CAMPAIGNERS say a new road cutting through the middle of Brighton and Hove’s biggest park is unnecessary.

Stanmer Park Stakeholders are perplexed as to why the redevelopment of the park needs a new road – leading to the felling of trees.

Brighton and Hove City Council plans to make a second road, leading from the park entrance up to Stanmer Housed, and convert the existing road into pedestrian access.

Several conifers have already been removed from the site of the new road in the past week.

People also have concerns about the removal of beech trees from the Great Wood within the park.

Members of the Extinction Rebellion environmental group, known as the Brighton Red Rebels, staged a protest against the felling of the trees and construction of the new road last weekend.

Stanmer Stakeholders chairwoman Sue Craig said: “The Stanmer Preservation Society is deeply uncomfortable with the loss of healthy trees but particularly the use of public funds being to pay for a new road without any public awareness.

“The trees have gone and been shredded.

“Work has started on this road and no one knows why it is needed.

“There has been no consultation with us about this.

“There is no reason for the new road at all.

“We have no idea how this road has been paid for.

“At the last stakeholders’ meeting I asked if anyone really wanted this new road and no one did.

“And no one can say what the funding stream is. Is it from the lottery funding, parks budget or council tax?

“I want to know why my council tax is being used to build a road that nobody wants.

“Why not continue to use the existing road that has served the park well for centuries and spend the money saved on resurfacing the main drive instead?

“Stanmer Park deserves very much better than this,”

Designed in the 18th century, Stanmer is a Grade II registered landscape.

But after both the buildings and landscape deteriorated it was classified as “at risk” by English Heritage.

Stanmer Park is undergoing a £5.1 million redevelopment. The project is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund and BIG Lottery, as well as Brighton and Hove City Council, Plumpton College and the South Downs National Park Authority.

Brighton and Hove City Council did not respond to The Argus’s request for a comment on the new road.