Albion stadium bid in limbo

Planning inspector John Collyer has yet to rule on the club's application for a three-month delay to the public inquiry into the £48 million scheme.

He said he would only adjourn the hearing if the club gave him written assurances there would be no further hold-ups.

Mr Collyer said the only issue he would consider if the inquiry reconvened in September would be proposed revisions to the coach park.

The club have been unable to resolve their differences with the University of Brighton, principally over access to the Village Way North site.

Both parties were locked in talks as the hearing continued yesterday afternoon.

Albion chief executive Martin Perry said he would decide whether to withdraw the application for the 22,000-seat stadium within 24 hours if the adjournment was not granted.

Jonathan Clay, representing the club, said: "I think that is the doomsday scenario for everybody."

The club's bid to delay the inquiry, which resumed on Tuesday for another three months, is supported by the university and Brighton and Hove City Council.

But opponents of the scheme said there was no reason for an adjournment.

They said a revised junction where Village Way joined The Drove should be treated as a fresh planning application Robert White, representing Lewes District Council, said it would take longer than three months to resolve the issues.

He said: "We say at the earliest it is more likely to be six to nine months before any inquiry can be reconvened.

"An adjournment would be contrary to good practice and fundamentally unfair to the parties opposing this application.

"The fact that the university and the football club cannot agree on financial matters or road matters, we are not sure which, is not a good reason to adjourn this inquiry."

The university said it still supported the stadium and the only problems were safeguarding its day-to-day activities.

Mr Collyer is expected to rule on the bid to adjourn the hearing this morning.

Thursday June 5, 2003