Mike Weatherley – Outraged at Falmer decision
Deputy
Prime Minister, John Prescott, has ordered the inquiry into Brighton and Hove
Albion’s plans for a new 22,000 seater Community Stadium at Falmer to be
re-opened. Responding to the
announcement, Mike Weatherley, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton
Pavilion said:
“I
am absolutely outraged at this news. It
is a complete cop-out by an indecisive, incompetent lame excuse of a Labour
Government. By passing the buck, it
is clear John Prescott doesn’t want to take responsibility.
Whatever the final decision he will simply say “Nothing to do with
me guv!” The blame someone
else mentality is alive and kicking in Labour.
There is absolutely nothing to be gained from re-opening the inquiry as
all the arguments have been put. This
delay is the worst of all worlds. No
date has been set, and the Deputy Prime Minister saying the inquiry will be
re-opened “…..as soon as possible” will
cause no end of problems for the Seagulls.
Martin Perry and everyone at the club, including the thousands of
supporters, have worked tirelessly for five years, in an effort to secure a new
permanent home for the Seagulls. Millions
of pounds have already been spent on the planning application, and this money
has been lost. I just do not
understand how John Prescott can take notice of one planning inspector, but
ignore the voice of local people and fans.
In 1999 a massive 84% of people voted in favour of the Falmer
plans in a referendum. So the
people have spoken. Charles
Hoile comments were simply wrong. This
is a national issue, after all football is our national sport.
A golden opportunity has been missed for the city to have a stadium that
would be the envy of the whole country. Not
just for sport either. It could be
a venue that to be used for concerts as well.
It is an incredibly short-sighted decision by the deputy Prime Minister.
There simply is no better site available.
Sheepcote Valley, Shoreham Harbour, Brighton Station (which is being
redeveloped for other uses) all have major parking and traffic issues to
overcome. Falmer is the only option
that could have provided a 21st Century Stadium with the proper
transport infrastructure. Not only
is the Falmer rail station near by, the parking facilities planned for Falmer
would have meant that motorists would have had easy access to car parks, and
would not have added to the already congested city centre.
“What is most devastating of all though, is the club needs
the new stadium to develop its community work further.
This is a side of football that is not recognized enough.
Players and backroom staff are dedicated in working with local schools
and youth clubs as well as providing a superb in house training programme for
youngsters. Football is an ideal
way for kids to channel their energy. Unfortunately
though, not all get the opportunity to participate in our national game. That is where Albion provides such an amazing service for
underprivileged kids. Giving them a
chance they would otherwise not have had. Without
the new stadium this work is now in jeopardy.
Without a permanent home, the club will not have the proper facilities
nor will they have the necessary financial resources available.
A new stadium is vital to provide stability for the club.
And because it would have been a multi purpose 7 day a week venue, the
monetary opportunities were far greater. Sponsorship,
gate receipts, corporate activity were all for the taking.
But sadly this dream has to be put on hold, and is fast turning into a
nightmare.”
“It
is ridiculous that a First Division team are in this situation.
John Prescott had it in his gift to allow Brighton and Hove Albion to go
from strength to strength. He has
let them down, and more than that he has let the whole of the city down.”
Mike
Weatherley, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion, has
attacked Charles Hoile for his part in the Deputy Prime Minister’s decision to
re-open the Brighton and Hove Albion Falmer Community Stadium Plan.
Mr Hoile’s preferred site was Sheepcote Valley.
Mike said:
“Sheepcote Valley would be wrong as it is simply not practical.
Firstly, the huge environmental and financial costs of decontaminating
this former landfill will be colossal. But
also, what seems to be lost in this whole debate is the logistical problem of
away fans getting from the station to the ground and vice versa.
Sheepcote is no-where near a railway station, or a coach station. So that begs the question why this site is even being
considered? One of
the major factors has to be transport links.
And Sheepcote Valley just doesn’t offer anything.
Even fans travelling there by car would have only one route to take going
up Wilson Avenue. On several of the
criteria laid down by John Prescott, Sheepcote fails.
On three main considerations
In
the case of Sheepcote the answer is no, no, no.”
“We
have to face up to the fact this city is not very well equipped to
accommodate large numbers of away fans if the stadium was not near a railway
station, on top the current 'swelling' at weekends and that a few mindless
visiting fans could make the City a less pleasant place to be after dark on
match days. And this is an
important point. Brighton fans have been exemplary in their behaviour in recent
years. In fact, the total lack of any trouble at Withdean is to be much admired.
But if we had, say, 5,000 away fans getting from Brighton Station to Sheepcote
Valley through the town (and more importantly, back from the match), then who is
to say that a few away trouble makers would not cause the Police unnecessary
additional control problems – and potentially mix unfavourably with the
City’s clubbers.
The
site for Falmer is right by the Flamer railway station and easy access for
parking will be provided. This
transport infrastructure alone makes the Falmer site the best option.
Good
luck to Dick Knight and his Directors in delivering the right result from this
unnecessary extended enquiry.