A development blueprint which contains plans for extra housing in East Sussex towns and villages has been condemned.

Urgent meetings between council bosses about the Wealden district draft local plan have been demanded.

People in small villages like Willingdon fear dozens more homes will be built in their areas than is needed.

Tory-led Wealden District Council unveiled its draft local plan last week and its Cabinet meets today to discuss it.

People in Willingdon and Polegate believe they are getting a raw deal and have asked the Cabinet to re-examine the proposals.

Community leaders believe more homes will push already-stretched services, like schools, hospitals and GP surgeries, beyond breaking point.

Council bosses said almost two thirds of the plan's area were designated areas of outstanding natural beauty and it was crucial they were not affected.

Andy Watkins, Lib Dem district councillor for Willingdon, said: "The planners' own figures show the housing need in Willingdon is just 14 extra houses until 2011.

"It is clear that the near 400 houses proposed for Willingdon are to meet the needs of the rest of the district, much of which does not receive any housing provision at all."

Stephen Shing, a county, district and parish councillor, said: "I do not understand why the highways authority has apparently gone along with these proposals.

"I'm asking for an urgent meeting with the officers of both the county and district councils to discuss this further.

The proposals are not satisfactory as they stand."

The proposals feature in the 268-page draft local plan and are designed to accommodate the significant growth expected in the district before 2011.

It includes major housing schemes, business parks, primary schools, shops and health centres as part of the huge raft of ideas for Wealden district.

However, where such huge schemes will be built in the district is the subject of fervent debate.

Plans to keep the hotly contested Hindsland playing fields free from homes have been warmly welcomed.

Campaigners are now urging owners Brighton University and East Sussex County Council not to object to the plan to maintain them as playing fields.

The draft local plan was being submitted to the district council's Cabinet today before going to its full council on November 6.

A six-week public consultation will begin in January next year, when objections to the plan can be made.

Public meetings and exhibitions will be held throughout the district in January and February before a public inquiry, most likely in 2004.