We don't want a stadium either!

Neighbours of seven areas proposed as alternatives to the favoured spot yesterday discovered their homes could fall into the shadow of a new £48 million arena.

And they spoke with an equal voice: Falmer is the right place for the Albion - not our backyards!

The seven plots are spread across Brighton and Hove with Shoreham harbour to the west, Sheepcote Valley to the east and Waterhall in the north.

All have accompanying problems which is the reason they were ruled out by the club in its earlier investigations.

But in the light of planning inspector John Collyer's damning assessment of the Falmer plan and his perception of the village as an unspoilt rural idyll, they are all back in the running.

Waterhall, while meeting many of the criteria laid down for the public inquiry's assessment, lies to the north of the A27.

Development there could set a dangerous precedent and would encroach on to the Downs.

Julie Sproul, 51, lives in a large semi-detached house on the edge of playing fields in Waterhall Road, one of just two homes in the area.

She said: "This is a beautiful landscape and it has been said for years there should be no commercial sites here.

"This is an outstanding area of natural beauty and a wonderful habitat for wildlife."

Toad's Hole Valley, which sits one junction west of Waterhall, is south of the A27. The triangle of land sits between the dual carriageway, King George VI Avenue and Downland Drive.

It is in private hands, has poor transport links and has been turned down once before as a possible spot for the club.

Juliette Gordon, 40, a nurse, of Dowling Avenue, said: "Quite a lot of people go for walks there. It's a pretty spot. The stadium will be noisy and I think unpopular."

The Coral greyhound stadium is also on the shortlist, even though it is not for sale.

Neighbours are just as unhappy about a stadium being built on their doorstep.

Teacher Nina Moore, 50, of Nevill Road, does not want the track or next-door Co-op supermarket bulldozed.

She said: "I just don't think the logistics will handle it. There have already been concerns about traffic and the drains.

"We lived here when the Albion were at Goldstone and on a match day we could not go out."

A small slip road opens out to Shoreham harbour where the stadium is envisaged as part of a huge redevelopment.

The work itself is, however, being hampered by the need for a proper access road.

It is a little on the small side and although land could be reclaimed from the sea, it would become astronomically expensive.

Dozens of holidaymakers were making the most of the sunshine near the beach cafe yesterday, despite the industrial backdrop.

Theresa Fowler, 41, feared plans to add a stadium to regeneration plans would take too long and be too costly. She said: "We love coming down here and it is really popular. It would be terrible if this was destroyed.

"I think Falmer is the perfect spot and it is already built up there anyway."

Mick Moore, 60, a delivery driver, of Cuckmere Way, Hollingbury, said: "How are they going to get people coming to watch the games in and out? There is only one road and it's really busy anyway.

"We have articulated lorries making deliveries and it's absolutely gridlocked - there is just no access."

Behind Brighton station diggers, bulldozers and heavy trucks plough into the dust and rubble.

Mr Collyer believes this, of all the possibilities, is the perfect spot. Sadly, work on a supermarket, hotel and office complex has already begun.

Steve Hughes-Landers, 23, a plant operative, of Brunswick Square, Hove, was among dozens of men hard at work on the site.

He said: "This would have been perfect for the stadium. There is the train station, it's just two minutes from everywhere and it's got the space. But we are already demolishing the site and clearing it. They are knocking all the buildings down. Work has definitely started."

Sue Townsend, 37, of Collingwood Close, Peacehaven, was meeting family at the station with her son Ben.

She said: "It is quite clear they have started work here and it looks like they are making progress.

"I would like to see the stadium built anywhere although I have to say the station site is already quite congested."

Members of the Friends of Sheepcote are expected to put up a strong fight against proposals for a stadium in the valley to the east of Whitehawk.

The site, a former landfill, is protected by a binding covenant that it will remain undeveloped for future generations. The cost of decontaminating the site is likely to be high.

Carole Dudson, 50, of Wilson Avenue, Brighton, said: "This has been designated a green area and the Friends have done a lot of hard work. They have put a lot of effort into restoring the chalkland and put a lot of flora and fauna up there so we don't want to get rid of that just for a stadium."

Her neighbour Maria Alfonzo, 70, a retired greengrocer, said: "We don't want this thing here - never.

"We don't like the noise. We have a lot of peace here and this is the last thing we want."

Homeowners living close to the Withdean sports centre are just as likely to fight if the club is forced to remain.

The 7,000-seat stadium is crippling the club's finances but any expansion would be virtually impossible.

Paula Darby, 34, a mother of two, of Tongdean Lane, said the club using the grounds opposite had caused problems.

"We are not happy about the idea of Albion staying here at all. They deserve better.

"We feel really sorry for the players - they must feel embarrassed to have Championship teams play at a little athletics stadium.

"We were told it was only going to be a temporary measure and that was the understanding. But it's been years and nothing seems to be happening."

Barry Jones, 41, landlord of the Sportsman pub next to the stadium, said: "A lot of residents would be very upset if the club did stay here and fear house prices would drop."