Fears that a decision on the Falmer football stadium could be delayed because of Gordon Brown's Cabinet reshuffle have been quashed.

A spokesman for the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, said the deadline for a decision was still Monday.

It had been expected Ruth Kelly, the previous minister, would make the decision but her replacement in last Thursday's reshuffle raised concerns over whether her successor would be able to consider the matter before the long-awaited date.

The terrorist alerts over the past few days added further doubt as to whether Ms Blears would have time to consider the facts before deciding whether to grant planning permission for the new Brighton and Hove Albion ground.

Plans had to be reviewed after permission granted by John Prescott in October 2005 was overturned amid opposition from Lewes District Council, as well as some residents, the parish council and conservation groups.

Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All Campaign, said he was confident the department would work hard to meet the deadline, given the huge level of interest from fans and the media.

He said there were no official plans for any events to mark the decision because even if the result is positive, objectors still have six weeks to mount a judicial review.

He said: "We'd have to wait for that six-week period to expire but I'm sure at that point there will be some sort of celebration. We'll just have to wait and see for now."

A spokesman for the Seagulls declined to comment but said there were no plans for any last-minute lobbying.

Earlier this year fans handed 5,000 signed postcards to the Government after ten years of campaigning for a new stadium. The club has been without a stadium since the Goldstone Ground was closed in 1997 and sold off.

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