Susan West took on the role when residents of Ford, Yapton, Climping and Arundel met to form Communities Against Ford Eco-Town (CAFE).

Residents of nearby towns and villages – such as Barnham, Middleton and Felpham – are being encouraged to join.

Mrs West (53), whose Victorian cottage home looks across to Ford Prison, said: "I don't want to see this lovely place ruined by 5,000 to 20,000 new homes. We don't have enough water to sustain the people who live here now. And we don't have the infrastructure – such as transport – to handle that number of new people.

"I am not happy with the way the government is dealing with these eco-towns and trying to get them through without the proper democracy."

American Mrs West (53) and her British husband moved to Climping almost two years ago.

They had run a yacht management company in Majorca for many years before they decided to make Climping their home. Until she began as the campaign co-ordinator, Mrs West was working as a shop assistant. CAFE was formed last Fridayto present a united front for villagers against the eco-town proposals.

Those at the meeting agreed to eight initial actions. These included:

A march and rally on June 7 with more details to be announced later;

CAFE will be run by the community and be non-party political; and

A petition will be organised and a campaign leaflet produced and delivered to homes around the Ford area.

The campaign is being backed by MPs Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) and Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton).

Mr Herbert said: "There are huge local concerns about the eco-town proposal and a strong feeling that the communities affected need to work together. In the past year, we have all rallied to support our local hospitals. I hope everyone will now get behind this united campaign to see off the eco-town."

Mr Gibb stated: "It's vitally important that everyone affected takes part in this campaign.

"This is a cross-party and locally-run campaign that we have to win for the sake of our environment."

The meeting was organised following the announcement three weeks ago by the government's housing minister, Caroline Flint, that Ford was among 15 locations shortlisted for an eco-town.

Two separate bids for 5,000 homes each have been put forward for Ford Airfield and the surrounding countryside.

They are the Ford Village Action Group of landowners and two developers, Wates and Redrow, and the Ford Enterprise Hub of three individuals – John Penfold, Tony Dixon and Harold Hall.

Ten of the potential sites are expected to be chosen after the current public consultation ends on June 30. Five will be built by 2016 and the remainder by 2020.