A new search for a multi-million pound sewage treatment works site between East Brighton and Newhaven has begun.

But whichever site Southern Water chooses, it is likely to cause uproar.

The last site at Telscombe Cliffs, which would have involved the expansion of works at Portobello with a platform on the beach, was rejected following a public inquiry.

It was rejected by the Government on environmental grounds.

Alternative sites in the past have included the old gas works near Brighton Marina; opposite Beacon Hill, Ovingdean; on land at the back of Peacehaven at Lower Hoddern Farm; at Tarring Nevill, north of Newhaven; and two sites at Newhaven, one on the North Quay and the other at Newhaven East, behind the main harbour arm.

Now all sites are to be re-examined and a consultation process set up between the company and the three main councils involved, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and Lewes.

The water company has just opened a treatment centre in Newhaven, close to the railway line behind the harbour arm.

It uses a spiral separator method developed by Southern Water engineers David de Hoxar, which does not take up as much space.

It treats waste water generated from 60,000 people in Newhaven, Lewes and Seaford.

The works to cater for Brighton would need to treat waste water and sewage for a population five times as large.

The Brighton area is the only part of the Sussex coast where water is discharged into the sea which does not meet quality levels set by the European Union.

If Southern Water continues to discharge water through Portobello that fails to meet the levels, the company will be liable for fines.

Managing director Stuart Derwent, at the official opening of the new works at Newhaven on Friday, said: "Nobody wants to have a sewage treatment works in their back garden but we have to build somewhere.

"What we are trying to do is look at all the areas where there is a possibility of building and the reality is, it is from the eastern side of Brighton across to Newhaven.

"There are no fixed ideas and we are going to have a fresh look."

Southern Water has reformed its teamlooking at the project.

Mr Derwent said: "We looked previously at between 35 to 40 sites. We will certainly revisit those but we will also look at any sites we have missed. Somehow or other we have got to find a site to build these works.

"We have a clean sheet of paper and the task of the team is to find a new site. We have not gone out to any sites yet.

"We are about to start doing that now.

"The consultative group involving our team and the three councils will meet on a regular basis.

"We will definitely be looking at sites in Newhaven.