Angry residents accused a council of ignoring their views on the future of their neighbourhood.

People living in Wild Park Close on the Bates Estate, Brighton, strongly object to plans for new houses in their street.

They submitted a petition to Brighton and Hove City Council but heard no more until they discovered planning permission had been granted.

They invited a representative from the council's planning department to a public meeting last night.

But the invitation was turned down, leaving residents fuming.

Wild Park Close resident Patricia Ormond said: "For months I've been ringing the council to find out what is going on but I couldn't get an answer.

"I left my phone number but no one called me back. I couldn't get anywhere.

"If you write to somebody they should at least have the decency to write back.

"This whole planning thing is like a minefield to us. We don't know how things work. It feels like they've taken advantage of that."

The council's planning committee last month granted permission for four housing association homes to be built at the bottom of the close.

Residents were told of the plans in January and sent the council four letters of objection and a 22-name petition.

They were concerned about a lack of parking space and protection of trees and the environment.

Some would prefer to see warden-controlled flats for the elderly built instead.

Another resident told the meeting: "We've got no voice to oppose this it seems. They are going to destroy a wonderful wildlife habitat that we should be protecting.

"I think they've driven a bus over the people. Our voice should be heard occasionally."

Jeanne Lepper, councillor for the Hollingbury ward, told the meeting: "Permission has been granted and for objectors there is no right of appeal.

"If we'd had this meeting in February, March, April or May we might have stood a chance."

She said it was important residents now made their concerns known to the developers.

Resident Molly Neadley accused the planning department of wasting people's time and money.

She said: "Do not use your PR machine and make us think our voice matters when, if you hear what you do not like, you then cut us off at the knees and go ahead with your views anyway."

The council said the objectors' comments were taken into consideration when making the decision and as a result the number of houses were reduced from five to four.

A council spokesman said: "Residents can object but they don't have the power of veto.

"An officer would never go to such a residents' meeting.

"It's not the officer's decision and their role is not to justify a committee's decision."