Albion today issued a scathing attack on Lewes District Council after they branded the club's work in the community as being 'too small for any meaningful use.'
Lewes also claimed Albion's community work was 'very minor... with only few, and even then limited, benefits accruing to the wider community'.
Lewes made the demeaning comments in their written submissions to Ruth Kelly as part of their objection to the proposed Community Stadium at Falmer.
The comments come in stark contrast to last night's Football League Awards, when the Seagulls were voted Community Club of the Year.
Albion chairman Dick Knight said, "It was no coincidence that eight years ago we named our vision for a new stadium for Brighton & Hove the Community Stadium. We knew then the importance of the Albion in our local community.
"To have received the national award of Football League Community Club of the Year is a fantastic achievement in our present circumstances. It exposes the blinkered and selfish opposition of Lewes District Council for what it is. They are denying the wider community, including the people they supposedly represent, the right to a stadium where we can truly fulfil the potential of this club as a power for good.
"I am proud of Steve Ford and his team, who have put the politicians of Lewes to shame."
Albion chief-executive Martin Perry added, "The award is a tremendous achievement and just shows that, contrary to Lewes District Council's opinion, the club delivers significant benefits to the community.
"This has been recognised by judges from a variety of walks of life, including people from outside football representing the media and international businesses.
"Our work has been acknowledged at a national level and it makes a mockery of Lewes's insulting and baseless comments."
