There were high hopes for Benfield Valley a decade ago when the new Sainsbury's in West Hove was agreed.

For in return for the store, the rest of the valley was to be kept green.

This was a huge improvement over previous plans for the valley once it had been bisected by both the Hangleton Link Road and the Brighton bypass. Then planners had anticipated much of it would be covered by housing.

But the reality is that much of the valley is a stinking mess. Between Sainsbury's and Hangleton Lane, a pay and play golf course has been abandoned and the area looks neglected.

Problems have been compounded by the use of the area by successive groups of travellers who have left piles of rubbish and mess over part of the site.

But the section north of Hangleton Lane is still used for golf and sections of it are a haven for wildlife. There are sports pitches between the store and the A270.

The valley is the only green space stretching from the Old Shoreham Road into the country from Hove and is particularly valuable for that reason.

It survived because West Hove Golf Club used the site and kept it green while suburban development in the Thirties and Fifties took over neighbouring downland.

The golf club relocated a mile further north when the bypass and link road made the old course unusable.

Developers who owned the land wanted to build homes there. But Sainsbury's made an offer which was too good to refuse for both councillors and the owners.

In return for getting permission for the store, they undertook to keep the rest of the valley as a green space. This land was leased to a company which ran the pay and play golf course.

Now Brighton and Hove Council is preparing what it calls a vision statement for the valley. It wants to know how people use it now and what would make them use it more.

This month, questionnaires are being sent out to all people living in the area and in September focus groups will be set up to discuss people's needs.

The council will also be in touch with conservation and community groups, leaseholders, users of the valley and schools.

South Coast Power has set aside £30,000 for the consultation, and any further conservation measures needed, through the Gas Pipeline Community Fund Panel.

This cash is part of the £1.25 million the company is giving to Hove and Portslade in compensation for disruption last year when the pipeline was laid under the Downs and streets from Devil's Dyke to a new power station at Shoreham Harbour.

Panel member and local Labour councillor Sue John said: "Benfield Valley is a much-treasured open space which people want to see protected.

"There has to be a vision for the site before we can make any plans to respond to the community's needs. The vision will provide a constructive framework for the future."

The council was keen to see the valley's wildlife potential realised and there might be some scope for more sport and recreation in the lower half.

Carole Robinson, chairman of Benfield Wildlife Group, said she would like to see Benfield Barn used as a wildlife and interpretation centre.

She hoped the council would agree to do this rather than allowing the barn to be converted into a restaurant, a scheme developers are planning.

Mrs Robinson said that with legislation coming up giving people greater access to the countryside, it was important for them to know what that entailed, especially with the Downs about to become a national park.

She added that the centre could also stage exhibitions and be a focal point for local arts and crafts.

Mrs Robinson said: "The valley was supposed to stay green, yet part of it is in a terrible state.

"We would like to see it as a country park giving access to the Downs.

"The public must be involved. It will not work unless this happens."

She cited the example of Central Park in New York, once a no-go area, which has been transformed after public involvement.

Chris Todd, spokesman for Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, said: "It should be kept as a green lung going into the heart of Hove."