More than 6,000 football fans have supported plans for a new community sports stadium.

The new stadium, on land at Falmer, is suggested in the Brighton and Hove Council draft Local Plan.

Responses in favour were mainly identical. They said there was a big need for the new stadium and that it should be at Falmer. They constituted the bulk of representations received by the city council about its controversial plan.

But there were also objections to the stadium, especially from environmental organisations.

They said it would cause harm to the environment and should not be built in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Falmer Parish Council also submitted a petition of more than 4,000 signatures opposing the scheme.

More than 80 people sought assurance that a park-and-ride site would not be provided north of the Brighton bypass.

But there was support for park-and-ride from many organisations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company.

Strong objections were also received to the proposed policy of making 40 per cent of homes affordable in all new developments of ten or more homes.

They said providing social housing was the responsibility of the Government.

More than 200 landlords also objected to a clause in the plan seeking to prevent the loss of flatlet houses. They said conversions would improve housing stock and should be encouraged.

Five leading supermarket chains and other traders said no more shopping should be allocated in the plan as the city was already overshopped.

Sussex University felt the plan could prevent further expansion within the current boundaries of the campus.

Environment director Alan McCarthy said the community stadium and park-and-ride were likely to be the main issues of debate at any public inquiry into the plan.

Before that, there is likely to be a full debate on the plan at a council meeting to be arranged for June.