Several correspondents (Letters, February 20) wrote about the proposed National Park and the apparent change of heart by Brighton and Hove city councillors who now realise they are being "painted into a corner".

As a West Sussex county councillor, I would point out that most of the A23/M23 corridor runs through West Sussex and it is part of the council's strategy to encourage economic development along that corridor, drawing the Gatwick/Crawley effect towards the coast.

This policy is endorsed by the South East England Regional Assembly and the South East England Development Agency as well as the Government Office for the South East so, as one correspondent suggested, the park could indeed be split in two, except East Sussex seems to want it less than West Sussex.

In the same issue one again found cause for concern with the Royal Sussex County Hospital, where I am at present a patient.

I would like to promote the establishment of a new 21st-Century hospital complex on a virgin site, out by the university campus with plenty of space for state-of-the-art buildings, really good public transport links and good direct access to the A23/A27.

Much of this could be funded from the sale of the existing central Brighton sites, many of which are listed buildings and in high-value central or sea-front areas.

I would be interested in discussing this with Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton Health Care NHS Trust.

-P R Mockridge, West Sussex County Councillor for Saltings