Albion transport plan

BRIGHTON and Hove Albion have made a planning application to Lewes District Council for a transport interchange to serve their proposed new community football stadium at Village Way, Falmer.

The application is on land north of Village Way, close to the junction of the A27 and the Falmer-Woodingdean road.

The proposals involve coach parking for visiting fans and a set-down/pick-up point for buses bringing in fans from around the Brighton area.

Lindsay Frost, the council's planning director, said: 'The football club have told us that they see the transport interchange as an essential part of their proposals for Falmer so that fans can get to and from matches safely and efficiently.

'The new interchange proposals would be an alternative site to those previously proposed by the Albion south of Village Way.

'We will be consulting widely on this application and expect to report it to a committee meeting later in the autumn.'

The club's earlier application to Brighton and Hove City Council for a community stadium, with a transport interchange south of Village Way, was 'called in' for a public inquiry last week by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.

The inquiry is likely to begin early in 2003.

Added Mr Frost: 'Whatever decision the council comes to on this new application, I expect that it will eventually be considered at the same public inquiry.'

Both Lewes District Council and Falmer Parish Council, as well as other organisations, have registered their opposition to the new stadium, saying it should not be built in open countryside so close to the Downs and that there are more suitable sites elsewhere.