Angry Falmouth residents were expected to pour into the rugby club yesterday evening to voice their displeasure over plans for a development of around 125 student beds on the site of the Rosslyn Hotel.

After the project team held a public consultation last Wednesday at the former hotel on Kimberley Park Road, a public meeting was organised for 7pm last night at the Recreation Ground as locals looked to have their say.

At the consultation last week, the public was shown preliminary sketches of how the building could look, answered questions, and also provided feedback forms for residents to give their opinions, although some people were angered as these ran out before the event finished.

One resident, who did not want his name published, said he felt it was "a good idea" provided that there was car parking, as Falmouth needed more student accommodation and it would be better to keep it in one place.

However, the majority of those present when the consultation opened at 2pm were opposed to the plans.

One said she felt 120 students "seems an awful lot to put in one place," especially as there were only ten parking spaces planned for the site, adding "they say they won't bring cars, but that's rubbish."

She also said: "It will devalue our properties... people won't want to buy properties with that many students in one place. My son lives in Falmouth, there's a lot of students and it's not a happy place."

Another asked who would pay council tax, as pointing out that the new residents of the complex would still be using the town's resources.

James Wells, investment director at development and investment firm StudioUS said the company was not planning to "pack em high" and cram as many students as possible into tiny boxes, but would instead be providing managed accommodation.

He said the onsite management would provide accountability, meaning the building's residents would "have to behave themselves," and lease agreements forbidding cars would mean students bringing their own vehicles could be told to get rid of them or get out.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "The consultation went well, we were kept busy. Quite a variety of opinion and things like parking and site management we will take on board and look to improve with the final scheme."

He added that the company was having a "re-draw" of the plans to take on concerns that had been raised.

David Saunby, Cornwall Councillor for Trescobeas ward, was there all day and said he only heard one person express support for the project.

He added that evening visitors became "quite upset" when it was discovered that the developers had run out of consultation forms.

Following last week's consultation, and the council meeting at which residents were not allowed to speak, a public meeting has been organised for Tuesday night to allow everyone to air their concerns.

One vocal supporter of the plans, AJ Salisbury, wrote on Facebook: "I think it's a great idea. It'll house nearly 150 students hopefully freeing up some more property in the town."

He added that students "get an extremely bad rep and maybe people should look at the positives they provide," spending money in the town as opposed to second home owners, and keeping it vibrant and alive even through the winter.

However, Dot Averiss asked: "Why don't the uni build more properly on their land," and David Turner asked how much money spent by students goes into the local economy "and how much goes straight up country, and does this money offset the non-affordability of housing for local young people?"

The public meeting will be held tonight at 7pm at Falmouth Rugby Club.