A £100 million industrial park scheme which would create 1,500 jobs in Mid Sussex has run into opposition.

Developers want to turn a former sewage works at Fairbridge Way, Burgess Hill, into a factory estate.

But Burgess Hill town councillors say the proposals for the 30-acre site would make life a misery for people living nearby.

Their objections centre on the access plans for the proposed estate.

Kent-based developer Simons Estates wants to re-route lorries and cars bound for Burgess Hill's civic amenity tip through the existing Sheddingdean Industrial Estate and Marchants Way, which is bordered by homes.

The firm wants to use the present Fairbridge Way entrance road solely for traffic to the new industrial estate.

The councillors say the rumble of lorries and pressure of traffic would ruin the area and create a noise nuisance.

Town clerk David Carden is writing a letter of objection to Mid Sussex District Council, the planning authority.

Town council planning chairman Tony Balsdon agreed that the old sewage works was an ideal site for an industrial estate, but added: "What we object to most strongly is that the traffic link to the civic amenity centre is through Marchants Way."

Mr Balsdon's wife Gillian, the town council chairman, said: "There is a lot that is good about this plan. However, people who are already living in that area have to be considered as a priority."

In the plans, gipsy families living at Fairbridge Way would be found a home about half a mile away at Freeks Farm.

The families are aware of the possible move and have raised no objections.