PLANS for Albion's proposed new stadium at Falmer were today greeted with delight by fans and with dismay by villagers.

The Argus yesterday revealed details of the £30 million development, including a 25,000-seat stadium and multi-purpose sports hall.

Adrian Newnham, a member of the Falmer For All campaign group, said: "From a visual point of view, I think it's an extremely exciting and attractive proposal.

"This stadium will be an asset of which Brighton and Hove can be proud."

Matthew Dawson, 30, manager of the Hiker's Rest pub at Coldean, said: "One of the best things about these plans is that it's not just a football stadium. It's going to be for the whole of Sussex. There's going to be something for everyone to enjoy.

"Albion have to come back to Brighton and if we're going to have a stadium in the town, where else is there?

"The architects have done a great job of fitting it in with the landscape."

But people living near the proposed site again voiced their opposition.

Falmer parish priest Canon Andrew Robinson, of East Street, said: "I still don't think it's the right place for a stadium. Access is poor and this road is already too busy.

"It also means we shall lose this piece of land which keeps us as a village."

His son Dominic, 25, an IT consultant, said: "I think people's heritage values are being put to one side in favour of a vote-winning national sport."

Strong opposition was also voiced by regulars in the Swan Inn pub in Middle Street, Falmer, where a petition against the proposals has collected more than 2,000 signatures in a matter of weeks.

Clive Brown, 37, of Chalkland Rise, Woodingdean, said: "This is a lovely village and it will be ruined. Waterhall is the logical place for a stadium - it's tailor-made for it."

Simon Early, 31, of Middleton Rise, Coldean, said: "The whole thing is ill-considered.

"They think they've found here in Falmer the path of least resistance but they're wrong. We may be small but we will not go down without a fight."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.