Campaigners fighting council plans for a waste site on their doorsteps were refused entry to a packed meeting.

Protesters have sent about 2,200 objections to Brighton and Hove City Council opposing plans by Onyx, hired by the council to manage its waste contract, to build a waste transfer station in Hollingdean Lane, Brighton.

An opposition group called Dump the Dump and members of the public were given their first chance to question Onyx managers at a meeting at Downs Infant School in Ditchling Road last night.

But the 200-capacity hall at the school was not big enough to cope with the scores of people who turned up. Amid chaotic scenes, security staff employed by the council turned away at least 100 people who were furious they had to stand outside.

So many people were trying to cram into the building organisers had to decide whether or not to carry on with the meeting.

They took a vote, asking those who had made it inside, if the meeting should be aborted. Some of the campaigners shouted out, calling the meeting a farce.

However, people agreed to continue on the understanding a further meeting at a larger venue would be held next week.

They shouted out their opinions, saying the waste site was bound to create traffic and pollution in a residential area. They feared the lorries would create intolerable noise and traffic chaos. Some questioned how many lorries would move in and out of the site on a daily basis.

Council officers began to explain the proposals for the waste transfer station but were shouted down by the audience who demanded they go straight to voicing their opinions to John Collins, project director for Onyx South Downs.

Mr Collis said 33 articulated lorries, carrying 44 tonnes of waste, would enter the site and 33 lorries would leave each day.

He said: "The route would be down Hollingdean Road under the railway bridge and out by the gyratory."

Speaking to The Argus, Mr Collis said the site would provide Brighton with a reliable, long-term waste management facility.

He said: "The issue in the area is landfills are running out and we will need to transport waste quite long distances, probably to Newhaven for the disposal.

"The site will also provide a recycling facility to allow Brighton to expand, progress and achieve higher recycling levels."

Marion Bance, 46, of Florence Road, said: "I don't think the waste site should be in a residential area. This is an area where there are two schools virtually next to each other and the lorries would be very dangerous for pupils.

"It's bad enough the infants school only has a concrete playground without having to go out and play where there's industrial noise and fumes."

Paul Tofts, of Rugby Road, said: "The bridge is already a pinch point, 66 lorry movements going through there will mean everything else will grind to a halt."

Rod Main, 48, of Elphick Road, Newhaven, said: "It seems a bit premature to put in the infrastructure when you have not even got the go-ahead to build the incinerator. This site is really designed to just collect the waste together and ship it to Newhaven."