Residents meet to discuss how to fight Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club’s plans
RESIDENTS are warning plans for a football training ground in Lancing will affect the whole village and not just those who live nearby.
At a meeting on Monday, January 9, more than 50 angry residents from the Mash Barn estate met to discuss how they could fight plans submitted by Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club to convert a nature area, known as New Monks Farm, into a multi-million pound training ground and academy.
Distressed homeowners spoke out about how bulldozers have been coming along Mash Barn Lane and ripping fences to prepare the area if permission is granted.
Jane Borrer, of Barfield Park, said: “My fence is in pieces down the lane. All it is doing is creating misery.”
Other residents questioned how the state-of-the-art facility would benefit the community – something the land has been earmarked for.
Sean Clark, of Daniel Close, said: “A misconception is this is for the kids of Lancing but I have been told it is not.
“There will be a floodlit pitch to the north side of the land which the kids can rent but that is a fund-raising initiative.
“Other people think we can go and watch the Albion train but it will be a secure facility.”
Amanda Jones, chairman of the Mash Barn Community Group, warned: “It will impact on the whole of Lancing.”
During the meeting, residents decided they needed to act immediately if they were in with a chance of quashing the proposal.
Within the next month, campaigners will be going door-to-door collecting signatures for a petition.
They are also hoping to have an information stand outside one of the supermarkets.
The residents campaign will be organised through the Mashbarn Community Group Facebook page.
An open day with the football club has been pencilled in for Tuesday, January 24, from 2pm until 9pm but the venue has not been confirmed.
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
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frankly
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:30 AM@22 Think we will have to agree to disagree on this one Lord Larry ! . There is one hell of a difference between an airport with a hard runway,and large areas of mown grass,together with the industrial buildings on the site,and an area of uncultivated wilderness such as are now under threat, I further think that footy fans around the area are blinkered in their opinions by the thoughts of football,wake up its big business no longer sport!
Lord Larry
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 07:15 PMFrankly you are right there needs to be a Lancing Shoreham gap but the airport serves that purpose. The downs and the beach are where children should play not a bit of dubious waste land which is more like swamp.Best solution is to build it up and build something useful on it. Houses or football training would be fine.we don't need more empty shops or offices or warehouses. Or council buildings lol
frankly
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 06:25 PM@20 Whats wrong with a bit of wasteland Lord Larry?. Dont you mean a strategic gap between Lancing and Shoreham?. Somewhere for wildlife to survive and prosper,somewhere for Children to play and explore perhaps?
Lord Larry
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 08:57 PMCan't see what the fuss is about. Any work done there will be an improvement its just waste land at the moment. If they don't build that football thing then it would be good for 600 or 700 houses like the existing Mash Barn estate. Just need to build them up a bit due to flooding.
Mashbarner
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 08:26 PMLike I said liane I grew up on mash barn and my parents still live there. Many of there neighbours are keen for this aswell. By raising this it has just created a support group that is growing in numbers by the hour! I would much rather have my kids watching professional footballers turn up giving them aspirations in life rather than another 600 houses where kids are stuck in there rooms playing on there Xbox computers!!!! Look forward to the meeting where the 50 opposing will now be out numbered by locals in support of this development!
LianeJ
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:28 PMNot at all, in fact my son has a disability so your comment is quite offensive. There seems to be an awful lot of anger and hatred towards the locals in Lancing when we haven't even seen the full plans and proposals (nor have any of you pro it). We need to stop being so personal because there is far more than a handful of locals opposing this and once all the facts are on the table people will then be able to make their choice.
Removed by moderator
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:08 PMLianeJ people like you make me sick !! next you will be coming out with some dyslexia jokes ? you're just the sort person that would poke fun at someone with downs. Grow up.
LianeJ
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:46 PMMany thanks for that.
Mashbarner
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:34 PMYou might need a comma after clearly! Practise what you preach!
Mashbarner
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:33 PMWould do but as I am typing on an iPhone I can't be bothered to go back and make corrections!
LianeJ
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:31 PMMashbarner, may I ask you put a little more effort into your grammar as your disgust for 'us sad people' comes through very clearly however your lack of competence in spelling makes it all rather amusing to say the least!
Mashbarner
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:30 PMI think you will find it's also a brownfield site so if this doesn't get the go ahead, and let's be honest it will be nice and green if it does, you will probably end up with an additional 600 houses there!
Mashbarner
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:20 PMIf talented enough!?! Well obviously!! It's a professional football club not a youth drop in centre! Why does the club need to provide crèche facilities for away day parents just because a disused farm is on your door step! Open your eyes and take of the blinkers!!!
LianeJ
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:20 PMWe were advised by Richard Hebberd at our meeting that there will be the opportunity for locals to hire one of their pitches. I don't think being rude to people is a very mature way to behave either. I'm sure you'd be more than a little annoyed if your property was damaged by the Adur Council and then contractors sent in for site investiagtions by the Albion. I've only lived on Mash Barn for just under three years and absoulutely love it here. The community spirit here is amazing and I'm proud to be part of such a diverse, happy environment. My young son currently plays for Lancing Rangers and has for the past five years and loves it. I'm very pro sports and football especially for the youth but not at the cost of wildlife! The site in question for the training facility is currently used by the local community for many pursuits, one very important one being watching the deer, owls, foxes, etc.. The Albion are hosting an exhibition on Tuesday 24th January 2pm-8pm in the empty shop in Lisher Road, Lancing so I hope as many people as possible come along to see what their proposals are and ask them questions. The proposed two way road is along Mash Barn Lane which isn't owned by anyone 0 both the council and the Albion will confirm this!
SLN
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 06:02 PMYes, kids could attend if talented enough to be selected. But the academy is not for all local kids to turn up and attend. I think that Lancing Herald are talking to Martin Perry with a list of questions to confirm and deny any rumours and misconceptions.
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