The leader of Brighton and Hove council has joined the campaign against using a green valley for a sewage treatment plant.

Southern Water has suggested eight sites to deal with the waste water produced by the city of Brighton and Hove.

Councillor Ken Bodfish, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, has already said Black Rock should be ruled out because bids are being considered for a leisure development at the site.

Now he has told Southern Water that Sheepcote Valley, also owned by the council, should not be considered.

Yesterday, we reported how the Friends of Sheepcote Valley had a secret weapon in their fight.

They have unearthed a copy of a report of a 1979 public inquiry into plans for a rubbish transfer station which was rejected by an inspector who said residents had a right to expect the valley to remain undeveloped.

Councillor Bodfish said: "Thanks are due to the Friends of Sheepcote Valley for bringing this to public attention."

He said the company should take account of what the inquiry inspector had said.

However, he said: "I do recognise Southern Water needs to find a solution to this problem."

The Keep Sewage Out of Sheepcote campaign aims to stop Southern Water building the works in the area, which stretches from Roedean to Woodingdean.

Organisations concerned with the protection of Kemp Town, Roedean and Woodingdean and environmental groups connected with East Brighton are joining forces to prevent the works being built in the valley.

Earlier this week, more than 150 residents packed a room at East Brighton Golf Club to express concerns over Sheepcote Valley becoming the site for a £200 million works treating the 95,000 million litres of waste water generated in the city each day.

Meetings are planned at the Whitehawk Youth Centre, next to the library in Whitehawk Road, today at 4pm and at the Valley Social Centre, in Whitehawk Way, on Monday, at 7.30pm.

On Saturday, February 8, at 11am, protesters plan to join hands to form a human protest ring around the proposed lower Sheepcote Valley sites.

Brighton and Hove councillor David Smith believes Shoreham or Newhaven are the best sites for the sewage works.

It is required to treat the city's waste water to a higher standard to comply with European regulations.

Southern Water has said it welcomed contributions during the public consultation period, which ends on February 10.

It said: "The company must find a site for a new waste water treatment works to serve Brighton and Hove to meet the EU Waste Water Treatment Directive.

"Whichever site is chosen as the option for a planning application, the company will endeavour to replace any amenities removed during the construction process."

The other sites being considered are Black Rock and Kemp Town gasworks in Brighton, Ovingdean, Peacehaven, Brookside Farm, Newhaven, and North Quay, Newhaven.