Bexhill Observer October 2nd 2009
East Sussex County Council named the Turkey Road excavation as their preferred choice in a 133 page document released this week outlining their core strategy for waste production in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex until 2026.
At a meeting last Wednesday, ESCC Cabinet approved a planning timescale which sees applications discussed next year and work beginning in 2012.
Key local figures reacted swiftly to the news, with local MP Greg Barker calling a public meeting to launch a campaign against the proposals.
Nick Hollington, chair of the Bexhill Against Landfill Incineration group, labelled plans: "a pernicious proposal with a devastating effect on the whole town of Bexhill."
Rother District Council also oppose the plans. In a meeting on Monday, Nick asked Leader of the Council Carl Maynard if he recognised "the egregious effect such a landfill, if implemented, would have on the town of Bexhill and that it would set back, if not nullify, the Council's efforts to achieve its regeneration?"
Cllr Maynard responded, saying: "Rother District Council had consistently and fundamentally opposed the inclusion of the land at Pebsham and Ashdown Brickworks in the Waste Local Plan."
The relevant section of the waste plan reads, under the Preferred Option Selection heading: "The Waste Local Plan currently allocates Ashdown Brickworks as potentially suitable for Landfill."
"Ashdown Brickworks offers a substantial mineral void close to one of the major urban areas of waste arisings in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove."
Having been cleared by ESCC, the strategy now looks set for approval by Brighton and Hove City Council on October 15.
A six week period of public consultation will follow.
From October 21 to December 2, organisations such as BALI and Rother District Council, as well as members of the public, have the opportunity to submit their views. Details of how to contribute to the consultation will appear from October 21 2009 at an ESCC subsite: consult.eastsussex.gov.uk
Depending on levels of waste growth, it is estimated that between 34 and 37 million tonnes of waste will be produced by East Sussex and Brighton and Hove between 2011 and 2027.
With recycling taken into account, and the work of a new incinerator planned to open in Newhaven in 2012, the final figure for waste pumped into the new landfill by 2026 is estimated at 4.5million tonnes.
There are currently no restrictions on the type of waste that would be dumped.
The strategy does indicate other areas that could be considered, mostly around Uckfield and Lewes, but Ashdown Brickworks is the only confirmed specific option.
Nick Hollington, who will represent BALI in a consultation meeting with ESCC on November 5, said: "I think they are only going to look elsewhere if Ashdown is turned down as a location. If, as we hope to do, we come up with reasons why Ashdown is unacceptable. Then they will look at these areas of search."
BALI will argue the landfill will create an unacceptable impact on the local environment and communities.
Supporting this, members may mention the estimated 4,000 residents of west Bexhill living within one mile of the site, the flagship new High School half a mile away, the adjacent Bexhill Cemetery, and nearby Highwoods Nature Reserve, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
They will also argue the site cannot be delivered within the short time-frame required by ESCC.
Nick said: "The news is extremely serious and a wake-up call to the people of Bexhill, some of whom have doubted that the threat of a landfill was real. It's staring us in the face now, but if we can all get together to fight this monstrous plan we can defeat it. But we must act now."
Hundreds of residents attended a similar public meeting organised by Greg Barker in 2002 when the threat of a Bexhill Landfill first became apparent.
That meeting lead to the creation of BALI, and the two offices have now joined forces with local councillors and environmental groups to spearhead a renewed campaign.
Greg said: "A landfill site of this size and in this location would be an absolute disaster for so many reasons, and of course all the waste disposal methods, landfill and the dangerous methane gases it creates has the very worst impact on climate change.
"I want to head this off at the pass and ensure that such a proposal never comes to fruition in Bexhill, be it in five years time or twenty years time.
"Thankfully for the town the BALI committee has been quietly working very hard indeed over this period but we cannot now leave this fight all to them.
"We need to back BALI with a strong and cross-party campaign, a broad alliance of groups. Communities and individuals need to come together right across the town."
John Heasman, Vice Chair of Bexhill Labour Party and a committee member of the preservation society for nearby Highwoods Nature Reserve, said: "I am appalled that this site should even be considered for landfill with non-inert waste.
"Opening this site would cause considerable extra vehicle movements, including heavy lorries, that would be stressful to local residents and impact negatively on the well being of local communities.
"The dumping of non-inert waste so close to Highwoods would also have a catastrophic effect on the ecology of a valuable recreational area which is enjoyed by many Bexhill residents.
"I give my full support to BALI on this issue."
The public meeting will be chaired by Greg Barker at **Bexhill High School, Gunters Lane, Bexhill on Friday, November 6 at 7pm. [**Note that this venue is a change from that originally published]
Greg said: ""I hope as many people as possible will come. It would be extremely helpful if we had an idea of how many to expect, as it is possible we may need a bigger venue, so I would be very grateful if people could either register their intention to come on my website or call my office on 01424 736861."
For information or to register interest, visit www.gregorybarker.com
See the original article on the Bexhill Observer website
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