DECISION DUE ON MOORINGS BID

There have been at least seven recent otter sightings on the river. Experts believe the animals are searching for suitable homes.

Some fear the empty stretch of river will become a hive of activity, with moorings being built and subsequent noise from the boats coming and going.

Local resident Brendon Parsons believes the shy otters will almost certainly be driven off.

On November 22 officers will be recommending Lewes District Council planning members to agree plans for the six moorings directly on the other side of the river to the west of South Street,.

Kingfishers, cormorants, herons, egrets, falcons, voles and even rare beetles are all known to live along the bank.

Ottters are protected as a rare species and have not been seen in Sussex for decades.

Developer John Hatswel was refused permission earlier this

year when he applied for six large, fixed moorings spaced out along 350 metres of bank.

He appealed against that decision but lost.

The appeal inspector said his proposal would spoil a beautiful, undeveloped stretch of river.

The new proposal is still for six moorings but this time they are proposed on an 80 metre stretch at the end of South Street.

Said Mr Parsons: 'A well as ruining a gem of nature that provides a gateway to our town, residents are also worried about pressure on parking, risk of break-ins on boats with alarms at night, noise, pollution, and traffic hazards.

'The moorings will also impact on navigation of the river and potentially hit the annual charity raft race.

'The proposed development will be isolated and unprotected against assault by the elements, the tides and by criminals and vandals.

'This proposal is vandalism of nature and our heritage.'

A Lewes District Council report says the revised scheme is considered to be less harmful than the previous scheme, with the area of development restricted to a limited stretch of river.

The floating, rather than fixed, pontoons would also reduce visual intrusion.