Good on you, Lewes District Council planning committee - another own goal scored by rejecting the planned community stadium at Falmer.

How dare you just go ahead and reject the stadium outright when we, the people in the council's area, have not been consulted?

The short-sightedness of these people is unbelievable, bearing in mind, no long ago, Lewes FC had to travel to Stoke City to play an FA Cup game and lose home advantage because there isn't a decent stadium in Sussex.

Lewes District councillors, please note we are in the 21st Century.

On the subject of the proposed stadium being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or in an area given National Park status, for goodness' sake get out of your armchairs, go to Falmer and have a look.

Yes, it's a muddy, ploughed-up field with some "past their sell-by date" Sixties buildings. Believe me, this is not a pretty-looking place of outstanding natural beauty.

I say to you, LDC planning committee, get those rose-tinted glasses off, be realistic, take in the bigger picture and embrace the need for a community stadium for all the people of Sussex.

-S H Beard, South Heighton, Newhaven