Brighton and Hove look as if they will gain a much-needed medical college for the town and not before time.

There has been talk for years about providing a college at Falmer which would make sense as both the universities are based there.

Now an application is being made to the Department of Health which stands a good chance of success.

If approved, it will make Brighton a centre of excellence for medicine and will be a major investment in the area.

It will also have a spin-off for the Royal Sussex County Hospital which will become a teaching hospital.

Ironically, at one time health authorities were keen to establish a new hospital at Falmer but instead chose to expand the Royal Sussex County Hospital on its present site.

It should still be possible to have close links between the new medical college and its teaching hospital in the centre of town.

Land originally earmarked for the out-of-town hospital at Falmer is also still available for a new Brighton and Hove Albion community stadium.