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Under a new board of directors, the club returned to Brighton & Hove to play at Withdean Stadium on a temporary basis. This had been a small municipal athletics stadium, but Albion spent heavily on it and many of the subsequent improvements also benefit non football fans.
Albion's vision of a 22,000-capacity community stadium near Falmer station was overwhelmingly backed by Brighton & Hove City Council. Fans collected a 62,000-signature petition in support, but the Government is still considering the plans after a public inquiry and any new stadium will not be ready until at least 2005 or 2006.
In the meantime, Albion are stuck at Withdean where the inadequate capacity of only 7,000 prevents many home and away supporters from watching games. The club want to increase the capacity by 2,000 seats and further improve facilities.
One of the features of home games at Brighton is a ground-breaking travel voucher scheme that promotes sustainable transport. Many supporters use buses from two park-and-ride sites, helping keep cars of football fans out of the residential area at Withdean.
A larger park-and-ride scheme is needed to cope with the 2,000 extra seats so Albion have applied for permission for a third site at Carden Avenue, Brighton. Traders in the area could benefit as football supporters use their shops before or after matches. However, Asda are asking their customers to object.
Supporters of Brighton & Hove Albion therefore ask all football fans to use other supermarkets until Asda withdraw their objection. You may find alternative supermarkets in your area using one of the links below:
Find your local Tesco
Find your local Sainsburys
Find your local Waitrose
Find your local Safeway
Find your local Morrisons
Find your local Somerfield
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