Concerns reported about our application to develop part of the field behind Peter Gladwin School, Portslade, are based on inaccuracies (The Argus, February 10).

The proposal follows many months of consultation. So many families with young children live in North Portslade that health services need to concentrate on the needs of children and a survey showed there was an urgent need for nursery places in this area. The present Mile Oak Clinic is also far too small.

The proposal is that the Acorn Nursery will move to the proposed new building and provide more places for three-to-five-year-olds.

The building will house the speech and language service for the area and Playlink, and the medical centre will have consulting space for other children's services so families can come to these services locally instead of having to travel.

The Donkey Field had already been earmarked to make way for another junior school but the need for a nursery is greater. There is no suggestion the whole area will be developed.

Our proposed new building will take up less than 20 per cent. Nor will the development be enlarged.

Indeed, it will protect the remainder of the field from commercial development. A Brighton and Hove City Council ecologist will assess the environmental impact and the surrounding area will be carefully landscaped.

The existing bridle path will be upgraded for pedestrian access. The nursery playground will be used as the parking area in the mornings, while the permanent spaces will be used by staff, patients and visiting professionals.

We looked long and hard at possible places for a new health centre and nursery but there is no other suitable space. Bringing these services together at the proposed site will provide the best services for local people.

-R A Williams, Dr C M Habgood, Dr S Harris and Dr S A Barnard (the doctors at Mile Oak Clinic), Chalky Road, Portslade