An MP is warning a water company to back down or face a fierce fight over plans to build a £200 million sewage works.

Des Turner, whose Brighton Kemptown constituency includes the earmarked site in Peacehaven, has written to Southern Water managing director Stuart Derwent.

His letter urges the company to abandon its plans for Lower Hoddern Farm and says the people of Peacehaven are ready to put up a fight as big as that in the run-up to the 1999/2000 public inquiry into the Portobello works at Telscombe Cliffs.

Dr Turner was a leading opponent of Portobello.

Simon Gibbs, the inspector who conducted the inquiry, rejected plans to expand Portobello and forced Southern Water to look again at alternative sites.

Lower Hoddern Farm came out as the favourite but has attracted strong opposition from neighbours, who fear the development would blight their homes.

The company is under Government and European pressure to build the works.

It would provide high-level sewage treatment to help make the sea cleaner.

Dr Turner's letter urged Mr Derwent and fellow directors to review their decision and not waste time on Peacehaven.

He wrote: "It is becoming clear the Peacehaven community will put up just as fierce a resistance as you encountered to siting the works at Portobello, which resulted in extremely expensive delays and defeat in a planning inquiry."

Dr Turner says Southern Water should build at one of three brownfield sites, two on the north and east quays at Newhaven and another at Shoreham Harbour.

The MP says the Government's planning policy guidelines cannot be satisfied at Peacehaven.

He wrote: "It cannot be said Peacehaven is the most environmentally suitable option given there were three brownfield sites on the original shortlist.

"I therefore urge you to think again and bring forward an application for one of the three brownfield sites, which would have little difficulty in planning terms. If you lost a further appeal on Peacehaven you would be forced to use one of the brownfield sites, so it would make good sense to move on to one now and save delay and expense."

A Southern Water spokeswoman said Mr Derwent would reply to Dr Turner in full.

She said: "While there is no golden site, there is an urgent national need to provide a modern treatment works to serve the area, which remains the only coastal resort in Sussex unable to meet European environmental legislation.

"The proposed site at Lower Hoddern Farm is considered the best practicable environmental option."