A top Tory has sparked controversy by claiming the Falmer Stadium will “damage” the South Downs.

Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel and South Downs and the Conservatives’ shadow environment secretary, said by giving the go-ahead to the 22,000-seater complex, which is currently under construction on the outskirts of Brighton and Hove, the Government had failed to protect an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Labour seized on his comments as evidence of “residual opposition” to the development within the Conservative Party, and called for all politicians to back the stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2011.

Mr Herbert, who is tipped to become a senior cabinet minister in the event of a Conservative general election victory, triggered the row by writing in a national newspaper: “The most damage to the Downs in recent years came from [former Government minister] John Prescott’s approval of a 22,000-seat football stadium - shortly after he had announced the [South Downs National Park] to the Labour party conference.”

In a separate letter he added: “Labour say they want to ‘protect for ever’ the Downs - except where they’d rather develop them.”

Mr Herbert’s comments yesterday drew criticism from Brighton and Hove Albion and Les Hamilton, a Labour member of Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee.

Coun Hamilton, pointing out that the Conservative city councillor put in charge of sport had voted against the stadium during the planning process, said: “The Tories have always been split in how they regard the stadium but I’m rather surprised some are apparently still hostile and it’s disappointing there is still some residual opposition in the Conservative Party. I think it’s time everyone got behind the stadium and the Tories should stop carping about it.”

Martin Perry, chief executive of Brighton and Hove Albion, said the South Downs National Park inspector had agreed the stadium site had “no landscape significance whatsoever”.

Mr Perry added: “The South Downs National Park order specifically excludes the Falmer site and revokes the site’s former status as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Nick Herbert should get up to date.”

Mr Herbert yesterday defended his comments, saying he was simply pointing out the Labour Government’s “hypocrisy in claiming to protect the downs and then developing them”.