I think The Argus's new promotional poster titled "The Arena?" with its tagline "local necessity and national pride" is very apt.

Although this was thought of with the Albion stadium in mind, it is equally pertinent for local playing fields.

Space is scarce in Brighton and Hove perched as we are between the Downs and the sea.

While the Albion are finding it hard to find space for a home, we are also short on space for the grassroots sports as well.

Without local football and cricket pitches, our national sports will wither and die and the issue of whether we have a football stadium or not will become academic.

This is really brought home by The Argus poster which shows football being played at Braepool, Brighton, the same site that some businesses and civic leaders want to see covered in tarmac and turned into a park-and-ride site.

If this happens, the city will lose five football pitches and a cricket pitch - not something this city of sport has been keen to advertise to date.

-Chris Todd, Brighton