This is ace
Seagulls Fans Plot Revenge
By Tim Ridgway
Brighton and Hove Albion fans have launched a campaign to give a Falmer Stadium critic "a taste of her own medicine."
Ann de Vecchi, leader of Lewes District Council, was one of the fiercest opponents to the community stadium.
Citing revenge, Seagulls fans have begun lodging objections to home improvements on a property listed under Councillor de Vecchi's name.
An application was submitted to the district council for the installation of eight solar panels on the listed building in Southover High Street, Lewes.
The campaign, which has received support from fans as far away as Grimsby, has been orchestrated through the internet fans forum North Stand Chat.
One fan, writing under the name Lewesian Seagull wrote: "I will never, never forget the contempt she showed Albion fans at the 'open' meeting in Lewes where she refused to answer any questions directly aimed at her. Let's see if we can give her a taste of her own medicine."
Another user, writing under the name burrish-gull, wrote " Unsuitable for the historic town of Lewes, only a 'minority' of the local residents would find this a suitable way of generating sustainable energy. It is no use to the wider community and only serves the people who are applying for the application."
The council's planning website crashed on Monday, but the number of Albion fans pledged to have their objections posted before the January 1 deadline.
Councillor de Vecchi said the application had been submitted on her son's property. She added she did not discuss the issue before it went before planning officials.
A spokesman for Lewes District Council confirmed the application would automatically go before its planning committee because it involved a councillor. He added that people did not have to be local to Lewes to register an objection and all would be taken into consideration in the final decision.
