Pebsham outrage as quality of life is threatened

That was the angry message from 200 Pebsham residents who braved torrential rain to complain about the threat to their health and quality of life.

It was standing room only at Pebsham Community Centre.

Teething problems with the new Southern Water sewage treatment works, news that Reprotech waste pellet plant is to be rebuilt and the threat of a phone mast at Pebsham Farm have sparked outrage and everyone had something to say at the lively public meeting.

Residents made it clear they've had enough of what they claim are false promises from Southern Water and the county council and will be fobbed off no longer.

And Rother chief executive Derek Stevens gave Southern Water a three month deadline to sort out the stench and noise from the new plant or face prosecution.

Popular Rother councillor Charles Clark said: "I've represented this area for 12 years and I've never known residents so angry. We were promised there would be no noise or odour from the sewage works. In fact the smell has been so bad in recent weeks people have been ill and families have not been able to sit in their beautiful gardens because of it. It's foul.

"We were also promised no more waste facilities at Pebsham and an end to Reprotech. Now we hear it's being rebuilt. How much longer does Pebsham have to suffer?"

Top Cross Road resident Roy Goodall summed up the tone of many, saying there would be 'militant action' unless something was done to address Pebsham people's concerns. He said problems with the sewage works and news of the 3m Reprotech redevelopment had made his home unsaleable and demanded a discount in council tax and water rates."

The county council's contract with Reprotech says in the event of a fire preventing normal operation, as happened last year, Reprotech cannot be held in breach and the operation must be restored as quickly as possible.

Derek Stevens took down a list of questions to which he said he would demand answers, including how long the new plant would operate for, what will happen when Reprotech's waste contract expires in 2007 and what is the cost to the public purse.