By Martin Perry, Stadium Project Manager

With diggers on site at Falmer for the past few weeks, many fans have been asking "Has work started at Falmer?"

The answer is yes - but before fans get too excited it is not an early start to official building work, simply the archaeological survey which is necessary to clear the way for the Buckingham Group to start work in December.

The survey is something which has to take place before any major project like this one. It is carried out to ensure that nothing of archaeological importance gets destroyed during the construction phase.

The survey work has been very detailed. The archaeologists have dug 32 trenches over the stadium site and some deep trenches in the centre which is the site of an old river bed.

We are waiting for a full report on the finds but we have been reassured that nothing has been found that could delay the start of construction.

So we are set to get going in December as planned.

We have already reported that the construction contract has been agreed with the Buckingham Group - and we will sign the deal in the next fortnight or so, but due to the sheer size of it, that in itself is expected to take a day to do!

Currently we are working through a huge amount of preparation work, and last week we had 18 staff from the Buckingham Group with us at the project office going through the details of the project.

They are poised to take control of the site in early December. The have to carry out the widening of Village Way before the work on the main stadium can commence and this work will take four months to complete in readiness for the main excavation which will start in April next year.

It is important for fans to realise that this in now a construction site and very stringent health and safety rules will be applied.

Under no circumstances should you venture on to the site and if you are thinking about going up there to see for yourself what is happening remember that there is no parking anywhere either on Village Way, in either University or Falmer Village.

We will keep fans updated on what is happening and as soon as we can we will erect a webcam so that you can see for yourself what is happening sitting at your desk or your PC.

Things are moving forward and we are on the way...

Blog Eight: Stadium Funding
Blog Seven: New Application
Blog Six: Good News!
Blog Five: Still on Target
Blog Four: Road to Falmer!
Blog Three: Richard Hebberd
Blog Two: City College & Albion
Blog One: Planning, funding & legal update