The sign on the front door of West Durrington Community Centre directing people to an exhibition inside did not bode well.

Somebody had scribbled in blue ink: "No houses, save our countryside".

Within minutes of The Sentinel pointing out the vandalised notice, organisers of the exhibition had removed the offending item and binned it.

While people's opinions on the plans were welcome, they obviously didn't want such a bold statement greeting visitors to the community centre.

Inside, men in suits stood around display boards detailing plans for 875 new homes on green fields in West Durrington.

An eager vanguard of people was queuing up outside before the doors opened on Friday, to be followed by hundreds of others on Saturday.

Many had done their food shopping at Tesco superstore across the car park before digesting the information in the community centre.

For some it was unpalatable and they vowed to bitterly oppose plans for the estate, tutting and shaking their heads as they viewed the boards.

But many others felt the time to protest was five to ten years ago and the development was now a fait accompli, especially with the Government demanding a huge increase in house-building.

A consortium of developers, Persimmon Homes, Bryant Homes and Heron Land Developments, have joined forces to push the scheme through.

They hope to construct up to 700 homes before 2006 but admit this deadline could be pushed back if there were hold-ups in the planning process.

The consortium said the focus was very much on a quality development, with about 25 per cent of the properties available to Housing Associations.

It also pledged to upgrade community facilities amid concerns that hundreds of homes had been built in West Durrington without the infrastructure to support them.

To that end, an unspecified amount of cash would be provided for first and middle schools, a small retail area, library, community centre, medical centre, children's play areas, sports pitches, footpath improvements, cycleways, nature conservation areas and more buses.

Another contentious issue is the future of trees lining Titnore Lane, currently a winding country lane linking the A27 and the A259 Worthing to Littlehampton road.

There have already been several public protests along the road, which led to traffic hold ups and several arrests, and the consortium has an uphill struggle on its hands to convince people that the ancient woodland lining the route won't be destroyed.

The boards stated: "The future of Titnore Lane and the ancient woodland alongside has been a key issue for many local people.

"Due to the accident record on Titnore Lane, it has long been West Sussex County Council policy that 'something must be done'.

"The county has previously drawn up a road improvement scheme with widening and straightening, and such a proposal may lead to significant tree loss."

But the consortium was confident that no more than 250 trees would be felled, equating to about one per cent of the woodland in the area.

Some trees would go at the junction of Titnore Lane and a new access road to the estate, possibly served by a roundabout.

There was also vociferous opposition to plans for another access via Tasman Way, leaving Varey Road and Fulbeck Avenue the most likely route for construction traffic.

Margaret Downes, of Hurst Avenue, Worthing, said: "I am worried about Worthing at the moment. The police can't cope, the doctors can't cope and the hospitals can't cope.

"How are they going to cope with another 800 homes? I also want Titnore Lane left as it is, an area of outstanding natural beauty. I don't want any trees to go.

"If you get a great big roundabout in Titnore Lane you destroy its character straight away and you have left it open in the future for more development to take place."

Her husband, Joseph, said: "I don't want any access from Titnore Lane into the new estate."

Jacqueline Gilbert, of Adur Avenue, West Durrington, said: "I cannot imagine the noise and dust when this building is going on. It is going to be horrendous."

Her husband, John, said: "We have looked out over open farmland with horses, birds, foxes and even deer for 30 years and we love it.

"When we moved in they did reckon there would be building on the land in ten years, so I suppose we have had a good run."

Steve Kelly, of Littlehampton Road, said: "I know there is going to be development there. You have got to develop. My three children will need homes one day."

Councillor Bob Clare, chairman of the borough council's development control committee, said: "Whatever is built in the remaining part of the borough at West Durrington really ought to represent some sort of coherent village development.

"There should be community facilities, which could be anything from a swimming pool to a library. We shall also be looking for a proper distribution of low-cost housing, which is absolutely crucial to the South East."

Ian Thorn, spokesman for Reading-based community relations company Green Issues Communications, working on behalf of the consortium, said: "The whole focus of the exhibition is to listen to what West Durrington people have to say.

"There has been a lot of coverage about certain aspects of the proposals. We want to find out what local residents feel about the key issues."

Paul Bedford, senior land and planning manager for Persimmon, said: "There have been a few totally anti, but on the whole most people have listened to the options."

The consortium is expected to submit a detailed planning application in about three months' time, with work starting in early 2004.

But builders could be held up if the application is called in by the Government for further appraisal.