Mr Mitchell (Con, Holbrook West) said he was extremely disappointed HFC had decided to appeal the ruling of Horsham District Council's development control committee on Tuesday night (July 1).

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He said the appeal would be a very costly process for both sides and would leave residents in a state of anxiety and uncertainty over the Holbrook Club site.

He said: "At the planning committee I implored the Football Club to reflect for a while on the decision to reject planning permission so I am astonished that within 24 hours the football club has decided to lodge an appeal against the wishes of over 400 residents and the decision of local councillors.

"The committee is made up of elected councillors, who having listened carefully to both sides of the arguments, concluded that a residential area in Holbrook was not the right place to site a 4,000 capacity football stadium.

"The football club bought the site with no consultation of the local Holbrook councillors and since the purchase did not engage with the community in their plans.

"HFC's plans for a new site at Hillier's were unanimously rejected by local residents only two years ago, and Holbrook residents have taken exactly the same view.

"HFC sold their Queen Street home to housing developers years before finding a new site to move to.

"They bought the Holbrook Club without planning permission and now for a third time they are set to go against the wishes of local residents.

"This is rapidly turning into a Greek tragedy in the history of the Football Club.

"The four local members for Holbrook unanimously agreed, that whilst supporting the good work of the Football Club and its ambassadorial role for the Horsham town, moving to Holbrook was going to mean a massive loss of amenity to local residents and impose such an adverse change to residents in respect of noise, parking and traffic, that rejection was the only option to take.

"This period following rejection of the application was a golden opportunity for Horsham Football Club to work with Horsham District Council to find a more appropriate site, one which is sustainable and served by good road transport links.

"Their decision not to take up that offer will leave residents both angry and dumbfounded.

"I acknowledge that it is the football club's legal right to appeal but my view remains that there is no merit in their application which was poorly put together.

"The decision will now be down to a government planning inspector to decide, which is a very costly process for all sides, but all the while the local residents will continue to suffer anxiety and uncertainty over this site."