Reaction: Falmer's on the way (From The Argus)

Reaction: Falmer's on the way

12:20pm Friday 3rd October 2008 in

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Opinion among Brighton and Hove Albion fans was divided yesterday as a long awaited announcement about the Falmer Stadium brought mixed news. For many the excitement that work on the hard fought project would finally start was unfortunately dampened by the revelation it would be another year late. Andy Chiles reports.

After ten years of planning rows, legal battles, ground shares and temporary homes Brighton and Hove Albion fans yesterday finally got the news they have been waiting for.

In two months’ time, barring any major crisis, work will begin in earnest on the club’s new 22,500-seat stadium at Falmer, signalling an end to a decade without a permanent home ground.

The club announced on Wednesday that major construction will start in December and said they were confident the final details of funding agreements would be completed, and an amended last-minute planning application would be passed.

However, they coupled the news with a second announcement that the ground would not be ready for August 2010 as planned.

Club chairman Dick Knight said the stadium could be finished as soon as December 2010 but a decision had been taken to open in August 2011.

Fans had mixed reactions as the details became known. Albion supporter Paul Samrah, a leading campaigner in the protracted battle to get Falmer built, said: “It’s a bizarre emotion and it’s hard to explain.

“In a way, I’m disappointed but at the same time I’m very excited. Although it’s going to be late it is tantalisingly close now.

“We’ve spent so long at Withdean that as far as I’m concerned what does one more season matter, as long as we’re actually going to get the new stadium.”

He was one of many fans mulling over the news yesterday. Dozens voiced their opinions on theargus.co.uk. They included Spuddy from Southwick, who said: “Another year stuck in the rain in that lifeless hole Withdean. I’d love a quid for every soaking we’ve had over the years, it’d probably pay for Falmer.”

The club’s chairman Dick Knight and chief executive Martin Perry said it was particularly positive that they had been able to push ahead with the project, estimated to cost £60 million, at a financially troubled time.

They said it was possible because the other users of the stadium would be education providers with reliable finances and not retail or commercial offices which were affected by the credit crunch and impending recession.

The Albion education programme will move into part of the buildings, while City College Brighton and Hove will occupy another sector and have extra facilities inside a bund outside the main ground.

The college is still waiting for final confirmation of its funding to build the centre as part of a major redevelopment on four sites in the city. Mr Perry said: “What we are excited about is that it is happening in this financial climate when things are so difficult.”

Archaeologists have already begun examining the site and major excavation work will start in December.

The announcement that the stadium was going ahead, amid financial chaos which has halted projects across the country, has been praised by business leaders.

Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton Business Forum, said: “Obviously its disappointing that it is going to be delayed but it is nothing short of miraculous that it is happening, given the current climate.”

Mr Mernagh said the city had a reputation for taking a long time over major building projects and needed to keep momentum behind those, like the stadium, that were still possible.

He said the stadium would bring £13 million in trade a year to the city and would create jobs in the deprived north Brighton area.