Our city by the sea may be among the newest to bear that title but its sporting traditions go back many generations.

Brighton and Hove Albion has been bringing pride and entertainment to the local community for more than a century.

More recently the club has also brought success. To have achieved three promotions in four seasons, despite the limitations of the Withdean stadium, is unprecedented.

It demonstrates that with continued good leadership and management the club can aspire to compete with the sporting giants of the premiership and be a beacon of sporting excellence in the south.

The support at Cardiff in May showed the club has a fan base that far exceeds the capacity of Withdean.

The club is simply asking for a sporting chance to realise that potential.

The public inquiry will look again at alternatives to Falmer as a site for a stadium.

However, Albion's supporters know no other site is capable of sustaining a stadium that would be as safe, affordable, accessible and appropriate to its environment as Falmer.

Opponents of the scheme now admit no better site will be found so they openly call for the club to be put out of business in a vain attempt to rid Sussex of professional football forever.

But, the scale of proposed stadium is not unique in the area and other developments further into the Sussex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty such as Glyndebourne Opera House are often hailed as landmarks within a beautiful setting.

Surely the Albion has a right to prove its worth to the community and to the nation.

Final approval of the application is needed to show that Sussex stars can hit the top note - on the pitch as well as on the stage.

-Paul Whelch, Bow, London