Brighton Fans to March on Labour Party Conference

Last updated : 25 August 2004 By Bob Gear
The march will take place on Monday 27th September from 5pm. Organisers are calling on Fans of all Football Clubs to attend in their own Colours to show support.

Chair of the Falmer For All Campaign Paul Samrah said,

“For a City, that has hosted Party Political Conferences for decades, not to have a Stadium is simply unacceptable. Every great City needs a Stadium – it is vital for the community and for Brighton & Hove Albion.

With John Prescott and his Parliamentary colleagues in our City for their annual Party Conference, we have the perfect opportunity to reinforce our message that ‘There is only one site in Brighton’.

Our march on Monday 27th September will start from Madeira Drive at 5.30pm and proceed along the seafront. After a few brief speeches outside the Brighton Centre, the march will return to Madeira Drive at around 6.45pm.

Our campaign has collected thousands of letters of support for the Stadium from right across the country. We have the City Council’s support (11-1), we have the City Referendum result (67% in favour) and we have a record 62,000 signature petition. Not forgetting the small matter of the Early Day Motion (EDM 889) tabled in the House of Commons in support of Falmer as the site, which has so far attracted over 140 signatories including several high profile Labour & Conservative MPs.

With the Party Conference in town, this is the chance for supporters of all ages to come along, wear the Club’s colours and show our visitors just what matters to the local community.

Our thanks go to Sussex Police for their help and co-operation in planning the march which, as with all our campaign initiatives, will be conducted in a peaceful, witty and humorous manner.

The march will be headed by a local band and we hope will leave the Deputy Prime Minister and his colleagues in absolutely no doubt – There is only one site in Brighton! “

Brighton & Hove Albion’s plans for a new Community Stadium in Brighton, which would secure its future, remain in jeopardy.

Despite an overwhelming show of public support, a report by a Planning Inspector has dismissed the proposals, on grounds of lack of National Interest and that part of the site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The final decision though now rests with the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. Last month, Mr Prescott asked for the Inquiry to be re-opened and for an evaluation of alternative viable and affordable sites to be made, before he makes his decision.

Quite simply, without this Stadium, there can be no Brighton & Hove Albion. Why? Because their present temporary home (for a Championship football team) is a rented 7,000 capacity athletics stadium - income is capped and ongoing losses are the inevitable result.

Plans were submitted to Brighton & Hove City Council for a Community Stadium near Falmer in October 2001. The Council approved the application by 11 votes to 1. The application though was ‘called in’ for a Public Inquiry, this concluded in October 2003. The Club has spent £3m on the application to date.

Detailed march arrangements – Monday 27 September

• From 5pm – Assemble in Madeira Drive
• 5.30pm - Depart Madeira Drive, along Kings Road to the
Brighton Conference Centre
• 6pm - Arrive at Conference Centre for short speeches
• 6.10pm - Leave on return march to Madeira Drive*

Everyone attending is encouraged to use public transport – no parking is permitted in Madeira Drive and the City Centre is likely to be very busy. Please allow sufficient time to make the start.

*We would like supporters to please complete both legs of the march – it is a 2 way thing (a game of two halves!).

You do not have to be an Albion supporter to support the Community Stadium in Brighton - this is a major community issue and all are very welcome to join the march.