FALMER CHALLENGE WELCOMED

THE government's decision to allow a new football stadium and coach park on a sensitive greenfield site at Falmer casts a shadow over the future of a fine landscape, claims the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Feb 2006, 11:58 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:53 BST

And it says it welcomes the decision by Lewes District Council and others to challenge John Prescott's decision in the courts.

In a letter to the Secretary of State released on Wednesday, the CPRE expressed its disappointment at the decision to allow the massive new stadium development on the Downs.

The area is also partly within what is expected to become Britain's newest National Park.

CPRE head of planning Henry Oliver said: 'When he announced the government's plans to designate the South Downs a National Park in 1999, John Prescott described it as a "present from Labour to the nation".

'That makes this decision even worse.'