Why Falmer must and will be built (From The Argus)

Why Falmer must and will be built

12:23pm Tuesday 16th September 2008 in News

Paul Samrah is confident that the revised planning application for the stadium will be approved

Fresh doubt has been cast over Brighton and Hove Albion’s plans for a stadium at Falmer. The Argus exclusively revealed yesterday that a new planning application will be lodged to cater for several changes to the original plans. Here Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All campaign, says there is no need for fans to panic – and argues that the stadium must be built.

Yesterday's headlines about a new planning application and changes to the stadium design may have worried some supporters but it is important that we get some perspective.

This unreservedly does not mean that we are back to square one. We are confident the application will be approved by the city council, and the chances of the Government calling this in are nil.

The Government wants us to build a stadium at Falmer.

Twice they have given us permission to do so.

This is simply the housekeeping application that we have always spoken about.

It sweeps up the changes that have inevitably arisen in the years since the plans were first drawn up. It has already been presented to Brighton and Hove City Council, Falmer Parish Council and all the local groups who have an interest.

The changes are nothing more than cosmetic details and certainly nothing unexpected since the club held a Fans Forum at a packed Hove Town Hall in February.

The increase in space purely relates to the internal floor areas – NOT to the size of the stadium.

It is the same height as before, still sunk into the ground. It covers the same area as before and basically is the same design. It has the same capacity of 22,500.

The roof arch has been trussed to save steel but basically looks the same. There is simply not enough of a change to enable any objections to be taken seriously.

Many of the changes have been imposed on the club by legislative changes to building regulations and new guidance from football authorities including Fifa and Uefa.

Remember that the club’s application was submitted in October 2002 – the world of stadium design has moved on since then.

Other changes are for financial reasons. The price of steel has rocketed and the club have prudently adapted their plans accordingly.

Plans for Liverpool’s new £400 million stadium at Stanley Park have been delayed, with the club’s owners blaming the credit crunch. And the cost of Albion’s stadium project has risen to £60 million – but the club and its financial advisers Pricewaterhouse Coopers are confident that funding will be in place.

Now is not the time to bring up all the old arguments that have been exhausted through two public inquiries.

The acrimony of the past should stay there – we are now working with Lewes District Council and Falmer Parish Council to make this work to the satisfaction of all.

When our opponents declared they would not fight any more we agreed enough was enough and began rebuilding the bridges between us.

The facts are simple – we will still be on site in December to start work on our new home and the supporting infrastructure, including the widening of Village Way.

Now we finally have approval, the stadium will not be a blot on a landscape, it will be something we can all be proud of.

It is not just the football club and its supporters that will benefit. As part of the revamped design, this planning application sees City College Brighton and Hove having even more teaching space inside the stadium.

Albion in the Community, which has won several national awards despite its limited means, will flourish with a new modern base and benefit thousands of local children and adults.

By unlocking the untapped potential of the club’s community work, we will make a positive difference to the lives of so many people for now and for future generations to come.

We have not come this far to fall at the final hurdle. The race has already been won. Every great city needs a stadium, and that is what Brighton and Hove will have.

Keep the faith.

Click here to read more about the Falmer revamp.

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