Objections to the proposed new stadium for the Albion are not intended to clip the wings of the successful team, a councillor says

The comments from West Sussex County Council's environment supremo Tex Pemberton come in the authority's response to new planning guidelines for Brighton and Hove.

The response includes opposition to a new stadium for the Albion in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) at Falmer.

West Sussex is one of the neighbouring local authorities which the city council has consulted about its plan, which is likely to face a public inquiry in the autumn of 2002.

The Albion has applied for planning permission at two sites, Village Way North and Village Way South. Both are inside the Sussex Downs AONB.

Councillor Pemberton sent the planning guidelines to be examined by two expert council officers.

He has backed their report which says an earlier objection to the policy which allocates land for a stadium in an area of outstanding natural beauty, must remain in force.

The city council will be told: "We are not convinced that the case for release of land in the AONB has been proven.

"Proposals for development should have to demonstrate there is no alternative site and that there is an over-riding need for the development."

Councillor Pemberton said: "The football club is enjoying success and we in West Sussex do not want to jeopardise that in any way.

"But we are still not convinced a case has been made out for building in the AONB."

Councillor Pemberton has also pointed out that West Sussex recently lost a public inquiry verdict on planning permission on a permanent basis for its waste plant at Sompting because an inspector ruled it was inside the AONB He added: "We do not want to harm the club's future, but are saying that the siting of any stadium must be carefully looked at."

But West Sussex is supporting one amendment to city council policies over sites identified for high tech and office uses.

The county council is welcoming a newly worded statement which now stresses the need for applicants to prove no suitable brownfield sites are available before land at Hangleton Bottom is developed.

The site is also in an AONB and the city council is making it clear any scheme must be imaginatively designed to blend into the landscape, which has been welcomed by West Sussex.