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SAINT JOHN - As groups and individuals made presentations before common council Monday night on the question of the possible sale of the Lantic Sugar refinery site to Irving Oil, the Irving company released the results of a recent public opinion survey that shows overwhelming support for the proposed deal.

A survey of 400 adult residents of Greater Saint John, conducted Aug. 1-6, shows that 85 per cent support the deal, while seven per cent oppose it and eight per cent are undecided or don't know.

The survey, conducted by Halifax-based Thinkwell Research, showed a total of 43 per cent of respondents said they strongly support the deal, while a further 42 per cent support it.

Four per cent said they oppose the proposal and three per cent are strongly opposed.

The survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20, is contained in an information binder that was provided to members of council Friday and to media outlets Monday.

The binder also contains conceptual drawings of the proposed $30-million Irving Oil global headquarters and answers to what the company calls frequently asked questions.

The proposed deal would see Irving Oil purchase the former sugar refinery site and then turn it over to the Saint John Port Authority in return for a 99-year lease on Long Wharf, where the Irving Oil headquarters would be built. Irving Oil would own the land on which its headquarters would sit and the company would lease the surrounding area from the port authority, which would retain control of its secondary cruise ship berth.

The deal is opposed by groups such as Local 273 of the International Longshoremen's Association and the Saint John and District Labour Council. Proponents include the port authority, the Saint John Board of Trade and many local business owners and developers.