DETERMINED residents are fighting plans for blocks of flats they say are far too big.

A proposal to demolish the synagogue in New Church Road, Hove, was submitted by Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation in June.

The plan is to build a new synagogue and three blocks of flats, one four storeys high, one five storeys and one of six storeys.

It has received 296 objections and 212 supporting comments on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website.

Hove Action Group, which opposes the plans, organised a residents’ meeting last week and is holding another tomorrow at The Venue in Hove to discuss solutions.

Its slogans, No Bloomin’ Way and No to Tony’s Towers, refer to Albion chairman Tony Bloom and the Bloom Foundation, which is financing the development.

Jim Ashcroft, of Westbourne Gardens, said: “We do not object to the site being redeveloped and improved.

“Our main concern is that Mr Bloom and his developers are not listening to local people and are determined to build something which is far too big for the area in order to maximise profit.”

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said: “There will be benefits to the whole community such as the work spaces available and a beautiful new synagogue. Think how fantastic it will be to breathe life into this site.

“However I’ve made it clear to the developer they must ensure those who live around the site have something they can be proud of.”

Julia Besser, who lives in Pembroke Crescent, said: “I don’t understand why Peter Kyle would go against his party politics to support a scheme that has no social housing. It’s a myth to say the 45 new homes will go towards meeting the housing shortfall as it’s Tony Bloom’s stated aim to attract ‘young families to the area to secure the future of the Jewish community in the city’.”

Bob Whittaker of BLB Surveyors, who is project managing the development, said: “We are providing five affordable housing units.”

The Bloom Foundation has been contacted for comment.