LANDFILL PLAN FOR BRICKWORKS TO BE DUMPED?
THE idea of turning quarries at Bexhill’s Ashdown Brickworks into a landfill site could soon be binned - to the delight of those who have campaigned against any such move.
It follows a change of heart by members of three key authorities controlling waste disposal and minerals extraction across East Sussex.
Some 10 years ago, fears that the Turkey Road quarries - a rich source of prehistoric fossils next to preserved woodland - were being earmarked for waste disposal led to the formation of BALI, Bexhill Against Landfill and Incineration.
But now it seems that vigorous opposition by BALI and others - including local MP Greg Barker, Rother District Council and Bexhillians generally - has prompted second thoughts, so that a new plan will be considered by the relevant authorities next week.
BALI’s chairman, Nick Hollington, said: “This is fantastic news. I believe this united stand and the conclusive evidence we produced against this pernicious scheme have proved decisive.”
A revised blueprint was drawn up after public consultations in 2009. It responds to widespread opposition to land disposal generally and also reflects the conclusions of the Government’s Review of Waste Policy in England and the waste industry’s own views on what can be achieved.
Members of the South Downs National Park Authority’s planning committee, and Cabinet members at both East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council, will look at new proposals next week.
Changes include:
• Investigation of the five areas of search for landfill/landraise in the Low Weald identified in the previous plan found no real opportunity to develop a land disposal site in these areas;
• Concerning the need for landfill at Ashdown Brickworks, it was found there was no need to include it
• The new plan identifies sites elsewhere that have capacity to take waste in the short-term
• More sites must be readied for recycling and for recovering energy from waste
• The purposes of the South Downs National Park need to be taken into account
If members at all three authorities agree, a six-week public consultation on the new plan will start on Thursday, October 27.
Next week’s debates are at the South Down National Park Authority’s planning committee on Monday, October 10 and at its full meeting on Tuesday, October 25; East Sussex County Council Cabinet on Tuesday, October 11 and Brighton and Hove City Council Cabinet on Thursday, October 13.
Mr Hollington said: “I hope Ibstock Brick Limited will now come out with a clear statement that they have no plans to use the Ashdown Quarries for any sort of waste dumping, but will eventually restore the site for public leisure.”
Bexhill MP Greg Barker said: “I am delighted by this news which comes after years of hard campaigning by a dedicated team who have passed on the torch since 2001.
“However, I am not complacent and want to look at this further before declaring victory. It was never the right site for landfill and would have been catastrophic for Bexhill, so this is a great development.”
Rother council’s member for strategic planning, Cllr Bridget George, said: “We will be delighted if it is decided there is no need to use the Ashdown brickworks for landfill.
“The council has made strong representations against this plan for many years, so this would be a success for us and others who are against the idea.
“It will come as a great relief to residents living in that part of the district if the new waste and minerals plan is approved with this important change.”
One downside to the new strategy is that “areas of focus” where up to 15 new waste recycling or recovery centres could be created are now being looked at, and land between Bexhill and Hastings is among them. A waste disposal site is already located in that area.
Other possibilities include land near Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Heathfield and Uckfield, as well as the coast between Brighton and Seaford. If the plan is approved, a list of specific sites will be published at a later date.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Thursday 23 February 2012
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