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Football ground plans rejected


See live updates from the meeting below

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Published Date:
01 July 2008
HORSHAM Football Club's controversial plans to build a new football ground in a residential area of the town were rejected last night (Tuesday July 1).

A packed public gallery saw councillors vote unanimously to refuse the application for the Holbrook Club site, in North Heath Lane.

Leave you comments below.

For a full report on the meeting - which was broadcast to the Capitol Theatre via live video link - buy this week's County Times.

See live updates from the meeting below.

6.38pm - The application is refused. A unanimous vote.

6.37pm - Chairman Ian Howard calls a vote.

6.36pm - Andrew Baldwin (Con, Holbrook East) requests a recorded vote.

6.33pm - Clive Burgess (LDem, Horsham Park): "In my heart I don't want to, but in my head, in terms of planning, the loss of amenity is the thing that counts."

6.31pm - Every councillor's speech has been applauded by a packed public gallery.

6.30pm - Christine Costin (LDem, Trafalgar): "I am surprised by the lack of communication between the football club and residents.
"I find it hard to believe the application was entered in the form it was in and I actually expected it to be withdrawn

6.26pm - Pat Rutherford (LDem, Roffey South) says she has never seen a planning issue that has inspired so much interest in her 20 years on the council.

6.23pm - Belinda Walters (LDem, Holbrook West) says the local people have a right to peace and quiet, to enjoy the gardens of their homes. She calls on the council to help the football club to find a new home in another spot and to do it quickly: "We don't want to create a situation where we are putting the residents in conflict with another set of residents in the town."

6.20pm - Christian Mitchell (Con, Holbrook West) says Horsham Football Club caused unnecessary angst and confusion when it bought the Holbrook Club without planning permission: "No doubt the football club will reflect after tonight that this is not right for them and it certainly isn't right for residents."

6.16pm - Linda Pettitt (Con, Holbrook East) says the issues for local residents include the high levels of traffic, noise and light pollution.

6.13pm - Andrew Baldwin (Con, Holbrook East) says there's been a big black cloud hanging over Holbrook ever since the football club bought the Holbrook Club: "I have never seen such interest in a planning application," he says.
"This planning application doesn't answer many concerns that local people have."

6.10pm - Frank King has come to the end of his two minutes. He is cut short and protests: "I have not said all I wanted to say."

6.06pm - Horsham FC chairman Frank King says the club has brought a great deal of pleasure to so many families: "Please note, we are not Manchester United or Arsenal seeking a new stadium. We are a good non-league football club who have found a new home."

6pm - Horsham Football Club supporter and former HDC member Godfrey Newman warns this is a 'wake up call regardless of past history': "If this fails, something has to be done or we could lose a vital community asset, maybe two, as there would be no point in the football club remaining at Holbrook."

5.57pm: Third objector Jim Rae asks committee members to unanimously support the officers' recommendation for refusal: "Inevitably there will be clashes between residents and football supporters," he says.

5.55pm - Second objector Ms E Smith accuses Horsham Football Club of showing scant concern for the residents.

5.53pm - First objector Mr Geoff Adams pleads with the council to reject the plans: "Your decision tonight will affect our lives, and those of our children, for many years," he says.

5.50pm - Head of planning Ray Wright recommends refusal: "There will be significant impact on neighbours," he says.

5.42pm - The ground would have a 4,000 capacity, floodlights, a two metre high fence around the perimeter and the plans include levelling of the ground.

5.36pm - HDC head of planning Ray Wright presents his report on the planning application.

5.35pm - Mr G Adams is asked to take his seat. He will be the first of four objectors.

5.34pm - Apologies for absence from vice chairman Peter Rowlinson, leader of the Conservative group Liz Kitchen, leader of the Lib Dem group Sally Horner and John Cox.

5.32pm - Chairman Ian Howard opens the meeting: "This is a standard planning application and we are treating it in exactly the same way as in any other planning meeting," he says.

5.30pm - The council chamber is full to capacity. There is a strong feeling of anticipation both here and in the Capitol Theatre next door where the people who couldn't fit in the council chamber are watchin a live video link.










The full article contains 818 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 03 July 2008 9:09 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Horsham
 
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APG,

Horsham 02/07/2008 09:44:50
Saw that coming really thought didn't we?
So, if it's going to be the land near the tip - will the shuttle bus service cope in the event of another FA Cup battle?
2

MattD,

Bognor - Horsham Supporter 02/07/2008 10:53:03
This is typical of those in power with no real interest in football and having no understanding of what the club means to supporters, some of which have come from Horsham or lived there for many many years. Indeed many of the Horsham fans have been going to matches far longer than when the first houses at Holbrook where built. This is another case of 'not in my backyard' where the residents have overreacted to having a couple of hundred people in the area at worst once or twice a week. Some of the concerns raised by residents there have been blown out of proportion especially parking aspects. No doubt locals to the area will be thrilled to see the back of the club if we go out of existance and will probably forget about all this whenever they decide to move out of the area but i'm sure they won't care too much for a few hundred Horsham fans who know the spiritual home of the club is in the town.
3

PJRB,

Perth WA 02/07/2008 14:59:54
Perhaps Horsham FC should now make an application to build a huge number of houses on the land they own at Holbrook, sell the option to a developer & move on. Woops they did that before with Queen St !!!! People of Horsham need to unite behind the football club before it's too late.
4

"Ockey" Horsham Fans,

BBH 02/07/2008 20:24:27
Disappointing but not unexpected. Far to much negative reaction to horsham football club from residents with little idea of the reality that a minor development of an existing sports facilty to cater for Horsham FC was always going to end up being rejected. I hope in time Horsham FC find a suitable place to make their home and any future planning application must be presented with the help and support of the local council as the football club is a valuable asset to the town. It's ironic really that horsham FC should have been looking to relocate this season in particular following the huge success enjoyed in the FA Cup last year as this has made it seem that huge crowds are something of a regular happening when the truth is far fewer people would visit the ground maybe four times a month on average which leaves the local residents pretty much enjoying much peace and quiet. If the site is now sold maybe a few hundred houses would be to the residents liking? Heres to a better future for Horsham FC elsewhere.
5

DrakeCloseTooClose,

Holbrook 02/07/2008 23:03:15
It's good to see that common sense has prevailed at the council and the HFC application that would blight the lives of hundreds of Holbrook families has been rejected. Hopefully any appeal against the rejection will also be unsucsessful.
I take issue though at the attitude of other contributors (none of whom actually live in Holbrook) who seem to assume that because we don't care to have a football stadium in our (up until now) peaceful back yards the Holbrook area is "anti football".
Nobody wants to see the loss of HFC to the town and although the position they find themselves in now is entirely of thier own making, NOW is the time for the council to work proactively with the club to find a site that will satisfy the aspirations of HFC yet not disturb the lives of those living nearby.
Should the Holbrook site be sold for housing as HFC have already darkly suggested it might should an appeal fail I believe most Holbrook residents would breath a sigh of relief! (we're surrounded by houses already!)

6

Hampshire Hornet,

Havant 03/07/2008 10:29:56
DrakeCloseTooClose, now why would anyone assume that the Holbrook residents are 'anti-football' ? Could it be because the supporters have been painted as aggressive, anti-social thugs who'd think nothing of urinating in residents gardens, vandalising property and filling the place with litter ? Or perhaps its the suggestion that there is no need for a football club at all as you can watch football on TV ? Maybe these comments have been misinterpreted but somehow I doubt it.
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