'No Falmer challenge' says Lewes District Council

3.58.32pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Aug 2007

The development is a serious threat to the Downs.

The Liberal Democrats who run Lewes District Council have said they are frustrated and alarmed at the "blatantly party-political" decision to award planning consent to Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club's proposed stadium at Falmer last week, but for practical reasons they have reluctantly decided not to appeal against the decision.

"We are deeply worried that this permission will set a precedent for development in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty," said Peter Gardiner, LDC's lead councillor for planning. "By approving the stadium in an area of the highest environmental protection, the minister has diminished what AONBs mean - and this in the interests of encouraging 'regeneration', when it is quite clear that another option for the stadium, Sheepcote valley, would have done a lot more for Brighton.

"This is a kick in the teeth for everyone who has paid good money to adhere to the planning process. It is too early to assess the full implications, but if a stadium complex that has no place in an AONB can be given permission on the grounds that it encourages local regeneration, this could open the floodgates to other inappropriate applications and mark the end of protection for nature sites as we know it."

Despite its frustration, the council has decided not to take up its right to challenge Hazel Blears' decision. "The planning grounds for an appeal are promising," Councillor Gardiner added, "as this decision is also flawed, but even if we were to win, the decision would still end up with a government minister. The last two approvals have been blatantly party-political in motivation, so we'd be back to square one. We therefore feel that for practical reasons it makes no sense to appeal against it.

"Throughout this procedure, we have never been anti-football, as some have tried to paint us. We have done what we believe is right to defend both the people of our district and planning policies designed to protect the countryside. If the stadium is now to go ahead, we hope to move forward in cooperation with the football club, and we would be particularly keen to hear how they plan to help the people of Falmer whose lives will be seriously affected by this development."