I have just spent a wonderful weekend with my three young children enjoying this fantastic Indian summer.

The children, sitting on a blanket under the fruit trees, have been picking the last of the runner beans ready to be used for next year's planting.

We all had a lovely feast of freshly-picked strawberries and raspberries, while in the background we could hear the sounds of young football teams playing their Sunday morning matches.

Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?

It was, but for how much longer?

We were sitting with my mother and stepfather at their allotment in Horsdean, Patcham.

How can I possibly explain to my children that this magical place of theirs, which they have been going to all their lives, may not be here next summer?

In its place will be a car park. Instead of green grass there will be tarmac. Instead of the beautiful flowers, fruit trees and vegetables there will be cars and litter. Instead of the butterflies and birds there will be more petrol fumes and pollution.

Why, when we are supposed to be becoming more aware of eating healthily and promoting this to our children, is a Park and Ride scheme being proposed when it would devastate the lives of allotment holders?

The allotment provides a real haven for my parents who have no garden. To them this is not just an allotment, it is their life.

They have spent years transforming an overgrown and neglected plot of land into an efficient organic fruit and vegetable plot and a beautiful and tranquil garden.

Don't we have enough concrete and tarmac in this town?

-Mrs Susan South, Peacehaven