Opponents of the "Poohaven" proposals to transfer millions of litres of sewage a day between Brighton and Peacehaven packed a meeting yesterday.

Arrangements for a public inquiry were being discussed.

Southern Water's proposals for a pumping station, storm water overflow pipe and 11km underground tunnel, which would transport sewage from Black Rock in Brighton to a £200 million treatment centre in Peacehaven, were approved by Brighton and Hove City Council last month.

East Sussex County Council would also need to approve plans for the treatment centre at Lower Hoddern Farm, Peacehaven, which falls within its jurisdiction, before work on the scheme could begin.

Both sets of proposals, the second of which will be debated by the county council on March 22, are duplicates of earlier planning applications submitted to the councils.

Southern Water lodged appeals with the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott when the councils were unable to reach a decision.

Following Brighton and Hove's decision, a public inquiry will be held if East Sussex County Council turns down the duplicate planning application.

More than 150 people packed a room at the Meridian Centre, Peacehaven, for pre-inquiry meeting chaired by planning inspector Ken Smith, who was appointed by the Government to oversee the inquiry and file a report with recommendations to Mr Prescott.

Mr Smith said the main issues for the inquiry would include legislation on the treatment and disposal of waste water, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove's waste plans and the layout, scale, open space, appearance and landscaping of the scheme.

Other main issues would cover the importance of communities taking responsibility for managing their own waste, the impact on the Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest and the stability of the cliffs.

Health risks, smells from the sewage scheme and the traffic impact on the use of the A259 and on the safety of children attending school would also be on the inquiry's agenda.

Protester John Hodgson, of Capel Avenue, Peacehaven, objected to Brighton and Hove City Council's decision not to make any legal representations at the inquiry.

He said: "I would like to cross-examine them because I don't feel they have made any attempt to deal with their waste. They are exporting it to this community.

"The council just washes its hands of any waste or sewage problems."

Matthew Horton, representing East Sussex County Council, agreed that Brighton and Hove might need to be represented in any discussion of alternative sites, such as the one at Black Rock.

Mr Smith said he would consider demands for Brighton and Hove to appear.

He also agreed that the Meridian Centre's main hall should be used for the inquiry whenever possible but he has deferred his decision on the inquiry's date until after the weekend.

The county council wants the inquiry to begin in October so it can have time to adequately prepare its submissions.

However, Southern Water is pressing for an inquiry to begin either at the end of February or the beginning of March.