The RSPCA has paid tribute to the public support shown for its fight against park-and-ride plans which threatened one of its shelters.

Brighton and Hove City Council proposed a 900-space car park on one of two sites in Patcham, either Braypool or Patcham Court Farm.

The preferred site was Patcham Court.

But councillors last week rejected the plan, despite it being cut to 450 parking spaces.

Patcham residents had objected to both sites and launched a campaign group to fight the proposals.

Staff and supporters of the RSPCA shelter in Patcham joined the battle, handing in petitions containing thousands of names to the council.

The decision means the council has to rethink its entire vision for transport systems.

The proposal was intended to ease congestion and promote more environmentally-friendly forms of transport in and around the city.

Jenny Wells, of the RSPCA at Patcham, said: "I'm surprised the councillors did not vote for either of the sites because they have obviously spent over a year debating them.

"We want to say a big thank you to all the people who supported us. You can't fight these battles on your own. We have had so much support from people who have been reading the news in The Argus."

If a park-and-ride site was built at Braypool, the RSPCA would lose its exercise area and may have been forced to close.

The centre takes in the majority of the city's stray and abandoned animals.

If the council had approved Patcham Court Farm, six houses and allotments would have been lost, although they would have been safe with the reduced size scheme.

The council will now have to look at alternative sites.

Many people have suggested Mill Road, Patcham, as a possibility.

The road is used for football park-and-ride during the soccer season.

Mill Road has been branded as so dangerous it should be closed as a through route.

In October it was shut for several weeks while the surface was repaired following an accident which left a man seriously injured.

Ms Wells said: "There are other sites across the town. Mill Road has been suggested many times. It could be closed off permanently as is already done for football parking."

Wednesday, December 14, 2005