A masterplan for the future of a town suffered a setback after councillors said most people were unhappy with it.

Mid Sussex District Council's scrutiny committee voted last night for the Haywards Heath Masterplan to be reviewed by the full council.

Councillor Brian Hall, who asked for the plan's approval to be reconsidered by the committee, said: "I have been concerned for some time that some good work on strategically important issues such as the regeneration of the station site has masked areas of genuine community concern.

"In particular, the traffic and highways issues have not been addressed adequately and there are several other loose ends.

"The masterplan also includes matters of lesser importance which have been put in the plan without any indication of wider public support.

"These concerns are shared by many in the town. This has been evident at a number of recent public meetings.

"Although it could not, for reasons of process, be part of the call in, there is also concern that cabinet members have taken decisions about the Mid Sussex towns without fully reflecting on deeply held local views from local amenity groups such as the Haywards Heath Society or listening to local elected representatives in the town.

"Before the scrutiny committee I contacted district councillors of all parties representing Haywards Heath wards and asked whether they had reservations about the plan and without exception they said they had concerns about the details."

Councillor Lesley Wilkins said: "I feel that bringing the cabinet decision back for wider scrutiny by the council as a whole allows councillors from all parties to have a more direct influence on the ultimate outcome.

"This will hopefully lead quickly to a better overall plan with more support from the town and its councillors".

The call in process is intended to be a safeguard of the community's interest if there is serious doubt about the process by which a decision has been reached by the cabinet.

John Jory, the council's chief executive, said: "I am pleased at the level of support that the masterplan has received from across the political spectrum and this is reflected in the fact that the overwhelming majority of district councillors from Haywards Heath at last night's performance and scrutiny committee meeting supported 95 per cent of what is in the plan.

"The council, and local councillors in particular, have done much to engage with the local community to agree a masterplan to help govern the future of the town and address its decline. A great deal of consensus has been achieved but it is unrealistic to expect we can please everyone all of the time and meet everyone's personal requirements.

"Changes have been made to reflect concerns and I believe the masterplan looks to change Haywards Heath in the way that local people want to see it change.

"We will now be writing to key stakeholders and partners about the next steps towards the adoption of the Haywards Heath masterplan. The cabinet will make a final decision on points of detail within the masterplan, following its consideration by council.

"A timetable of the next steps towards the adoption of the Haywards Heath masterplan will be determined shortly."