Campaigners say they will lie down in front of the bulldozers if Southern Water goes ahead with plans to build a sewage works in their neighbourhood.

About 100 members and supporters of the East Brighton Unite Group (EBU) have signed a "bulldozer pledge" that says they will take direct action as soon as planning permission is given.

They are angry about the possibility of having the works built in their neighbourhood and are willing to take action.

John Commons, of Wadhurst Rise, Whitehawk, Brighton, is vice chairman of EBU, which is made up of various local groups such as the Whitehawk and Manor Farm Community Association and Friends of Sheepcote Valley.

He said: "A lot of people around here are really incensed about this and I am sure there will be a very large turnout if planning permission is given. But we don't want it to come to that.

"We just want common sense to be listened to.

"If lying in front of a bulldozer is what needs to be done then that is what needs to be done."

Southern Water is looking at eight sites around the city and EBU strongly object to three in east Brighton.

If the sewage works is built on the Lower Sheepcote Valley site, they say two football pitches will be destroyed, along with a cricket pitch if the works are expanded.

They are angry that a site north of Sheepcote Valley is being looked at because they believe it is an extremely valuable area for wildlife.

Residents also say they were given promises that the third site, the former Blackrock swimming pool, would be left alone until another leisure development could be built.

A spokesman for Southern Water said any decision will not be made for several weeks.

He added: "We are currently carrying out detailed environmental surveys of all eight sites, which is a substantial amount of work and will take some weeks yet.

"The results of the surveys will be considered along with the results of public consultation and we hope that by late spring, we will have something to report."

Monday March 31 2003