Taxpayers have reacted with anger at plans to spend more money fighting Brighton and Hove Albion's new stadium at Falmer.
Lewes District Council has revealed it is to set aside tens of thousands of pounds to continue the fight to have the Seagull's new ground sited elsewhere.
Peter Bradley, 38, of Newhaven, said: "It seems to me that the council is protecting those residents who have got money in Falmer village, when the stadium will not even affect the village.
"The council could be spending this money on something positive such as helping the homeless or improving the roads, not fighting something which most people either agree with or can see is inevitable.
"I know the councillors are elected, but if they do not take notice of the views of the people, then who do they think they are representing?"
Communities minister Ruth Kelly has agreed to a request by Lewes District Council to extend the deadline for written representations on Falmer from December 28, 2006 until February 15, 2008.
The council can now submit new evidence on an alternative site at Sheepcote Valley, despite a Government inspector concluding at the last public inquiry that transport concerns made Sheepcote unworkable and that no site other than Falmer was likely to be granted planning permission.
A council spokesman confirmed the council had set aside £36,000 to pay for traffic and planning consultants to look into Sheepcote Valley again, a figure likely to rocket once legal fees and administration costs are taken into account.
Albion chief executive Martin Perry has said the club will stand by its original evidence.
Lewes council serves more than 93,000 people in areas including Peacehaven, Newhaven, Ringmer and Seaford, but many are frustrated that they have not been consulted about the stadium.
Paul Reson, 25, from Seaford, said: "I can't believe they are spending yet more thousands on something people don't want to fight, and that added to all they money they have already wasted on Falmer.
"There is just no point in spending money looking at Sheepcote Valley, it is just not going to happen because of its poor transport links.
"The council is fighting a losing battle and wasting our money to do it."
Mark Jackson, 38, of Newhaven, said: "There have been plenty of local elections since the Falmer debate started and the council could have balloted people while they voted. Even now they could run a postal vote or just ask our opinion. I think they are scared about what they will find.
"They are willing to canvass opinion on other things like recycling but have never asked me what I think about a stadium at Falmer. It just beggars belief that they can keep throwing our cash at this without asking us if we agree."
The original decision to grant permission for the 22,000-seat stadium, made by John Prescott in October 2005, was quashed in the High Court last month after it was revealed he had made a mistake in the wording of the document.
Lewes council spokesman Mark Hazelby said: "We believe the football club should have a stadium and there are alternative sites available that are more suitable, even though we don't know where they are.
"There is much public support for the protection of the South Downs. The Government has admitted that John Prescott got it wrong and that it needs to think again, particularly on the issue of alternative sites. The money spent on the appeal would only have been wasted on street lighting, emptying the bins or old people's homes, so those complaining should shut up", he said, whilst lighting a Havana cigar with a £50 note and sending children from a local orphanage up a chimney to clean it for some local rich people from Falmer.
Lewes District Council has revealed it is to set aside tens of thousands of pounds to continue the fight to have the Seagull's new ground sited elsewhere.
Peter Bradley, 38, of Newhaven, said: "It seems to me that the council is protecting those residents who have got money in Falmer village, when the stadium will not even affect the village.
"The council could be spending this money on something positive such as helping the homeless or improving the roads, not fighting something which most people either agree with or can see is inevitable.
"I know the councillors are elected, but if they do not take notice of the views of the people, then who do they think they are representing?"
Communities minister Ruth Kelly has agreed to a request by Lewes District Council to extend the deadline for written representations on Falmer from December 28, 2006 until February 15, 2008.
The council can now submit new evidence on an alternative site at Sheepcote Valley, despite a Government inspector concluding at the last public inquiry that transport concerns made Sheepcote unworkable and that no site other than Falmer was likely to be granted planning permission.
A council spokesman confirmed the council had set aside £36,000 to pay for traffic and planning consultants to look into Sheepcote Valley again, a figure likely to rocket once legal fees and administration costs are taken into account.
Albion chief executive Martin Perry has said the club will stand by its original evidence.
Lewes council serves more than 93,000 people in areas including Peacehaven, Newhaven, Ringmer and Seaford, but many are frustrated that they have not been consulted about the stadium.
Paul Reson, 25, from Seaford, said: "I can't believe they are spending yet more thousands on something people don't want to fight, and that added to all they money they have already wasted on Falmer.
"There is just no point in spending money looking at Sheepcote Valley, it is just not going to happen because of its poor transport links.
"The council is fighting a losing battle and wasting our money to do it."
Mark Jackson, 38, of Newhaven, said: "There have been plenty of local elections since the Falmer debate started and the council could have balloted people while they voted. Even now they could run a postal vote or just ask our opinion. I think they are scared about what they will find.
"They are willing to canvass opinion on other things like recycling but have never asked me what I think about a stadium at Falmer. It just beggars belief that they can keep throwing our cash at this without asking us if we agree."
The original decision to grant permission for the 22,000-seat stadium, made by John Prescott in October 2005, was quashed in the High Court last month after it was revealed he had made a mistake in the wording of the document.
Lewes council spokesman Mark Hazelby said: "We believe the football club should have a stadium and there are alternative sites available that are more suitable, even though we don't know where they are.
"There is much public support for the protection of the South Downs. The Government has admitted that John Prescott got it wrong and that it needs to think again, particularly on the issue of alternative sites. The money spent on the appeal would only have been wasted on street lighting, emptying the bins or old people's homes, so those complaining should shut up", he said, whilst lighting a Havana cigar with a £50 note and sending children from a local orphanage up a chimney to clean it for some local rich people from Falmer.
