Plans for a new £1.7 million travellers site in the South Downs National Park have been opposed by Conservative councillors.

Brighton and Hove City Council has submitted a proposal to build pitches for permanent settlement next to its transit site in Braypool Lane, Brighton.

The local authority said the site, north of the A27 at Patcham was chosen after a survey of 50 sites across the city.

But Conservative councillors have concerns that about the infrastructure cost, potential water pollution and access issues.

This was despite the party backing the creation of a permanent site when they were in power between 2007 and 2011.

Group leader Geoffrey Theobald said: “Residents campaigned long and hard for the National Park and I don't think they will be too happy if one of its first big decisions is to give the green light for a large and unsightly caravan park.

“We still have serious concerns about the potential for contamination of the water aquifer that supplies much of Brighton and Hove and the proposed solution of building a pipe under the A27 will be extremely expensive.”

The planning application was submitted last Monday and will be determined by the National Park Authority's planning committee.

The public consultation period is expected to open this month.