Villagers are pushing for a public inquiry into plans for a slaughterhouse which they say would cause traffic jams and disturb an ancient woodland.

An application for a slaughterhouse and a meat processing plant at Curtis Farm, in Green Lane, just outside Rusper village, was lodged in May last year but was turned down by Horsham District Council in November.

David Turner, owner of the farm, has appealed to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

After a request from him to the department's planning inspectorate a decision based on written submissions will be made.

Campaigning group Rash (Rusper Against SlaughterHouse), which is made up of villagers, have spoken out and are insisting a public inquiry is held.

Businessman Phil Harris, 64, said: "We are pushing for a full public inquiry and also wondering why on Earth we have planning officers agreeing to a written appeal.

"Horsham District Council, according to what we are being told, need to be the ones that ask the Department for Communities and Local Government for this to happen.

"It is clear that the written procedure is for small-scale development such as extensions to houses or changes of use. It is equally clear that the complexities and controversies that surrounded the original application merit the appeal taking the form of a public inquiry, or at the very least an informal hearing.

"We do not want the decision to be made behind closed doors."

The original application drew 153 letters of protest. West Sussex County Council raised strategic planning objections.

Mr Harris added villagers had until April 7 to write to the department's planning inspectorate and that many had already.

Ray Wright, head of development at Horsham District Council, said: "The council normally accepts the type of appeal chosen by the appellant. In this case, the council recognises that there is considerable local interest in the proposal and has asked the inspectorate to reconsider whether, in this particular case, the written representations method is the best way forward."

Campaigners fear the slaughterhouse will clog up Rusper's narrow lanes with lorries ferrying animals to the farm and carcasses out of the farm.

Other concerns include siting the slaughterhouse in an area of unspoiled pasture land adjacent to South Wood, which is rich in wildlife and home to nesting buzzards.

They also fear lorries could accidentally leak oil into the woodland's watercourses.

Chartered surveyor Angus Farquhar of Horsham-based estate agents Henry Smith, who represents Mr Turner, said: "We chose to go on written representations for the reason that a public inquiry could go on for a length of time and could cost upwards of £20,000. It is a very large and expensive process."

Do you live near Curtis Farm? How will you be affected if the slaughterhouse plans are given the go-ahead? Leave your comments below.