FEELINGS are still running high and a protest is expected tonight when a new Ikea is likely to be given the go-ahead.

Residents and cycling campaigners will be at the meeting where Brighton and Hove Albion hopes to get permission to create the shop as well as 600 homes, a country park and land for a school.

On Monday in The Argus Albion executive director Martin Perry pleaded for support and said 875 jobs would be created.

But residents and campaigners responded to the article, saying they remain against the proposals for land between the Albion training ground and Shoreham Airport.

Barbara O’Kelly, chairwoman of the Adur Residents Environmental Action (Area) said: “The majority of Adur residents are opposed to this development, mainly because of Ikea. Why should we be proud to have Ikea on our doorstep?” She said the A27 was the third worst road in the South East.

She added: “Mr Perry failed to mention that this new roundabout will have traffic lights. The current Sussex Pad crossing will be closed.

“Traffic emerging from Coombes Road and Lancing College will not be able to turn right on to the A27 so will have to turn left, navigate the flyover and then rejoin the A27 to head west. Cyclists will lose their direct access into the National Park and that will be replaced by a narrow, substandard pathway. This new roundabout will create further tailbacks.”

Chris Todd, from Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, said: “The committee report could have been written by the developer given that it is not properly assessing the evidence and its recommendations appear to skewed to give the development the green light.

“We are not anti-development but we are anti bad development and this is a prime example. Developers have snubbed the local community, failing to take on board many of their concerns which they are now trying to belittle. Their claims that we are endangering life by campaigning to save the Sussex Pad crossing are hypocritical given they have been lobbying Highways England to do likewise. We hope that councillors will see through these blatant attempts to hoodwink them.”

The meeting of the Adur planning committee is on at the Robert Woodard Academy in Sompting at 7pm.

l Read a live blog of the meeting at theargus.co.uk.