East Sussex County Council (ESCC) have published a new Waste & Minerals Core Strategy – Preferred Options outlining the ‘Preferred Area of Search’ for the disposal of waste by means of landfill or land raising at five sites within the county. Out of these five sites they claim that two will be required to provide the capacity that they say is needed. One location that has been identified as an area of search is south of the A272, east of Goldbridge – between Piltdown and Newick.
(18a) Plan 4 (zoomed in) – Newick Area of Search-1
Even if you don’t live near to the site you will be affected by it as the increase in traffic movements on the A272 by 80 tonne lorries will result in one lorry every 3 1/2 minutes! And the risk of contamination to the drinking water supply will affect a far larger area as water is drawn downstream from the River Ouse to supply domestic water to Barcombe Mills and Ardingly reservoir.
Further information can be found on the ESCC website (<a href=”http://consult.eastsussex.gov.uk/”>http://consult.eastsussex.gov.uk</a>) together with the 2 publications mentioned above, which can be downloaded as pdf files comprising 136 pages and 30 pages respectively. Although not all refers to Land Raise it takes a lot of sorting through to uncover the relevant details so to help you we have provided below a brief summary for your information.
This website has been created by the Piltdown Action Against Landfill / Land Raise Group in response to this proposal as many people have not been informed by the local authority and are completely unaware of this possible development and those that are, are not necessarily aware of its precise location, the extent and type of development or the likely impact on the community.
If the site is approved for development the construction will involve the excavation of a 25 hectare site (62 acres – 250,000 sq ft) which will be excavated to lower the base and provide soil to create a barrier/wall around the site. The base will be lined with a special clay to prevent contaminates from the waste leaching (draining) into the soil and adjoining river (but cannot be guaranteed). Once built there will be 38 large lorry deliveries a day amounting to 76 vehicle movements (on an average 4 1/2 hour working day that starts at 7am that is 1 every 3 1/2 minutes coming or going) and we don’t know if this is limited to weekdays only. It is estimated that the site will be in use for 10 years, by which time it will cover the size of 35 international football pitches and could be up to 25 metres in height. AN ENVIRONMENTAL EYESORE.
What you can do to help!
The initial consultation period has now closed as the council consider the responses. However you can still write to your local County Councillor as well – they need to know your thoughts to help them decide how to vote on the proposal.
Piltdown residents write to:
Councillor Tony Reid, Millbrook Farm, Nutley, Uckfield TN22 3PJ
Newick residents write to:
Meg Stroude, Cowlease Farm, Hamsey, Lewes BN8 5TE
PLEASE EMAIL A LINK TO THIS WEBPAGE TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO MAY SUPPORT THE OBJECTIONS! You don’t have to live in the area to object – ask relatives and visitors to the area to join us in objecting.
Become a friend of <a href=”http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Newick/258529262320″>Save Newick on Facebook</a>
PAAL has presented a technical Objection Report to ESCC detailing our objections in full with supporting evidence. If you would like to obtain a copy of the PAAL Objection Report please email Bob White <bob@rjwfircone.co.uk>. We have to ask for a donation for this comprehensive document to cover production costs and to add to the fighting fund.
In summary they have listed their objections to a Land Raise site at this location as follows:
* Geology – The site is situated on sandstone, which is not ideally suited to the development of land raise and has high risk of contamination of the river Ouse. This river provides the drinking water supply for Barcombe reservoir and is often used to supply Ardingly reservoir as well.
* Location – This site is furthest site from the main source of the waste and the transportation of it will increase to Co2 emissions from the process.The A272 & A275 pass through a number of sensitive settlements and the roads are much narrower than the A22.
* Access Point – only one access point which is on the brow of hill on slight bend and would result in a roundabout being sited on a gradient on what is already noted as a ‘medium risk route’ through the County.
* Landscape – The Land Raise site is on a hill, which will result in it being highly visible and will have a significant visual impact on the area, for all residents.
* Ecology – It is near to small areas of ancient woodland – Hanging Wood and Sharps Wood.
* Suitability – If the right buffer areas were applied to ancient woodland, listed buildings etc the site would probably not be large enough
* We therefore believe it doesn’t qualify as a site that is valid for consideration in this strategy.
We should hopefully hear by the autumn if this location is one of those chosen or not and we will keep you informed of progress on www.piltdownaction.com
