Villagers fear Southwater could lose its identity and merge into Horsham if a car park is built in a 'green gap'.

Councillors and residents are outraged by the plans to build a 535-space park-and-ride site for commuters and shoppers between Horsham and Southwater.

They say both will be merged into one giant conurbation, ruining Southwater's individual character, if the plan goes ahead.

Horsham Council, working with West Sussex County Council, has applied for planning permission to build the park-and-ride site for Horsham at Hop Oast in a field by the civic dump.

Southwater Parish Council has objected to the car park. A spokeswoman said: "The idea is to keep Southwater and Horsham separate, which will not happen if it is built on."

The district council wants to provide 269 parking spaces for commuters - who have found it difficult to park since on-street restrictions were introduced in Horsham - and a further 266 in case more are needed later on.

It wants to install security lights and surveillance cameras on the site, which will be hidden by a 2.5 metre bank.

District councillor Tony Millson said he had sympathy with objectors who accused both district and county councils of acting as judge and jury over their own application.

He said: "Once a green field is gone, it will not be a green field again.

"The ideal scenario in my mind would be to look at half of the scheme now. Can we not limit it to the first part and look at an alternative for the rest of it if that is needed?"

The county council will decide in April whether the scheme can go ahead.