Disabled football fans need a new stadium because of poor facilities at Withdean, a public inquiry heard.

Eleanor Ellison, of Brighton and Hove Albion Disabled Supporters' Club, said many fans had difficulty attending games at the temporary ground.

She told the public inquiry into building a new 22,000-seat stadium at Falmer it was difficult to provide facilities for disabled and partially-sighted fans at Withdean.

She said: "Falmer will give some disabled fans the opportunity to see games for the first time since Goldstone days."

Elderly fans would also benefit from better purpose-built facilities.

Individual supporters and opponents of building at Village Way North, Falmer, spoke during the last day of evidence.

Supporter Ed Bassford said Withdean was "hopelessly inadequate" and the club needed a modern stadium. He said the proposal was viable and the environmental impact could be mitigated.

But farmer Eric Huxham said the stadium would block views from the village, be visible from surrounding downland and would affect everybody who lived in Falmer.

He said: "We have a duty to save this beautiful, majestic, downland village from oblivion."

The council's barrister earlier told the inquiry objections to the planning application had "vanished" although there was a record of representations made in support of the scheme. The council later denied any had been lost.

The inquiry, which opened in February, will examine planning conditions and hear final submissions from all the main parties before closing at the end of this week.

Planning inspector John Collyer will reopen the hearing for two weeks in the autumn to discuss the linked coach park and road works.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is not expected to make a final decision until at least the end of the year.

Wednesday June 11, 2003