FALMER PETITION FAILS

Fans see the council's action in the High Court as a waste of money.

Firle resident Ed Bassford spoke for most of the 25 supporters present at the full council meeting when he said the people of Lewes district had a right to be angry.

Presenting a petition containing 5,165 signatures, collected in a week in the district in favour of Falmer, he said: 'If this case (against the Falmer venue] is lost '“ and who believes the Government won't contest it vigorously and expensively? '“ the costs could rise significantly.

'And we are genuinely fearful for our public services.

'And if the council is hanging its case on the expectation that a High Court judge will find that planning law somehow prevents any development in protected countryside, the case will be lost.'

Earlier, council member for planning Cllr Neil Commin spelt out the costs involved.

He told the meeting: 'We estimate the total cost to ourselves, and Government legal costs, to be a maximum of 65,000.

'If we win, it will cost us nothing. If we lose, it will cost us that sum.'

He said Falmer Parish Council had committed 30,000, Lewes District Council 25,000 and the Sussex Downs Society and the South Downs Joint Committee 5,000 each.

Asked, if the challenge was rejected, would the council accept that as the end of the matter, he added: 'The council would have to evaluate the High Court's decision when it is known.

'The council does not intend to allocate any more funding, but other parties might be prepared to fund further action.'

And he gave a strong hint that, if the 65,000 costs did escalate seriously at the hearing, he would consider resigning from the council.

He might find his position was untenable in those circumstances, he added.

Asked what he considered the chances of council success in the High Court to be, he said the legal advice was that the chances were 'reasonable to good'.

* Cllr Andrew Small (Ouse Valley and Ringmer) presented a petition with 51 signatures in support of a stadium at Falmer.