Six months ago, Brian Beck of Lewes promised never again to write to you about Falmer. But here he is once more (Letters, October 10), this time complaining about the difficulties of finding out how much Brighton and Hove City Council has spent on the public inquiry.

In fact, the council had little choice but to defend its approval of the stadium and I would have thought Mr Beck would have been more concerned about how much money his own council in Lewes is spending.

They've so far blown tens of thousands of pounds fighting a scheme which will see two buildings erected inside its boundary. One is a bus shelter. So is the other.

Huge amounts have been spent on trying (unsuccessfully) to persuade a planning inspector to put the stadium on a 100 per cent greenfield site within the South Downs AONB whilst simultaneously issuing expensive publicity material claiming they are doing it only because they want to defend the South Downs AONB from development.

Sensing this might look hypocritical, Mr Beck's council has also been busy promoting a scheme which will see thousands of spectators' cars tracking across the Downs via Woodingdean crossroads.

Has Mr Beck found out the total cost of all this to Lewes District Council? Has he even asked them?

  • Bill Swallow, South Lane, Hurstpierpoint