FALMER - EARLY HIGH COURT HEARING

The club's plans have been delayed by a legal challenge to John Prescott's decision to give planning permission from Lewes District Council and others.

A statement from Lewes District Council said:

'Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club's frustration with the Secretary of State's refusal to guarantee a reconsideration of all relevant planning issues has led them to ask the Court for a brief half-hour hearing slot on 4th October 2006.

'It is ridiculous to imagine the Court will be able to deal with their application in just 30 minutes. We do not expect anything of note to happen on 4th October.

'We fully expect the High Court Hearing date of 5th/6th December 2006, which is the first available date any of the parties has been able to secure, to remain unchanged. We expect John Prescott's discredited decision to be quashed at that time.'

Cllr David Neighbour, Lead Member for Planning at Lewes District Council said: 'Since this dispute is one between the Council and the Secretary of State there is no need for the football club to get involved.

'However, having chosen to do so one might have hoped they'd not left it so late. We filed our case in December 2005 and the Club has jumped on the scene just eight weeks before the trial date.

'Despite that we're pleased to see Martin Perry is at one with Lewes District Council in that he agrees that all of the Council's points of evidence should be addressed by the Secretary of State in her redetermination of the case.

'As far as we're concerned this was a political decision to grant planning permission that flew in the face of recommendations from Senior Planning Inspectors. Our best way of making sure that our points are properly dealt with is for them to be sorted out once and for all in Court. This will be to the benefit of all the parties involved. We expect costs for the hearing to be met by the Government.'

The district council statement added:

'The Football Club is not required to give evidence at the High Court Hearing as the main parties in the action are Lewes District Council and the Secretary of State. If they do, they do so by choice, and must expect to meet their own costs.'