

As regards the referendum - yep, I reckon Lewes should have been involved in this - but was the district council ever approached by the club or by Brighton and Hove council to see if they wanted to take part? I doubt it but would love to be proved wrong.

Totally disagree with you on this one. Lewes district council is not just incharge of Lewes. There are a great many places of higher population than Lewes that falls under LDC's control. Seaford for example. The fact that this issue mearly borders LDCs area rather than actually in it is even greater reason for a referendum. I also don't agree that BHAFC or indeed BHCC should have invited LDC to join in with their referendum. It is down to LDC to hold one in order to find out if they are acting in the interests of the majority of their constituants rather than just a few NIMBYs. I would think that most businesses in Lewes (especially the pubs & Hotels) would welcome an influx in customers every other week! Let's face it Lewes is a tourist town and to have 2000 away fans decend is great news.

I really don't think the FFA team has approached this the right way. Rather than beating them in the courts it might be an idea to stop them turning up in the first place by getting them to actually ask the people they serve if they want there money spent this way or would a local school benefit from a £35,000 windfall?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

4,958 people from Lewes District were among the 61,000+ who signed our petition.

As a matter of interest, how many adults of voting age fall within Lewes District?

 

[Lammy]

4,958 people from Lewes District were among the 61,000+ who signed our petition.

But whilst that is great for our cause, it means sweet FA to LDC. We need a localised vote or a substancial petition from the LDC area to show that we do not want our tax being spent on this. £35,000 is a substantial amount of money to spend when you consider a) how many people in the LDC area are actually in favour of the stadium. b) How much better it would be to see that sort of money invested in a youth club or something!

 

[Captain Sensible]

I don't f***ing believe they can get away with it! If Prezza Fatty has any sence he must realise its a delaying tactic. Wankers!

 

[b.w.2.]

LDC are again well out of order... they are clearly trying to cynically delay a decision beyond the next election... that said, I have read the article on the official site, and can't help thinking our club and Brighton City Council have made a tactical error here... if MP thought the club could be ready in Dec, he should not have previously requested Jan... he should have proposed Dec, and negotiated to Jan, as necessary... I don't think LDC would have got away with Feb, if we had proposed Dec originally...

Still, the main offenders are LDC yet again... total and utter

 

[Everest]

However, it was put off after staunch opponent Lewes District Council said one of its key witnesses was unavailable.

Who's this witness then? Barry the Bat?