'PRESCOTT TO BLAME FOR FALMER DELAY'

The legal challenge was filed with the court in early January, since when John Prescott's office has asked for a time extension but given no indication of when they will be ready for the court hearing.

Lewes District Council fulfilled its promise to get the challenge into the High Court quickly and is ready for an early hearing.

Now Ann de Vecchi, Leader of the Council, has written to the Deputy Prime Minister pressing him to get his response into the court so that the hearing can proceed.

She said: "John Prescott's response is long overdue. He has had plenty of time to respond to the combined challenge of Lewes District Council, Falmer Parish Council and the South Downs Society.

"In his decision letter, Mr Prescott concluded that the application site for the stadium was inside the built-up area of Brighton designated in the Brighton Local Plan adopted in July 2005.

"That was a fundamental error of fact. The whole development site, including the proposed stadium, actually lies outside the designated boundary of the Brighton built-up area.

"Brighton & Hove City Council has already sent its written statement to the court, acknowledging that John Prescott misinterpreted the Brighton and Hove Local Plan. Perhaps that is what is causing his delay.

"It beggars belief that John Prescott could have made such a fundamental mistake after a long public inquiry and it totally undermines his decision.

Our case is against John Prescott's failure to apply his own government's planning policies, not against the Club. There is no need for the Club to spend any money on the court action because it is up to John Prescott to defend his decision. No one else can do it for him."