I read with interest the early setting up of the ribbon outlining the area of land to be used for a proposed new town in Mid Sussex (The Argus, October 2).

This unwanted blot on our countryside could provide an early test for the Prime Minister’s Localism Bill. I hope local authorities turn this project down. I expect the developer would appeal to an unelected quango – the Planning Inspectorate.

Longer term, perhaps the three principal authorities in Sussex (West and East Sussex county councils, and Brighton and Hove City Council) could form a powerful Sussex Assembly, given the task by the people of gaining more power from this overbearing Government to the point of making us semi-independent from it.

Good luck to the people of Mid Sussex in their fight.

Ian Steedman, St George’s Road, Worthing