Park and ride could take thousands of people into the heart of Brighton and Hove every day.

At present there is only one small and cramped site in Withdean with just 250 spaces.

It is well used but access is poor and often gets overcrowded.

By comparison, Oxford has four sites taking 3,800 vehicles while Bath, much smaller than Brighton and Hove, has three taking nearly 2,000.

The Brighton City Centre Business Forum believes a bigger and better site is essential to ensure the continued economic success of the conurbation.

It has sent a document to each of the city council's 78 councillors putting the case for a site at Braypool, north of Patcham, near the junction of the A27 and the A23.

This is so the case for Braypool can be considered at a full council meeting on Thursday when the Local Plan, including park and ride, is to be discussed.

The city council is in favour of park and ride in principle without specifying any particular site in the plan.

The Forum gives the case for park and ride, accepted by most groups and parties in the city, except the Greens.

It says a 1,000-space park and ride car park would deliver more than 44,000 new customers each year and contribute an extra £1.7 million to the economy.

The scheme would stimulate a growth in visitor numbers to the resort and compensate for the loss of parking spaces in the city centre.

The Forum's report says park and ride deliver the people but not their vehicles to the city centre.

It encourages a switch from cars to buses, improves road safety and cuts pollution.

A summary of more than 20 major towns and cities in the country shows Brighton has the lowest proportion of park and ride spaces per head of population.

Braypool is a 51-hectare council-owned recreation ground on the edge of the Downs, by the A23.

It is in the area of outstanding natural beauty.

The report says: "It is a sensitive site and there is a fear any development allowed will be the thin end of the wedge, leading to a gradual encroachment over the rest of the Downs. These fears are understandable but not well founded."

Brighton has high unemployment and low wages. It has to attract visitors to help its economy and compete with other towns.

The report says: "A range of transport options must be presented to these visitors if the city is to be perceived as accessible. Park and ride is an option that should not be denied to them."

Business leaders say opponents claim park and ride takes custom from existing buses but this would not be so at Braypool, well outside a built up area.

They add there has already been a big reduction in city centre parking and give details of the sites which have been lost, totalling almost 1,000 spaces.

The Forum says alternative provision would have to be made for people currently using the playing fields.

Another site on the other side of the A23 could be used by the RSPCA for the exercising of animals bought to its nearby kennels.

The report says Braypool could be well-screened and landscaped to minimise the effect on the countryside.

A new roundabout could be created on the A23 north of the bypass to provide access to the site.

This would have the advantage of slowing down traffic coming south into Brighton before the dual carriageway ends.

The Forum says: "We believe a major new park and ride site is essential to ensure the continued economic success of the city and the appropriate site is at Braypool."

Council leader Ken Bodfish said no sites had been identified for park and ride but added: "We may have to be flexible in the future."

Tory leader Brian Oxley, voiced opposition, saying: "We are not in favour of park and ride on a site where there should be no development."

Liberal Democrat leader Paul Elgood agreed, saying: "No sites north of the bypass should be identified. Although there is a strong case for park and ride, we should examine other sites."

Greens oppose park and ride altogether.

Convenor Keith Taylor said: "We believe it does not succeed in reducing car use. It increases it because people drive to an out-of-city site rather than using public transport because it is cheaper."

Coun Taylor said park and ride was already subsidised by 30p a head and this money should go towards improving public transport within the city.