Not another eyesore landfill site!

Around 300 people from the town and surrounding villages met at Bexhill High School to voice their opposition to the county council's Waste Local Plan which recommends Ashdown Brickworks be used as a rubbish dump.

Now campaigners intend to use 'people power' to get the authority to drop the scheme, after an passionate plea for public backing and financial support.

And, in a uniformed move, political opponents within the town have joined forces to tell East Sussex County Council, in the words of Rother Leader Graham Gubby, "No, No, and No!"

A Government Inspector's report caused outrage in June, outlining the Turkey Road site as a suitable location for landfill.

Furious residents were further incensed with the county cabinet decision to adopt the recommendation in December.

With a six week consultation period now open, local campaign group and meeting organisers Bexhill Against Landfill and Incineration (BALI) have called for action.

The crowd were addressed by a concerned panel of guests including, County councillors Keith Bridger, Brian Gadd and Ron Dyason, Rother Cabinet member Cllr Stuart Earl, Rother district councillor Stuart Wood, Cllr Gubby and Wealden district member Pam Doodes.

Also present was Highwoods warden Alan Malpass and BALI committee members. The meeting was chaired by Town MP Gregory Barker.

The call to arms was summed up by Cllr Gubby: "We speak with one voice on this and it's not about a party political husting. We will stand squarely and firmly opposed, resisting any landfill on the IBSTOCK brickworks site.

"We have got to speak up, speak out and speak against. We must convince our county councillors to say no, no, no. The focus has to got to be to get this out of the plan."

All the panel spoke strongly against the proposal, with a concern for quality of life, increased noise and traffic, the impact on air quality and damage to the Highwoods preservation area.

Cllr Bridger said: "It was almost as if East Sussex County Council were willing to agree with all the points the inspector raised. I made the point that the county had not really fought very hard on your behalf. They knew all the arguments but they did very little to represent your interests."

Conservative County councillors Brian Gadd and Ron Dyason spoke of their dislike of the scheme and pledged to fight against it, rather than tow the party line.

Cllr Dyason said: "I will do my damndest on your behalf and I will make up my own mind at a vote because I know how you feel."

The future of the Highwoods was also said to be threatened by any moves to create landfill nearby.

"Whatever the inspector might think it will have a devastating effect on the Highwoods. It would destroy the ambience, quite apart from the noise, vermin, seagulls and everything else," said Mr Malpass.

"What we have to do is come up with a viable alternative for the site."

Such alternatives were suggested by Cllr Stuart Earl, who suggested the possibility of leisure and business facilities, and by Cllr Stuart Wood who recommended the area be turned into a reservoir.

"If new housing is built it will give us water which we of course are going to need," he said.

The meeting was concluded by BALI member Mike Rosner.

"If nothing else, what is it going to do to the value of your properties? There is going to be a ghetto in that part of Bexhill. If we are not doing it for ourselves then what about our children and grandchildren. What about their children?"

Mr Rosner said cash would be needed to fight an effective campaign and to hire professionals to present their case. "Money is the operative factor, experts if they cannot be found have to be paid."

The consultation period ends on March 25. BALI can be contacted at www.bexhill-bali.co.uk or on 01424 819451.