FORD ECO-TOWN: 5,000 homes at Ford could rise to 8,500

The two proposals for the development are for 5,000 homes. But there are fears the need to pay for all the services could see the developers increase the number of dwellings to 8,500.

Mr Herbert, who represents Arundel and the South Downs, told Arun's special cabinet meeting the schemes put forward as being environmentally aware were a sham.

"The whole eco-town proposal is a con. These two schemes were being promoted before the eco-town was even thought of.

"These schemes have been recycled for the convenience of developers."

He claimed that putting a new settlement into the middle of the countryside was damaging, rather than helping, the environment.

"It will be an eco-prison, not an eco-paradise. It is completely unrealistic to believe that people will not rely on their cars," he stated.

The environmental impact was one of his three main concerns about the proposals.

The others were the subversion of the planning process which everyone else had to obey to get major schemes considered and the impact on roads and hospitals.

Mr Herbert pledged his support for a united campaign about the proposals.

He was joined in his opposition by Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb.

Mr Gibb said: "We have to fight this proposal very hard indeed.

"What is annoying about these eco-town proposals is that they have been imposed on us by central government. They should not be imposed by a stroke of the pen by the minister (Caroline Flint) and her mandarins looking at a map and saying this area looks nice."

Health service official Sara Weech, of the West Sussex Primary Care Trust, said the eco-town of some 10,000-12,500 residents would require a health cenre of between six and ten GPs. But she claimed influx of population would have little impact on hospital services.

County councillor Christina Freeman, whose Yapton division covers the eco-town site, said: "I promise I will fight the proposals every inch of the way because they are totally unsuitable.

"It is very regrettable of the government to put forward this plan here in the heart of the countryside."