Rother's Local Development Framework

Rother's Local Development Framework (LDF) proposes a "country avenue" leading to an Ashdown Landfill

Background

In November 2008, Rother District Council published its 'Consultation on Strategy Directions' document, the latest stage in the preparation of new 'Core Strategy' that will guide future development and change in Rother District until 2026.

This is part of the Local Development Framework, a series of documents representing a new planning system throughout England and Wales which is designed to involve local communities in providing a policy framework for planning decisions. The Statement of Community Involvement was produced after consultation in 2006 to provide protocols for public involvement in the process and last year there was a consultation called 'Issues and Options' with a document asking very broad questions to stimulate public debate about how the district should evolve and grow. BALI participated in both these consultations.

Is it important?

The LDF is very important and will replace the Rother District Local PLan. However, it should be remembered that waste disposal is not a subject for local (district) Councils as a county matter. This will be covered in the ESCC Waste and Minerals Development Framework (WMDF) which will replace the ESCC Waste Local Plan (which first included the proposal for a landfill site at Ashdown).

The current stage

The current stage of the LDF is the most important as it deals with the Core Strategy, the key planning document which:

"...will set the overall vision and general distribution of development for the district....identify broad locations for housing and other development needs, including for employment, shopping and community facilities."

BALI made detailed submissions to the 'Consultations on Strategy Directions' in January 2009, supporting much of the general proposal for protection of the environment in the district. It however, vigorously opposed its vision for North and West Bexhill in the section 6.33 - 6.38 (on page 42) of the document, which proposed an extension of a 'Country Avenue' from the Link Road up to and across the A269 Ninfield Road*, lined with developments and "providing the transport infrastructure regarded as essential to the planned landfill use of the Ibstock site"

Our arguments were manifold and you can read an extract of them. The most important were that to propose a road leading to the Ibstock site was premature and beyond RDC's remit as neither transport nor waste are district matters and that the forthcoming ESCC WMDF had not yet decided on waste disposal sites.

*in fact, in 6.38 they envisage the Country Avenue carrying on right down to the A259!

Landfill in West Sussex: Landmark decision - Ibstock seeks planning permission for a landfill at Laybrook

West Sussex, like East Sussex is, in principle, against accepting London waste or creating further landfill sites, even though its landfill sites are fast running out of space. It too is preparing a Waste and Mineral Development Framework (WMDF). They too are under pressure to create further landfill sites and, unlike East Sussex, have a considerable amount of void-space (holes in the ground). Their WMDF is at a further stage than East Sussex' and it should be noted that sites previously rejected have been brought back into consideration.

Apart from the comparison it could be that West Sussex may provide part of the solution for East Sussex waste and/ or vice versa. Although there are clearly some transport restraints, waste disposal often takes place out of county and some suspect there may be working understandings between the two counties.

In 2007 West Sussex County Council (WSCC) were considering no less than six possible sites for their WMDF landfill. These were then reduced to three, all in Horsham district, as follows:

• Brockhurst Wood extension: Approved March 2008
• Langhurstwood quarry: Still under consideration
• Laybrook Brickworks(Ibstock): Planning Application still under consideration

In addition to this, Veolia applied in 2007-08 for a landfill at Rock Common Quarry near Storrington, proposing it to be the largest in the South East. There was much opposition from local residents and the local action group Chanctonbury Landfill Action Group (CLAG). The Environment Agency opposed the application as representing 'a significant threat to groundwater quality'. The local MP, Nick Herbert, Shadow Secretary for the Environment was a leading light in the campaign against the application even addressing the WSCC Planning Committee. In any case WSCC officers recommended refusal of the application as 'not in the long-term public interest' and it was duly refused in January 2009.

Laybrook Brickworks (Thakeham)

Cory Environmental, the waste contractor, submitted its planning application on 23rd January 2009 after consulting (mainly 'exhibitions') with the local residents and the local action group: Thakeham Village Action (TVA). This has now been validated by WSCC and an eight week public consultation is now taking place.

What is already apparent is that Nick Herbert MP has again taken up the cudgel to support the local residents. In fact he is calling for an end to all landfill of non-inert waste. let's hope our local MP will be of similarly heroic stature if it ever comes to an application for landfill at Ashdown!

We could well regard Laybrook as a test case for Ashdown, a similar quarry. TVA are in a similar situation to BALI and we should make contact with them.