In his open letter to John Prescott, Matthew James put the case for granting permission for a football stadium to be built on the South Downs by the village of Falmer (The Argus, October 10).

Mr James makes several points.

He harks back to a so-called referendum arranged by the Brighton and Hove Council several years ago.

This referendum was tacked on to local elections.

There was no choice for the voters other than "do you want a stadium and, if so, do you agree with the Falmer site?"

No alternative sites were offered.

So it is not surprising that those who voted in favour of a stadium should also vote in favour of Falmer.

None of the other possible sites were mentioned - some referendum!

People like me are described as "increasingly desperate".

I am not in the least desperate but I do say the stadium should be built near the city centre and not on the very edge of the city.

In fact, part of the complex would be outside the Brighton and Hove city boundary.

The principal reason for objecting to a stadium being built on green land, within the area of outstanding natural beauty and partly in the proposed South Downs National Park, is that people like me have a thought for the future, for the generations to come.

We value the open spaces and the unique South Downs.

I speak for many of the local population as well as the huge number of people who wish to keep England's green and pleasant land for our grandchildren's grandchildren.

A further argument by Mr James is that opponents of a stadium at Falmer are waging a class war.

If he thinks the mass of people who enjoy walking over the downs are in some special class, I suggest he takes time out to speak to the host of ramblers, bird watchers, cyclists and riders who frequent our lovely countryside.

Before making his decision on this key question, I suggest Mr Prescott visits the area on foot and sees for himself.

-Richard Allden, Hove