There is growing anger over lack of consultation about a decision to potentially house single homeless people in a former hotel.

Hundreds of people were left queueing outside a community hall in Worthing for a public consultation on the plans as there was not enough space inside.

Developer SDR wants to use the Windsor House Hotel in Windsor Road, Worthing, for homeless accommodation.

Residents made their objections at a meeting on Tuesday which was called to address the decision-making process of Worthing Borough Council cabinet member Emma Taylor-Beale and Adur Council leader Neil Parkin, who co-signed the deal with SDR on behalf of the councils.

It would see a ten-year contract worth £7.8 million given to SDR for 44 temporary accommodation residences, split by need between Adur and Worthing Councils.

The deal is expected to save the councils £2.5 million over the ten years as they would no longer be paying around £113 per night per person to hotels and B&Bs.

But Pennie Joyce, who lives in Windsor Road, said: “No one’s come to ask me my story, that is not OK and you need to come listen to us please. Not words, real ears and action.”

She said the lack of consultation was unacceptable and that SDR and the councils had not adequately notified residents of the last consultation, had not accounted for previous objections properly and needed to hold another consultation for residents.

She said the area is being affected by antisocial behaviour generated due to an over-concentration of temporary accommodation there, claiming it already houses a large portion of existing temporary accommodation for Worthing Borough Council.

Councillor Taylor-Beale said the deal would not only save the councils money but give homeless people a place to stay and help prevent homelessness in Worthing and Adur.

Under the Housing Act 1996 local authorities such as Worthing Borough Council and Adur District Council have a duty to help people who are homeless secure accommodation for at least six months and people threatened with homelessness to avoid it.

The meeting heard the Home Office, London boroughs and other local authorities had been looking at the hotel for temporary accommodation, with 91 per cent of temporary accommodation for Adur and Worthing being outside the area, according to council officers.

Councillor Lee Cowen said he had a homeless resident relocated to Milton Keynes due to a lack of local temporary accommodation.

Councillor Parkin said it was a great opportunity to bring homeless people closer to the area and since the hotel would house mostly Worthing residents and as long as the Worthing member was happy with the deal he would sign it as it was mostly a Worthing matter.

Conservative councillors expressed concerns about the lack of public consultation, saying the council was pushing this through without any consideration for the public. Worthing councillor Heather Mercer questioned Cllr Taylor-Beale’s decision making.

Cllr Taylor-Beale said she stood by her decision to partner with SDR and the scrutiny committee voted to take no further action on the decision-making process.