Landfill opponents spell out tactics

The Bexhill Against Landfill / Incineration group (BALI) has published a set of bullet points detailing how to write to East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and lodge objections to using the Ashdown brickworks site for waste disposal.

As previously reported in the Observer, the county cabinet supported the recommendation by government inspector Andrew Newman, saying the site is suitable for landfill as part of the Waste Local Plan.

The consultation period on the proposal is due to end on March 25.

Local politicians including county members for Bexhill Ron Dyason and Brian Gadd, MP Greg Barker and Rother Leader Graham Gubby have all voiced their displeasure over the decision.

Now BALI is encouraging anyone with concerns 'for the future of Bexhill' to register their opposition.

They are asking residents to write to ESCC bearing the following points in mind;

p "If waste lorries must avoid Sidley shopping centre, how will they reach the proposed site? Will roads such as Pear Tree Lane and Turkey Road be used?

"The new proposed link road will not help since all the waste from the Hastings area will use the A259. The use of minor roads, some of which already carry weight restraint orders, is contrary to government guidelines. This will force the lorries to take a long roundabout route to reach the site."

p "IBSTOCK has not made public their plans for allowing the site to be used for landfill. To what extent has the county council discussed or negotiated the proposal with the site owners?"

p "ESCC eventually plan up to 400,000 tonnes of rotting waste at the Turkey Road site per year, that is all unrecycled waste for our county. Despite the Inspector's recommendation no other site is included in the waste local plan."

p "How do the county council plan to deal with all the surplus rubbish after Pebsham and Beddingham close, as the Turkey Road site cannot take more than around 25 per cent of local waste until both the link road and Country Avenue are built?"

p "Who is going to be interested in new housing built as a result of the County Avenue if, it in turn, will be used as a major route for waste lorries?"

p "We believe the county has rejected the inspector's recommendation and as a consequence stable, non-reactive hazardous waste might be tipped at the Turkey Road landfill site."

BALI chairman John Harvey said: "It's important they (ESCC) understand the people of Bexhill are really dead against it and will do everything they can to stop it."

BALI can be contacted through their new website www.nolandfillatbexhill.org.uk or on 0775 1008192.

l The group ask residents to address their letters of objection to: Joint Waste Local Plan, Transport and Environment Department (WLP), Freepost (LW43), Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1BR - referring to 'Policy WLP10b; Ashdown Brickworks, Bexhill - Modification Ref. A4/14 and A4/15.