A music festival planned for an airfield will attract up to 70,000 people and be run in the guise of a two-day summer festival next year, it has been revealed.

SJM Concerts, who are behind V-Festival, want to hold the festival at Shoreham Airport on the weekend of June 6 and 7.

The company has previously organised concerts for One Direction, The Stone Roses and Jessie J.

SJM submitted a premises licence application to Adur Council last month but council leader Neil Parkin said he was disappointed the company had “jumped the gun”.

He said: “We were in negotiations with them but they’ve just gone ahead and submitted the application.

“We wanted the festival to be for around 25,000 to 30,000 people and for music to finish at 11pm and were in talks about it. But they’ve submitted an application anyway.

“It was advertised in public notices as per protocol but I and other councillors didn’t spot it and I know residents haven’t either so they’ve missed the boat on consultation. But there’s a lot of negotiating to do still.”

When asked if the consultation period, which closed yesterday, could be extended, Coun Parkin said: “We asked SJM to extend it but they said no.”

The Argus approached SJM yesterday but was told: “We don’t have anything to comment at this stage.”

Councillor David Lambourne, who represents Mash Barn ward, which covers Shoreham Airport, said: “I’m at odds with council officers because they didn’t inform anyone about what was going on. I’ve expressed my disgust at the way things have been carried out. It has not been very democratic.

“It’s a huge project and it’s unbelievable that nobody on licensing had heard about it. I’ve no stance on the plans as we need more detail – but my problem is the way it’s been handled.”

Ian Beale, 57, who lives on New Salts Farm Road, leading to the airport, said: “I don’t think anyone here will be happy at the thought of potentially having drunks wandering down our lane and possibly vandalism.”

It is believed the two-day festival would include camping but what type of artists the event would attract remains unclear. However, SJM is known for promoting pop acts.

A hearing to decide on the plans will be held at Adur Civic Centre on January 7.