FURIOUS protesters hit out at plans for an Ikea superstore at a meeting last night.

Around 70 people gathered at the Shoreham Centre to call for a halt to the New Monks Farm scheme in Lancing.

The protesters sang Christmas carols with the traditional words altered to voice their disapproval at the plan for Sussex’s first Ikea.

It came as councillors on Adur District Council voted for the local authority’s local plan – which guides development in the area until 2032.

The decision will set the wheels in motion for the Ikea development. However, planning permission still needs to be granted for the development to go ahead.

The New Monks Farm proposal is one of several major items as part of the plan which includes the building of 3,718 properties and 41,000 square metres of commercial space.

The £170 million New Monks Farm development includes the 35,000 square metre Ikea store along with 600 homes, a school and a 28-hectare country park.

Brighton and Hove Albion has partnered with CALA Homes (South Home Counties) for the development which will be near to the club’s training ground.

Despite last night’s decision protesters vowed to fight on.

They said the development would lead to traffic chaos as well as increased pollution.

Chrissie Gunter, of Connaught Avenue in Shoreham, said the Swedish furniture store is the worst part of the scheme.

She said: “The A27 and A259 already get gridlocked. Having an Ikea will mean too many extra cars.

“We have been told by the council that people will be commuting to the store, like on bikes – when do people go to Ikea on a bike?

“There is an Ikea in Southampton and Croydon. Thousands of people go to Ikea, some even go by coaches. I’m not against it as a shop, but I would go to Croydon or Southampton if I wanted to go.

“I used to live in Bath, and I remember when the Ikea store opened in Bristol. It made traffic horrendous, especially on Saturdays.

“It will not be good for the community.”

Some protesters wore gas masks to protest at the added pollution.

Carol Smith, 71, who lives near Shoreham Beach, said: “Ikea is the worst thing about the New Monks Farm development.

“The housing will cause more pollution and traffic, but Ikea is just ridiculous. It doesn’t bring any positives. The roads are clogged already. We don’t need 2,000 extra cars a day, which is what this could lead to.

“It only needs one accident around here and all the roads are gridlocked for hours.”