Bees United, The Brentford Supporters' Trust, are taking the unusual step of urging members to come to the aid of another Football Club!
Supporters are being asked to write or emailing the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, in support of Brighton & Hove Albion's stadium proposals at Falmer – a written letter is generally considered to be a more effective medium.
The south-coast Club's proposals for a 22,000-seat community stadium development at Falmer, on the edge of Brighton, have received widespread public approval. The proposals received 67% approval in a referendum which the council organised alongside the local elections in 1999.
The Falmer proposals also received the support of Brighton Council who passed the plans 11 votes to one.
The application though was ‘called in’ for a Public Inquiry, this concluded in October 2003. The Deputy Prime Minister, in his capacity as First Secretary of State will publish his decision any day now, having received the Planning Inspector’s report.
The report by the Planning Inspector, into the local development plan for the city was published on 4th February, and despite the widespread support for Falmer, the report recommended that this site should NOT be allocated for a community stadium.
This is extremely unhelpful, to say the least, to Brighton's cause. The Club believes, however, that the report ignores much of the evidence at the recent public inquiry and the Deputy Prime Minister should afford it little weight when he makes up his mind.
Brighton are currently playing at the Withdean Stadium, which has a capacity of only 7,000 and there is a general agreement is not suitable for a football stadium. Falmer is considered the only viable option for a new stadium and is widely considered to crucial for the long-term viability of the Club.
The planning process has, to date, has cost the Club in the region of £2.5 million.
Speaking for Bees United, Pete Johnston said: "when you consider issues such as the one that Brighton are facing, it brings it home to you the common bond between us as football supporters. It will help the cause of Brighton if football supporters, of all clubs, could write to the Mr Prescott in support of this scheme".
PLEASE either write a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister or send an email AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.
PLEASE DO THIS NOW
We need to get over to Mr Prescott that a new home for Brighton & Hove Albion, as part of a nationwide league of clubs playing the national sport, is a matter of national importance – especially as the Brighton urban area is the 10th largest in England and Wales (1991 census).
So, the points to make are as follows (you can cut and paste this bit):
Dear Deputy Prime Minister
I am writing to urge you to approve the plans for a community stadium at Falmer, Brighton. I believe you should do this for the following reasons:
1. Brighton & Hove is a city of national importance and its football club is important as part of the national league competitions in our national sport.
2. The evidence shows that the site identified by the city council at Falmer is the only viable one for a community stadium in a city hemmed in by the South Downs and the sea.
3. A community stadium is essential for the well-being of any town or city. It brings communities together, provides opportunities in sport, education and employment, and enables the local football club to fulfil its potential within the community for the benefit of all.
Please approve the plans for Brighton & Hove's community stadium. If you do not, you will be condemning a proud football club to death and depriving a city and a county of facilities which should be the right of every community across the country.
Yours sincerely
etc etc
PLEASE BE SURE TO ADD YOUR NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS whether on a letter or an email. You might also like to add which team you support. Then the Deputy Prime Minister will understand that this is an issue for people all over the country.
You can of course embellish the above points with any you wish to make, but it is essential that you send something if you ever want to come and see football by the seaside again.
Letters should be sent to:
Rt Hon John Prescott MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Cabinet Office
Whitehall
London SW1A 2AS
email address: planning.general@odpm.gsi.gov.uk