This is a plea on behalf of my football team: Brighton & Hove Albion... The story is too long to go into great detail here. In short: we almost dropped out of the English football league 8 years ago. This was at the same time that some scum bag business man sold our home stadium without telling the fans and left us homeless. We protested and we got him out. However we spent 2 seasons in exile playing in a ground 75 miles away from Brighton. Our new chairman got us back to Brighton but in a small temporary stadium. We wanted to build a new stadium in an area called Falmer but it was opposed by a minority of residents so it had to go to a very expensive public inquiry. The inquiry went well and we thought we would receive a positive decision very soon. At the same time there was a seperate public inquiry into the towns "local plan" which had earmarked Falmer as the site for our new stadium. In the instance of these public inquiries, what happens is this: A representative of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr John Prescott) come and hears both side of an arguement before drafting his own report with conclusions. This report is then passed onto John Prescott who then makes the final decision. Now the local plan inspector has opposed the stadium being built at Falmer. He has ignored all the important issues of the project and the wishes of the people of Brighton. His report could be important as if this is his findings then it maybe the what the inspector who is dealing with the actual stadium application also thinks. Then his report to John Prescott could be negative but in the end the final decision will rest with the Deputy Prime Minister. In fear that the report for the stadium is not in favour us Brighton fans are taking out fight directly to the Deputy Prime Minister. We are calling on all football fans from everywhere to help us. Please just copy and paste the following letter and email it to - planning.general@odpm.gsi.gov.uk you can also post it to this address - Mr John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister 26 Whitehall London SW1A 2WH here's the letter Your Name Your Address Date Dear Mr Prescott, I am writing to you concerning the Public Inquiry into a stadium at Falmer, Brighton which you are currently overseeing. Of particular note, I would like to highlight some important issues that appear to have been overlooked in the Local Plan Inspector’s report relating to Brighton & Hove’s Local Plan. 1. The report does not recognise the very real difficulties of finding a suitable site in the Brighton & Hove area. 2. The report does not reflect the overwhelming public support for the stadium project at Falmer and the detailed consultation process that took place prior to selecting the site The planning application clearly demonstrated: - the need Brighton & Hove Albion have for a new stadium - evidence of the national importance of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club - the huge number of jobs and opportunities for education and skills training that would be provided by the proposed development - an innovative sustainable transport scheme - that the site at Falmer had the least impact of any of the very few potential sites for a stadium in the Brighton & Hove area I trust you will not overlook the evidence provided at the Public Inquiry, the bulk of which seems to have been ignored by the Local Plan Inspector in his report, and finally give the people of Brighton and Hove the sporting facility it is so desperately missing. Yours sincerely, Our main internet messagebord is www.northstandchat.biz and the team's official site is: www.seagulls.co.uk so please check them out. All help is greatly appreciated. Albion & England forever. Thimble Keegan
have no idea who the hell you are but i did manage to read "soccer, need, help"...got my support, sent the letter...good luck to you guys..
I live in Canada so I doubt my letter would help. I'm as much as fan of Brighton & Hove as one can try to be via the internet and newspaper tables living on the Pacific Coast. The last time I was in England was in late 1996 and I remember hearing all about the fight for survival - every cabbie in Brighton had a different theory what needed to be done. Unfortunately I never made it to any games but I got to see the Goldstone grounds. It is my soccer dream to make it back to England one day and get to one of their games. I first became familiar with Brighton back when they joined the First Division in the late 1970s, back in the days of Peter Ward and Peter O'Sullivan (I think he played here later in Vancouver) Cheers!
To all my Brighton supporting mates who've made snidey comments and had a laugh about proposed moves to Dublin, Cardiff, Milton Keynes (sob!) or wherever over the years. IT'S NOT SO FUNNY WHEN IT'S YOUR CLUB WHO ARE UP ******** CREEK, IS IT?
Firstly, this problem hampers the very exsistance of our club and I would never want to see another club die and if you do then that is your choice but also a very sad outlook. Secondly, I do not see what your problem with Albion fans is because if you ask most proper Wimbledon fans they will tell you we have done more to help Wimbledon than most other clubs...We had the bigggest turn-out at the Selhurst Fans United Day and when we played 'Franchise' at Selhurst Park many boycotted (including me) and travelled instead to Kingsmeadow to watch the proper (new) Wimbledon play. Also, just ask any fans of clubs who have been in trouble such as Hull, York, Doncaster and currently Wrexham and they will all say how much we helped. Albion & England forever. Thimble Keegan Worthing BHA
It finally made no. 17 which is a great effort. Albion & England forever. Thimble Keegan Worthing BHA