"No more delays on Falmer" call by Labour's team

No more delays on the Falmer decision. That’s the call from Labour’s Parliamentary Team for Brighton and Hove, in a letter to Secretary of State, Hazel Blears.

Labour's MPs Des Turner, Celia Barlow and David Lepper and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates Simon Burgess (Kemptown) and Nancy Platts (Pavilion) joined forces to make the case for the decision to be announced soon.

Brighton Pavilion's David Lepper MP and prospective candidate Nancy Platts about to deliver the letter to Hazel Blears

A decision on Brighton and Hove Albion’s application for a Community Stadium at Falmer had been expected by 9th July, but following the ministerial changes a fortnight ago by new PM Gordon Brown, the new Secretary of State Hazel Blears extended the deadline to 25th July.

In their letter the Labour representatives say: “We fully understand and welcome your wish to ensure that, coming into your new post, you are able to give full and proper consideration to this vital application and the report on it.”

But, they add, “The Club has been without its own stadium for 10 years. So that the Club can plan its future….we hope that with this additional time there will be no further delay and that you will be able to announce a decision on 25th July - if not sooner.”